KRAFTON says former Subnautica 2 leadership “abandoned” duties

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Krafton recently provided a straightforward explanation for the recent shift in leadership at Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2, as well as the game’s postponement. This explanation clarifies their actions.

It was proposed that KRAFTON postponed the release of Subnautica 2 in order to sidestep a $250 million USD bonus payment, as well as dismissing the original management team due to their resistance towards the planned launch date change.

The South Korean publishing company countered this claim by accusing the past management of neglecting their tasks: “It’s unfortunate that the previous leadership failed to fulfill the responsibilities they were given. Originally scheduled for an Early Access release in early 2024, the launch date for Subnautica 2 has been pushed back significantly. KRAFTON repeatedly asked Charlie and Max to return to their positions as Game Director and Technical Director, respectively, but both declined. Notably, after the collapse of Moonbreaker, KRAFTON requested that Charlie dedicate himself to Subnautica 2’s development. However, rather than contributing to the game’s creation, he opted to focus on a personal film production instead.

The movie being referred to is titled Nutmeg & Mistletoe, a Christmas comedy that boasts AI technology for designing its poster. Charlie Cleveland announced on social media that Subnautica 2 was prepared for an Early Access release, which contradicts the former statement as both events seem to have occurred simultaneously.

KRAFTON asserts that the lack of solid leadership has led to consistent confusion about direction and significant setbacks in the project’s timeline. Moreover, they find the current Early Access version lacking in terms of content quantity. We are disheartened by the previous leaders’ actions, and most significantly, we feel deeply betrayed by their failure to uphold the faith our fans placed in them.

KRAFTON pledged to uphold its commitments regarding bonus payments for approximately 100 team members who worked on Subnautica 2. Initially, a large portion of the promised $250 million bonus was set aside for the three former company heads, but the remaining funds are intended for everyone else. According to KRAFTON, they remain committed to ensuring fair and equal compensation for all the Unknown Worlds employees who have been instrumental in developing Subnautica 2. They believe that the team’s dedication and hard work are crucial to the game’s continued evolution and reaffirm their commitment to deliver the promised rewards.

KRAFTON didn’t provide any further details, however.

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2025-07-11 09:46