As we embrace Silksong, the spotlight now shines on two new leaders in Steam’s list of most wishlisted games: Subnautica 2 and Deadlock. Each game has generated substantial excitement yet comes with its own set of complications.

The desire for Subnautica 2 has surged even as its development has faced turmoil. Following a leadership shake-up after Krafton’s acquisition of Unknown Worlds, the game’s launch has been pushed back, stirring legal disputes among former studio executives over bonus contracts.

Interestingly, while Subnautica 2 leads the wishlist pack, Deadlock—a new title from Valve—follows closely despite being made available for free to select players through playtests. Valve’s reluctance to promote it publicly is intriguing, considering their historical prowess in launching successful titles.

As the gaming landscape evolves, the dynamics of how players engage with future major releases continue to surprise. Steam’s data offers mere glimpses, as it fails to account for trends outside its ecosystem or trends among console audiences.

Krafton’s decision to postpone Subnautica 2 has drawn mixed responses. The company’s justifications highlight concerns over the game’s developmental trajectory while former executives allege mishandling of both staff and project management.

In the world of gaming, capturing attention has evolved beyond creating mere excitement—it requires navigating complex narratives and real-world implications as seen in the tumult around Deadlock and Subnautica 2.