Background: Elite and Subnautica are wildly different games that attract different demographics yet people who love one are more likely to be interested in the other, and their universe is similar, such that there is already a fan head-canon in both Elite and Subnautica circles to squint and view them as both happening in the same universe; that Subnautica is what happens after you crash-landed on an uncharted water world in Elite.
Subnautica players are more likely to try Elite if they learn about it (or about an in-universe connection to it), and Elite players are more likely to try Subnautica if they learn about it or an in-universe connection to it.
Subnautica 2 is currently in development and this moment represents an opportunity for both studios. Subnautica 2 is more of a reboot than a sequel, and the visual look is inadvertently moving closer to Elite than the previous games. So with just a few inconsequential background nods in each game (like the name of a faction/corporation or star system) both games could make room in their setting for the other to be unofficially same-universe. Everyone wins with cross-pollination of the player bases, and more to the point, cross-marketing becomes an option, promo collabs become an option, etc etc.
Both studios are also independent and own their IP, so can communicate directly with each other
Subnautica players are more likely to try Elite if they learn about it (or about an in-universe connection to it), and Elite players are more likely to try Subnautica if they learn about it or an in-universe connection to it.
Subnautica 2 is currently in development and this moment represents an opportunity for both studios. Subnautica 2 is more of a reboot than a sequel, and the visual look is inadvertently moving closer to Elite than the previous games. So with just a few inconsequential background nods in each game (like the name of a faction/corporation or star system) both games could make room in their setting for the other to be unofficially same-universe. Everyone wins with cross-pollination of the player bases, and more to the point, cross-marketing becomes an option, promo collabs become an option, etc etc.
Both studios are also independent and own their IP, so can communicate directly with each other
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