Latest news: Subnautica 2 changes course: KRAFTON takes on its former directors and confirms delay

KRAFTON has issued a forceful statement in which it directly accuses the former heads of Unknown Worlds of being responsible for the delay in the development of Subnautica 2.

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The highly anticipated sequel to Subnautica was initially set to arrive in early access in 2024, but the project has since suffered significant setbacks. In a public statement, KRAFTON — the owner of Unknown Worlds — explained that the lack of involvement from its former directors has caused internal confusion, slowed down the team’s progress, and left the current version’s content incomplete.

Furthermore, the Korean group lamented that, despite granting 90% of future profits to the three former executives, they have abandoned their roles. According to reports, Charlie Cleveland (game director) and Max McGuire (technical director) repeatedly rejected requests to resume their responsibilities, even after the failure of Moonbreaker. Cleveland, in particular, had opted to focus on a personal film project instead of continuing with the development of Subnautica 2.

KRAFTON Restructures Unknown Worlds and Ensures Subnautica 2 Remains in Development

KRAFTON has decided to replace the original leadership team to move forward with a more solid and committed approach. The new team, composed of passionate developers who have remained at the studio, is receiving full and unconditional support from the group. According to the statement, the goal is for them to focus exclusively on “delivering the exceptional game that fans deserve”.

“We feel deeply disappointed and betrayed”, the official note states, which does not hesitate to criticize the former project leaders. Despite this, the company insists that Subnautica 2 is still active and commits to improving both its content and transparency towards the gaming community.

• Leadership Change at Unknown Worlds: KRAFTON has replaced the former directors of the studio due to lack of involvement.

• Direct Accusations Against Former Executives: Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire abandoned their roles despite receiving up to 90% of the project’s future profits.

• Moonbreaker’s Failure as a Trigger: KRAFTON asked Cleveland to focus on Subnautica 2, but he preferred to work on a personal film project.

• Early Access Delayed: The game will not arrive on schedule due to the lack of leadership and insufficient content in the current version.

• Full Support for the Current Team: Development continues with a committed team that now has KRAFTON’s full backing.

• Rewards for Remaining Staff: The company guarantees fair compensation for those still working on the project.

• Commitment to the Community: KRAFTON promises greater transparency and to keep players at the center of its future decisions.

Finally, KRAFTON has also confirmed that it will reward the remaining staff at Unknown Worlds, recognizing their ongoing efforts. The Subnautica universe will continue to grow, but with a new direction and under completely new leadership.