US EditionOusted Subnautica 2 Developer Breaks Silence After Shock Removal: 'To Find That I’m No Longer Able To Work At The Company I Started Stings'
UNKNOWN WORLDS, JUL 6 – Krafton replaced Unknown Worlds' original leaders with Steve Papoutsis as CEO, despite fan protests and calls for boycotts over the future of Subnautica 2's early access release.
- In 2025, publisher Krafton removed the leadership team of Unknown Worlds behind Subnautica 2—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—and appointed Steve Papoutsis as the new CEO of the studio.
- This leadership change followed Krafton's 2021 acquisition of Unknown Worlds, with the company asserting oversight of release timing and quality milestones for the highly anticipated game.
- Charlie's Cleveland public statements described the decision as shocking and painful, emphasizing that Subnautica 2 is ready for early access while release timing remains under Krafton's control.
- Cleveland emphasized that their main focus has consistently been on creating an exceptional game for an outstanding community, and he affirmed that the journey is far from over.
- The leadership change suggests ongoing tensions over release strategy and quality standards, leaving Subnautica 2's launch date uncertain amid community calls for patience.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Ousted Subnautica 2 Developer Breaks Silence After Shock Removal: 'To Find That I’m No Longer Able To Work At The Company I Started Stings'
One of the co-founders of Subnautica 2 studio, Unknown Worlds, has released a statement about last week's "shock" decision to replace the leadership team, saying the decision to oust them "stings."
When Krafton bought Unknown Worlds in 2021, it was about letting the studio operate independently. Last week, Krafton decided to fire the studio bosses without giving any valid reason. Charlie Cleveland, game director, lead developer of the first Subnautica and founder of the studio, was thrown at the door just like Max McGuire (co-founder and CTO) and Ted Gill (CEO). The latter was replaced by Steve Papoutsis, producer of The...
[Digital Daily Reporter Lee Hak-beom] Krafton announced on the 9th that creative studio Unknown Worlds has officially released the mobile version of its masterpiece 'Subnautica' on Google Play and Apple App Store. Subnautica is an open-world survival exploration game set on an unknown alien underwater planet. Players become survivors who crash-land on the planet and explore the deep sea to discover coral reefs, volcanoes, and cave areas, craft …
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