The recent unveiling of the latest trailer for Subnautica 2 has caused significant turbulence for its developer, Unknown Worlds, and their parent company, Krafton. Instead of generating excitement for the new gameplay footage, attention has shifted dramatically towards the controversial departure of Unknown Worlds` former leadership team. Reports suggest that a delay in Subnautica 2`s release could cost the development team a promised $250 million bonus. This situation has prompted some players to propose a boycott of the game.
In response to the backlash and boycott calls, Krafton issued a striking statement, claiming the “inevitable leadership change” was a result of “project abandonment” by the former executives.
Originally detailed in a Bloomberg report, the entire Unknown Worlds staff was reportedly set to share a $250 million bonus if the company met specific financial targets in 2025. These goals may have hinged on Subnautica 2 launching into early access sometime this year. A now-removed post on Reddit, which garnered over 45,000 upvotes before its deletion, argued that the delay was simply a tactic by Krafton to avoid paying these bonuses, accusing the publisher of already making a substantial sum by allegedly “scamming developers.”
Charlie Cleveland, one of the co-founders recently removed from Unknown Worlds, stated that Subnautica 2 is actually ready for an early access release. However, he clarified that the final decision rests with Krafton, and the current plan pushes the game`s release on PC and Xbox Series X|S to 2026.
Following an initial vague explanation for the recent executive changes, Krafton released a more detailed and assertive statement to justify their actions and address the impact on staff bonuses.
Krafton specifically referenced the $500 million acquisition of Unknown Worlds, noting that 90% of a $250 million payout was allocated to three former executives with the expectation of their active leadership and involvement in Subnautica 2`s development. The publisher contends that these three individuals “abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them.”
The statement elaborated: “Subnautica 2 was originally planned for an Early Access launch in early 2024, but the timeline has since been significantly delayed. Krafton made multiple requests to Charlie and Max [McGuire] to resume their roles as Game Director and Technical Director, respectively, but both declined to do so. In particular, following the failure of Moonbreaker, Krafton asked Charlie to devote himself to the development of Subnautica 2. However, instead of participating in the game development, he chose to focus on a personal film project.”
Krafton asserted that the lack of core leadership caused repeated confusion regarding the project`s direction and resulted in considerable delays. They also claimed that the current unreleased early access version lacks sufficient content.
Expressing strong disappointment, Krafton stated, “We are deeply disappointed by the former leadership`s conduct, and above all, we feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure to honor the trust placed in them by our fans.”
Regarding the bonus situation for the remaining team, Krafton reiterated their commitment: “We believe that the dedication and effort of this team are at the very heart of Subnautica`s ongoing evolution, and we reaffirm our commitment to provide the rewards they were promised.”
The exact nature of this commitment remains somewhat unclear. A Krafton spokesperson indicated that the company is working on “fair and equitable compensation for those who have contributed to Subnautica 2`s continued development,” promising further details in the future.
GameSpot has attempted to contact Charlie Cleveland for his perspective on these allegations.