Charlie Cleveland, a co-founder of the Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds, has spoken out about last week's sudden leadership change, calling the decision to remove him and his colleagues a painful blow.
In an emotional post on Reddit, Cleveland shared that while he and the team felt Subnautica 2 was "ready for early access," the final call rests with publisher Krafton. This contrasts with a recent statement from Krafton, which indicated a release is not immediate and that details, including an "Early Access timeline," will be shared soon.
While not a direct confirmation, this difference highlights a potential disconnect between Krafton and the studio's original leadership.
Krafton's statement also responded to player concerns about monetization, clarifying: "The core game structure remains unchanged. It is a single-player experience first, with optional co-op multiplayer. There will be no subscriptions, loot boxes, battle passes, or microtransactions."
Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021, initially pledging the Subnautica studio would operate independently. However, last week’s surprise announcement revealed that former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis is now CEO of Unknown Worlds. The previous leadership team—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—was replaced effective immediately.
Cleveland did not specify the reasons for the team's removal or comment on Papoutsis's new role.
"For Max, Ted, myself, the Unknown Worlds team, and our community, this week's events have been a profound shock," Cleveland wrote on Reddit. "We believe the game is ready for early access and know you're eager to play. We thought this would be our decision to make, but for now, that power lies with Krafton. After all these years, being unable to work at the company I helped start is deeply painful.
"I want you to know that no matter what happens to the founders, the team, or the game, our unwavering priority has always been to create the best possible experience for the world's greatest community. From your Gorge plushies and hand-drawn fan art to your hard-earned support, you've stood by us through every season since our days as a Half-Life modding group."
