The continuing drama round Subnautica 2’s delay and its workforce’s upheaval continues, with the corporate Krafton issuing a prolonged public assertion at present accusing the studio’s leaders of getting “deserted obligations” on the sport, alleging they centered on private initiatives 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 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 dedicate himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nonetheless, as a substitute of collaborating in 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 important delays in the general undertaking schedule.”
Krafton additionally makes reference to a reported $250 million bonus that was promised to the event workforce, which might have paid out just some 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 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 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
At first, we sincerely thanks for your continued assist, ardour, and unwavering dedication to Subnautica. We want to present readability on the latest management modifications at Unknown Worlds, a inventive studio below KRAFTON.
Background of Management Change
KRAFTON deeply values Subnautica’s distinctive creativity and immersive world-building. To supply followers with even higher gaming experiences, we acquired Unknown Worlds, totally 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 setting for a profitable Subnautica 2.
Particularly, in addition to 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 display management and energetic involvement in the event 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 Recreation 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 a substitute of collaborating in 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 important delays in the general undertaking schedule.
The present Early Entry model additionally falls brief in phrases of 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 Growth Group
To uphold our dedication to give you the very best gaming expertise, we made the troublesome but essential choice to vary 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 supply full and unwavering assist, 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 honest and equitable compensation for all remaining Unknown Worlds workers who’ve repeatedly and tirelessly contributed to Subnautica 2’s growth. We consider 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 supply the rewards they have been promised.
Followers will all the time stay on the heart of each choice 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 persistence with an much more refined and distinctive gaming expertise.
Subnautica 2’s complete management workforce was changed final week with former Placing 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 publish shortly after his elimination that Subnautica 2 was “prepared for early launch”, that the choice was “in Krafton’s fingers,” 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 tons 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 concerns.” In response to the elimination of the three members of management and considerations concerning the denial of promised bonuses to workers, fans have begun organizing boycotts of the game 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.