Krafton has openly accused the previous leadership of Unknown Worlds of effectively neglecting their responsibilities regarding the development of Subnautica 2, which has led to ‘confusion’ and considerable delays in the project. Following the purchase of Unknown Worlds for $500 million in 2021, Krafton had also promised an additional $250 million contingent on successfully meeting project milestones, a significant portion of which was intended for the studio’s top leadership, namely Charlie Cleveland, Ted Gill, and Max McGuire.

Krafton stated, “We feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure to honor the trust placed in them by our fans.”

Krafton claims that the original plan was for Subnautica 2 to launch in early access by 2024, but that timeline has been severely compromised due to the directors’ lack of involvement. Despite several requests for their active leadership, both Cleveland and McGuire declined to return to their prior roles.

In their defense, Cleveland asserted that the game is ready for an early access release, but shortly thereafter, a delay intothe entirety of 2026 was announced. Krafton, however, clarified that this decision was not influenced by any financial motivations, asserting they remain committed to appropriately compensating the remaining employees at Unknown Worlds who have diligently worked on Subnautica 2. Amidst these conflicts, Krafton hopes to inject new energy into the project’s direction with the appointment of Steve Papoutsis as the new CEO.