Former Striking Distance CEO, Steve Papoutsis, is stepping into the role of CEO at Unknown Worlds, the developer behind Subnautica 2, following the sudden removal of the previous leadership team — Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire — effective immediately.
Unknown Worlds’ owner, Krafton, the force behind PUBG, offered no detailed explanation for the leadership shakeup but stated that while it “sought to keep the Unknown Worlds’ co-founders and original creators of the Subnautica series involved in the game's development,” it “wishes them well on their next endeavors.”
Krafton affirmed that Papoutsis will “prioritize development momentum and delivering the best possible fan experience” and “will bring renewed energy and momentum.” The impact of this shift on the game’s launch window remains unclear.
Cleveland and McGuire founded the 24-year-old company, while Gill joined nearly seven years ago as president and later became CEO in August 2024. As of now, all three still list themselves as employed at Unknown Worlds on LinkedIn, indicating the change was abrupt and unexpected.“There is nothing more important than the gamer experience. Given the anticipation around Subnautica 2, we owe our players nothing less than the best possible game, as soon as possible,” said CH Kim, Krafton’s CEO.
“We are thrilled Steve is joining us in our shared commitment at Krafton and Unknown Worlds to deliver Subnautica 2 as a more complete and satisfying entry in the series — one that truly lives up to player expectations.”
Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021. At the time, it said the Subnautica studio would continue to operate as an independent entity.
The new installment in the Subnautica series accommodates up to four players, transporting them to an entirely new planet filled with fresh environments, flora, and fauna to explore. We still don’t know the exact release date, but you’ll be able to dive in sometime in late 2025 on PC and Xbox Series X and S, including on Game Pass for premium subscribers.
We thought the predecessor, Subnautica, was amazing, awarding it a 9.1, writing: "Subnautica's a survival game with focus and an excellent sci-fi story, but its greatest achievement is its underwater horror." The previous entry in the series, Subnautica: Below Zero, also earned an impressive nine out of ten in its IGN review.
