In a surprising turn of events, KRAFTON, the South Korean publisher known for PUBG and inZOI, has suddenly replaced the top leadership of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved Subnautica series. This unexpected shake-up comes as anticipation builds for Subnautica 2, which has already been officially announced and is planned to launch in Early Access sometime in 2025.
Despite a slow but steady development process, fans had been optimistic about Subnautica 2, especially with the developers actively seeking community feedback. However, KRAFTON’s recent move has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the project’s future direction.
Effective immediately, three founding members and key visionaries behind Subnautica are stepping down from their leadership roles: Ted Gill (President), Charlie Cleveland (CEO), and Max McGuire (CTO).
All three played pivotal roles in shaping the creative vision and technical backbone of the original Subnautica, which has garnered widespread acclaim for its atmospheric underwater exploration and survival gameplay.
Who’s Taking Over Unknown Worlds & Subnautica 2?
In their place, Steve Papoutsis will assume the role of CEO at Unknown Worlds. Papoutsis is best known for his time as COO at Striking Distance Studios, the team behind The Callisto Protocol. That was a high-profile sci-fi horror title that failed to meet commercial expectations. Despite this, Krafton remains confident that Papoutsis’ leadership will bring fresh energy and momentum to Subnautica 2‘s development, with a focus on delivering an experience that resonates with fans.
Krafton has not provided specific reasons for the leadership overhaul, leading to speculation and concern within the gaming community. Many fans worry that removing the original creators could jeopardise the essence and creativity that defined the Subnautica franchise.
Adding to the intrigue, the original Subnautica is also set to make its mobile debut in July 2025, raising further questions about how this leadership change might impact the broader franchise strategy moving forward.
