The continuing drama round Subnautica 2’s delay and its group’s upheaval continues, with the corporate Krafton issuing a prolonged public assertion right this moment accusing the studio’s leaders of getting “deserted obligations” on the sport, alleging they centered on private tasks fairly 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 under, Krafton claims it made “a number of requests” to Unknown Worlds founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire to renew their obligations as sport director and technical director respectively, however claims they each declined. “Specifically, following the failure of Moonbreaker, KRAFTON requested Charlie to dedicate himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nonetheless, as an alternative of collaborating within the sport growth, he selected to deal with a private movie undertaking,” the assertion reads. “KRAFTON believes that the absence of core management has resulted in repeated confusion in course and vital delays within the general undertaking schedule.”
Krafton additionally makes reference to a reported $250 million bonus that was promised to the event group, which might have paid out only a few 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 elimination from the undertaking.
The assertion concludes with Krafton promising “honest and equitable compensation for all remaining Unknown Worlds workers…and we reaffirm our dedication to offer 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 Challenge Abandonment–Regardless of Holding 90% of Earnout for Themselves
At first, we sincerely thanks to your continued assist, ardour, and unwavering dedication to Subnautica. We want to present readability on the current management adjustments at Unknown Worlds, a artistic studio underneath 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 might display management and lively involvement within the growth of Subnautica 2.
Nonetheless, 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 dedicate himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nonetheless, as an alternative of collaborating within the sport growth, he selected to deal with a private movie undertaking.
KRAFTON believes that the absence of core management has resulted in repeated confusion in course and vital delays within the general undertaking schedule.
The present Early Entry model additionally falls brief when it comes to content material quantity.
We’re deeply disillusioned 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 Help for the Devoted Improvement Group
To uphold our dedication to offer you the very best gaming expertise, we made the troublesome but mandatory determination to vary the manager management. Subnautica 2 has been and continues to be actively developed by a devoted core group who share real ardour, accountability, and dedication to the sport. We deeply respect their experience and creativity and can proceed to offer full and unwavering assist, enabling them to focus solely on delivering the distinctive sport you deserve.
KRAFTON’s Dedication to its Guarantees in Rewarding Workers
Moreover, KRAFTON has dedicated to honest and equitable compensation for all remaining Unknown Worlds workers who’ve constantly and tirelessly contributed to Subnautica 2’s growth. We consider that the dedication and energy of this group are on the very coronary heart of Subnautica’s ongoing evolution, and we reaffirm our dedication to offer the rewards they have been promised.
Followers will all the time stay on the middle of each determination we make at KRAFTON. Transferring ahead, we promise clear communication and continued efforts to sustainably develop and develop 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 total management group was changed final week with former Hanging Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis by proprietor Krafton, and the sport was delayed to 2026. The alternative got here as a “shock” to Cleveland, who claimed in a Reddit publish shortly after his elimination that Subnautica 2 was “prepared for early launch”, that the choice was “in Krafton’s palms,” and saying the choice to take away him and the opposite leaders “stings.”
This was adopted by a Bloomberg report that alleged this determination was made simply earlier than the $250 million bonus was scheduled to be paid out to the group, with employees anticipating bonuses starting from lots of of hundreds of {dollars} to seven figures that they have been now involved they might 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 elimination of the three members of management and considerations concerning 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 could find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Acquired a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
