Krafton, the publisher responsible for Subnautica 2, has issued a direct statement regarding its recent and controversial decision to replace key figures at the developer studio, Unknown Worlds. Currently facing backlash following the surprising removal of co-founders Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire, Krafton appointed Steve Papoutsis as the new CEO of the studio.

This abrupt shake-up sparked outrage within the player community concerned for the future of Subnautica 2. Tensions grew after the game was mistakenly advertised as a live-service offering, which prompted clarification from developers to fans. The situation deteriorated further when Krafton announced a delay for early access until 2026, with allegations that the …

Krafton mentioned, “the former leadership abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them.”

Translation: “Krafton stated that the previous leadership failed to perform effectively as expected, contributing to delays in development timelines.”

Additionally, it was claimed that Subnautica 2 was slated to enter early access as early as 2024, though Krafton has stressed that the current build lacks satisfactory content, which led to further postponement. Despite the company reallocating a substantial amount of a potential $250 million bonus to the former leadership before their ousting, there are indications that the full payment has yet to be disbursed amid ongoing controversies.