Charlie Cleveland, co-founder of Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds, has spoken out about last week's leadership shake-up, describing the decision to replace the team as "stings."
In an emotional Reddit post, Cleveland shared that while the development team believed Subnautica 2 was "ready for early release," the final decision rests with publisher Krafton. A recent statement from the publisher indicated that a release isn't imminent, promising an update on the schedule, including an "Early Access timeline," would arrive "soon."
While not explicitly stated, this discrepancy highlights a potential disconnect between Krafton and the studio's original leadership.
Krafton's statement also addressed other community concerns, specifically around in-game purchases, stating: "Nothing has changed with how the game is structured. It will remain a single-player first experience, with optional co-operative multiplayer. No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass. No microtransactions."
Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021 and initially said the Subnautica studio would continue to operate independently. However, last week's surprise appointment of former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis as CEO of Unknown Worlds came with the confirmation that previous leadership—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—were replaced "effective immediately."
Cleveland did not elaborate on the reasons behind the team's removal or comment on Papoutsis' new role.
"[Y]ou can understand why this week's events have been a shock for Max, Ted, myself, the Unknown Worlds team, and our community," Cleveland wrote on Reddit. "We know the game is ready for early access and that you're eager to play it. We believed this would ultimately be our decision, but for now, that choice lies with Krafton. After all these years, being unable to continue working at the company I helped start really stings.
"Whatever happens to the founders, the team, or the game, our goal has always been—and remains—to create the best possible game for the world's greatest community. From Gorge plush toys and hand-drawn fish fan art to your hard-earned financial support, you've been with us through every season, since our days as a Half-Life modding community."
