Subnautica 2 Co-Founder Speaks Out After Firing

Charlie Cleveland, one of the co-founders of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2, has responded to last week's surprising decision to replace the game's leadership team, admitting the move to remove them "hurts."

In a sincere post on Reddit, Cleveland shared that although he and his team felt Subnautica 2 was ready for an early access launch, the final call now rests with Krafton. A recent announcement from the publisher, however, suggested a release is not yet imminent, noting that details on the launch schedule—including an "Early Access timeline"—would be shared "soon."

While not stated outright, the difference in messaging hints at a possible disconnect between Krafton and the studio's original management.

In its statement, Krafton also tackled ongoing community concerns, such as the potential for in-game purchases, writing: "Nothing has changed with how the game is structured. It will remain a single-player first experience, with optional co-operative multiplayer. No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass. No microtransactions."

Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds back in October 2021, and at the time stated that the Subnautica studio would continue to function independently. Last week, however, former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis was named as the new CEO of Unknown Worlds, developer of Subnautica 2. The unexpected announcement confirmed that the prior leadership—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—had been replaced "effective immediately."

Cleveland did not provide reasons for the team’s removal, nor did he comment on the appointment of Papoutsis as CEO.

"It's clear why, for Max, Ted, me, the entire Unknown Worlds team, and our community, this week’s developments have come as quite a blow," Cleveland shared on Reddit. "We believe the game is set for early access and we know you’re eager to play. While we thought the release timing would be our call, at least for now, Krafton holds the final say. And after all these years, being unable to continue working at the company I helped start is deeply painful.

"I want you to know that no matter what happens to the founders, the team, or the game itself, our top priority has always been—and will always be—to create the best game possible for the most amazing community in the world. Through your Gorge plushies, your hand-drawn fan art of fish, and yes, your hard-earned purchases, you’ve supported us every step of the way, in every season, since the days of Half-Life modding."