By Following this week’s significant Subnautica 2 alteration in leadership, Unknown Worlds has issued a statement aimed at reassuring fans that the foundational vision for the sequel remains unchanged.
On the official Unknown Worlds website, the developer comments on the recent “changes in leadership” announced by parent company Krafton on Tuesday. Specifically, Steve Papoutsis, CEO of The Callisto Protocol development studio Striking Distance, has taken over as CEO of Unknown Worlds. The original Subnautica designer and director Charlie Cleveland, former Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill, and co-founder Max McGuire are all out without an official clarification.
The Subnautica community has been shaken by the sudden changes at Unknown Worlds, with some even proclaiming the forthcoming sequel “dead before arrival.” And it appears that Unknown Worlds has taken notice of this sentiment.
“To begin, we want to take a moment to contemplate the vision and core principles of exploration and discovery that have characterized Subnautica since its inception,” the message states. “These values have not only shaped the essence of the entire series but also continue to influence how we think, construct, and create on a daily basis. We firmly believe in these principles and are committed to upholding them in Subnautica 2.”
The developers of Subnautica 2 mention that Papoutsis has “already conveyed his enthusiasm to explore everything we’ve been working on and is diving into supporting our ongoing vision and journey towards releasing Subnautica 2 Early Access.”
Importantly, Unknown Worlds, likely communicating through a Krafton-approved lens, still hasn’t provided a rationale for the departures of Cleveland, Gill, and McGuire from the project — not even a softened, PR-friendly comment one would expect from such a notable exit. They only reassure fans that “the team that has been working on the game daily over the last few years remains entirely unchanged.”
“This team consists of veterans of the Subnautica series, going back to the earliest times of the original Subnautica, alongside the many remarkable and talented developers who joined us in realizing our vision for Subnautica 2.”
Based on this statement, it does seem Subnautica 2 is still on track for Early Access release sometime in 2025, although there’s no update on the precise timing.
In other parts of the letter, Unknown Worlds emphasizes that Krafton continues to support the original vision for Subnautica 2, stating that “our dedication to Open Development and collaborating with our community during Early Access remains unchanged,” and that both the studio and publisher are committed to ensuring “that Subnautica 2 meets the highest quality standards and fulfills your expectations.”
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