The continuing drama round Subnautica 2’s delay and its crew’s upheaval continues, with the corporate Krafton issuing a prolonged public assertion in the present day accusing the studio’s leaders of getting “deserted obligations” on the sport, alleging they centered on private initiatives moderately than fulfilling their contracted roles and suggesting the sport’s delay is their fault.
Within the printed assertion despatched to press, which we have reprinted in full beneath, Krafton claims it made “a number of requests” to Unknown Worlds founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire to renew their obligations as recreation director and technical director respectively, however claims they each declined. “Specifically, following the failure of Moonbreaker, KRAFTON requested Charlie to commit himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nevertheless, as a substitute of collaborating within the recreation improvement, he selected to give attention to a private movie challenge,” the assertion reads. “KRAFTON believes that the absence of core management has resulted in repeated confusion in route and vital delays within the general challenge schedule.”
Krafton additionally makes reference to a reported $250 million bonus that was promised to the event crew, which might have paid out just some months from now if it hit income targets. Per Krafton, 90% of this bonus was meant to go on to Cleveland, McGuire, and former CEO Ted Gill previous to their removing from the challenge.
The assertion concludes with Krafton promising “truthful and equitable compensation for all remaining Unknown Worlds workers…and we reaffirm our dedication to supply the rewards they have been promised.”
The total content material of the assertion is as follows:
To Our 12 Million Fellow Subnauts,
— Inevitable Management Change Pushed by Venture Abandonment–Regardless of Holding 90% of Earnout for Themselves
Before everything, we sincerely thanks on your continued help, ardour, and unwavering dedication to Subnautica. We want to present readability on the current management modifications at Unknown Worlds, a inventive studio beneath KRAFTON.
Background of Management Change
KRAFTON deeply values Subnautica’s distinctive creativity and immersive world-building. To offer followers with even higher gaming experiences, we acquired Unknown Worlds, totally dedicated to supporting Subnautica’s future success. We collaborated intently with the studio’s management, who have been central to the creation of the unique Subnautica, to foster the optimum setting for a profitable Subnautica 2.
Particularly, along with the preliminary $500 million buy value, we allotted roughly 90% of the as much as $250 million earn-out compensation to the three former executives, with the expectation that they’d reveal management and energetic involvement within the improvement of Subnautica 2.
Nevertheless, regrettably, the previous management deserted the obligations entrusted to them. Subnautica 2 was initially deliberate for an Early Entry launch in early 2024, however the timeline has since been considerably delayed. KRAFTON made a number of requests to Charlie and Max to renew their roles as Sport Director and Technical Director, respectively, however each declined to take action. Specifically, following the failure of Moonbreaker, KRAFTON requested Charlie to commit himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nevertheless, as a substitute of collaborating within the recreation improvement, he selected to give attention to a private movie challenge.
KRAFTON believes that the absence of core management has resulted in repeated confusion in route and vital delays within the general challenge schedule.
The present Early Entry model additionally falls brief by way of content material quantity.
We’re deeply upset by the previous management’s conduct, and above all, we really feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure to honor the belief positioned in them by our followers.
KRAFTON’s Full Assist for the Devoted Growth Group
To uphold our dedication to give you the absolute best gaming expertise, we made the tough but mandatory resolution to vary the manager management. Subnautica 2 has been and continues to be actively developed by a devoted core crew who share real ardour, accountability, and dedication to the sport. We deeply respect their experience and creativity and can proceed to supply full and unwavering help, enabling them to focus solely on delivering the distinctive recreation you deserve.
KRAFTON’s Dedication to its Guarantees in Rewarding Staff
Moreover, KRAFTON has dedicated to truthful and equitable compensation for all remaining Unknown Worlds workers who’ve constantly and tirelessly contributed to Subnautica 2’s improvement. We imagine that the dedication and energy of this crew are on the very coronary heart of Subnautica’s ongoing evolution, and we reaffirm our dedication to supply the rewards they have been promised.
Followers will at all times stay on the middle of each resolution we make at KRAFTON. Transferring ahead, we promise clear communication and continued efforts to sustainably develop and broaden the beloved Subnautica universe.
Honoring your belief and expectations is a core tenet at KRAFTON. We’re dedicated to repaying your endurance with an much more refined and distinctive gaming expertise.
Subnautica 2’s whole management crew was changed final week with former Putting Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis by proprietor Krafton, and the sport was delayed to 2026. The substitute got here as a “shock” to Cleveland, who claimed in a Reddit put up shortly after his removing that Subnautica 2 was “prepared for early launch”, that the choice was “in Krafton’s arms,” and saying the choice to take away him and the opposite leaders “stings.”
This was adopted by a Bloomberg report that alleged this resolution was made simply earlier than the $250 million bonus was scheduled to be paid out to the crew, with employees anticipating bonuses starting from a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} to seven figures that they have been now involved they’d not see. In an announcement to IGN on the time, Krafton claimed the delay was a response to playtester suggestions, and had nothing to do with “any contractual or monetary issues.” In response to the removing of the three members of management and considerations in regards to the denial of promised bonuses to employees, followers have begun organizing boycotts of the sport on social media.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You’ll find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Received a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
