Subnautica studio management gutted by Krafton, which outright says that Subnautica 2 wants 'renewed vitality and momentum'
Krafton has introduced a serious management exodus from Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds, in a transfer that casts recent doubt on the prospects of Subnautica 2: which was scheduled to launch in early entry this yr, however is nowhere to be seen.
Subnautica designer and director Charlie Cleveland, CEO Ted Gill, and co-founder Max McGuire have all left Unknown Worlds. Steve Papoutsis, previously of Visceral Video games and most lately CEO of Hanging Distance Studios (The Callisto Protocol), is the brand new CEO of Unknown Worlds “efficient instantly.”
The clipped company tones of the press launch counsel some severe background tensions, however what’s most notable is the timing: Subnautica 2 has been in improvement for at the very least 4 years and, within the window it ought to have been launched, the studio’s inventive management has left as an alternative.
“Whereas Krafton sought to maintain the Unknown Worlds’ co-founders and authentic creators of the Subnautica sequence concerned within the sport’s improvement, the corporate needs them effectively on their subsequent endeavors,” says Krafton. As for Subnautica 2, it pointedly provides that Papoutsis “will deliver renewed vitality and momentum to delivering the long-anticipated Subnautica 2 expertise to followers.”
Then there’s this little backhand from the Krafton CEO, implying that Subnautica 2 will become a greater sport for this.
“There may be nothing extra vital than the gamer expertise,” stated Krafton CEO Changhan Kim. “Given the anticipation round Subnautica 2, we owe our gamers nothing lower than the very best sport, as quickly as attainable. We’re thrilled Steve is becoming a member of us in our shared dedication at Krafton and Unknown Worlds to ship Subnautica 2 as a extra full and satisfying entry within the sequence—one that actually lives as much as participant expectations.”
For his half Papoutsis at the very least manages some sort phrases for the departed: “We recognize Ted, Charlie and Max for his or her previous roles in having constructed this beloved world, and thank the followers to your devotion and endurance.”
There are all kinds of strange phrases within the press launch saying this shake-up, however the telling one might be that the brand new management will “prioritize improvement momentum.” Krafton clearly wasn’t proud of the tempo and/or path of Subnautica 2 underneath the studio’s previous management, and at one level outright says that Unknown Worlds wasn’t hitting its inside metrics:
“As a part of its oversight, Krafton is dedicated to reaching common milestones to evaluate progress throughout its inventive studios. These opinions, primarily based on clearly outlined metrics and targets, will assist make sure that video games meet each inventive and high quality requirements. This course of is important to delivering the best sport on the proper time.”
Then the kicker: “Unknown Worlds’ new management absolutely helps this course of and is dedicated to assembly participant expectations.”
This isn’t the tip for Unknown Worlds, clearly, however it’s a slightly unhappy second within the studio’s historical past. It was based in Might 2001 by Cleveland round builders concerned within the Half-Life mod, Pure Choice, and developed the standalone sequel Pure Choice 2 earlier than Subnautica turned the studio’s breakout hit. Krafton acquired the studio in 2021 and it was all smiles, with Cleveland saying on the time that “we’re actually trying ahead to our future collectively.” Subnautica followers will now be questioning what precisely that future appears to be like like.