Krafton, the publisher behind the highly anticipated Subnautica 2, has issued a striking new statement following weeks of silence, directly blaming the game’s original leadership for the project’s internal struggles and delays.
The statement arrives after a turbulent period for developer Unknown Worlds, which recently saw its founding trio—Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill—abruptly replaced by new CEO Steve Papoutsis. The leadership change sparked a wave of backlash across the Subnautica fan community, who had grown increasingly concerned about the sequel’s creative direction and development timeline.
🧊 Leadership Shake-Up Explained
For weeks, there was no official reason given for the sudden leadership change—until now.
In a newly published statement on its official site, Krafton claims that the trio “abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them,” directly accusing Cleveland and McGuire of failing to fulfill their development duties despite repeated requests.
“Subnautica 2’s development was severely impacted by the absence of effective leadership from the former executives at Unknown Worlds,” the statement reads. “Their lack of involvement directly contributed to project mismanagement and scheduling delays.”
⏳ Delays, Disputes, and Discontent
The controversy had been building steadily over the past year, beginning with miscommunication about the game being a “live-service” title—an idea quickly walked back by Unknown Worlds. Tensions were further inflamed when Subnautica 2’s early access launch was delayed to 2026, pushing it well past initial projections.
A recent Bloomberg report alleged that Krafton may have intentionally delayed the game to avoid a $250 million bonus payout tied to performance milestones. Krafton has firmly denied this accusation.
“The decision to delay was not financially motivated,” Krafton insisted. “It was made to ensure the game’s quality and to align with our long-term vision.”
⚙️ New Leadership, New Direction
With Steve Papoutsis now at the helm of Unknown Worlds, Krafton appears to be repositioning Subnautica 2 under tighter supervision and revised development protocols. The publisher expressed renewed commitment to the community:
“We understand the concerns of our players. Subnautica 2 is being developed with its legacy in mind, and we are determined to restore confidence in its direction.”
The publisher also hinted at future transparency updates and increased community engagement going forward—an effort to rebuild trust as the game heads toward its revised 2026 launch.
Despite the upheaval, Krafton has reaffirmed that Subnautica 2 is still in active development, and fans can expect more concrete updates in the coming months. For now, the company seems focused on damage control while reshaping the sequel’s troubled path.
Whether this change in leadership will stabilize the project—or further fracture the community—remains to be seen.