Recent reports suggest that Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, co-founders of Unknown Worlds, along with former CEO Ted Gill, were reportedly compelled to leave their studio by its parent company, Krafton. A key factor in this departure was an alleged disagreement regarding Subnautica 2`s readiness for early access. Adding to the controversy, a critical internal review document assessing Subnautica 2`s current development status has been leaked online, and Krafton has since officially confirmed its authenticity.
The leaked report, which surfaced on Subnautica 2`s Reddit community and is dated May 2025, sharply criticizes the game`s existing build. It points out a significant absence of features that were originally planned for an early access launch. Specific shortcomings highlighted include the cutting of approximately six hours of content, the removal of an entire game mode, the reduction of two biomes, a missing leviathan creature and a vehicle, and a delay in the narrative progression. The document concluded that Subnautica 2 had failed to meet its development objectives set in 2023, recommending an immediate reevaluation of its release timeline and content roadmap. Following this internal assessment, Krafton publicly announced the game`s delay, concurrently releasing a new trailer.
A Krafton spokesperson validated the leaked review, clarifying: “Milestone reviews are conducted regularly in collaboration with Krafton`s creative studios across all projects.” They further explained that these evaluations are vital for assessing development progress, establishing clear objectives, and ensuring that every project adheres to Krafton`s stringent standards for both creativity and quality. This thorough process, the spokesperson emphasized, underscores Krafton`s dedication to delivering polished, high-quality games on schedule.
A report from Bloomberg indicated that the delay of Subnautica 2 might be linked to a substantial $250 million bonus Krafton was slated to pay Unknown Worlds, contingent on the studio meeting specific financial benchmarks in 2025. With the game`s postponed release, achieving these targets appears unlikely, which has prompted some fans to publicly call for a boycott of Subnautica 2. Krafton responded with a strong statement, accusing Unknown Worlds` former leadership team of neglecting their responsibilities concerning the sequel`s development.
In light of these escalating tensions, Charlie Cleveland has announced his intention to file a lawsuit against Krafton, with Max McGuire and Ted Gill joining him. This legal dispute is anticipated to be a lengthy process. Despite the ongoing internal conflicts and development delays, Subnautica 2 is still projected for a 2026 release on PC and Xbox Series X|S platforms.