The continuing drama round Subnautica 2’s delay and its workforce’s upheaval continues, with the corporate Krafton issuing a prolonged public assertion right this moment accusing the studio’s leaders of getting “deserted duties” on the sport, alleging they targeted on private initiatives relatively than fulfilling their contracted roles and suggesting the sport’s delay is their fault.
Within the revealed 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 duties as recreation director and technical director respectively, however claims they each declined. “Particularly, following the failure of Moonbreaker, KRAFTON requested Charlie to dedicate himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nevertheless, as a substitute of collaborating within the recreation growth, 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 path and important delays within the total challenge schedule.”
Krafton additionally makes reference to a reported $250 million bonus that was promised to the event workforce, which might have paid out only a few months from now if it hit income targets. Per Krafton, 90% of this bonus was supposed 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 staff…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 Venture Abandonment–Regardless of Holding 90% of Earnout for Themselves
In the beginning, we sincerely thanks in your continued help, ardour, and unwavering dedication to Subnautica. We want to present readability on the current management modifications at Unknown Worlds, a artistic 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, absolutely dedicated to supporting Subnautica’s future success. We collaborated carefully with the studio’s management, who have been central to the creation of the unique Subnautica, to foster the optimum surroundings for a profitable Subnautica 2.
Particularly, along with the preliminary $500 million buy worth, 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 exhibit management and energetic involvement within the growth of Subnautica 2.
Nevertheless, regrettably, the previous management deserted the duties 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. Particularly, following the failure of Moonbreaker, KRAFTON requested Charlie to dedicate himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nevertheless, as a substitute of collaborating within the recreation growth, he selected to give attention to a private movie challenge.
KRAFTON believes that the absence of core management has resulted in repeated confusion in path and important delays within the total challenge schedule.
The present Early Entry model additionally falls brief when it comes to content material quantity.
We’re deeply disenchanted 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 Improvement Crew
To uphold our dedication to offer you the absolute best gaming expertise, we made the troublesome but mandatory choice to alter the chief management. Subnautica 2 has been and continues to be actively developed by a devoted core workforce 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 help, enabling them to focus solely on delivering the distinctive recreation you deserve.
KRAFTON’s Dedication to its Guarantees in Rewarding Workers
Moreover, KRAFTON has dedicated to truthful and equitable compensation for all remaining Unknown Worlds staff who’ve constantly and tirelessly contributed to Subnautica 2’s growth. We imagine that the dedication and energy of this workforce 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 heart of each choice we make at KRAFTON. Shifting 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 persistence with an much more refined and distinctive gaming expertise.
Subnautica 2’s whole management workforce 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 submit shortly after his removing 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 choice was made simply earlier than the $250 million bonus was scheduled to be paid out to the workforce, with workers anticipating bonuses starting from lots of of 1000’s 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 removing of the three members of management and considerations concerning the denial of promised bonuses to workers, followers have begun organizing boycotts of the sport on social media.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Yow will discover her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Received a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
