Subnautica 2developer Unknown Worlds has shared a statement defending the studio’s recent and controversial change in leadership, while noting that it won’t change the game itself.
For a while now,Subnautica 2 has been one of the most highly anticipated indie games of 2025. Pretty much every update thatUnknown Worlds has shared about the long-awaited sequel has been good, but that all changed a few days ago when a sudden change in leadership was revealed.
Just a few days ago,Krafton confirmed that Subnautica creators and Unknown Worlds co-foundersTed Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire had all been removed from the studio. The three leads arebeing replaced by Striking Distance Studios CEO Steve Papoutsis, who was also named as Unknown Worlds' CEO.
Subnautica 2 Team Explains The Sudden Change In Leadership At Unknown Worlds
“We Know That You Have A Lot Of Questions And Concerns…”
Such a sudden change in leadership hascaused a lot of Subnautica fans to be concerned about the game’s direction, with some fearing it would go heavy on microtransactions or battle passes. Unknown Worlds has released a statement in response that aims to ease some of those fears.
The statement,which was shared on Unknown Worlds' official site, notes all of the questions and concerns about the leadership changes. To begin with, it notes that the core values of exploration and discovery are being upheld in Subnautica 2, and that the whole team is supporting Papoutsis, who is “supporting” the vision for Subnautica 2.
Unknown Worlds also defends the change by saying that the team who has been working on the game over the past few years is “completely unchanged”, despite the three creators leaving. The developer says that it’s “extremely proud” of the story that it’s crafting, and that Krafton “feels strongly” about supporting the vision.
Our commitment to Open Development and crafting Subnautica 2 alongside our community during Early Access hasn’t changed. We believe strongly in listening to your voices, and have already received invaluable feedback from hundreds of community members who have participated in early playtests of the game. - Unknown Worlds
The statement ends by responding to the worries about how Subnautica 2 will be changed andconfirms that “nothing” is different about the structure. Subnautica 2 will remain a “single-player first experience” with no subscriptions, no loot boxes, and no battle pass.
