Subnautica 2 Developer's Entire Leadership Team Replaced in Shock Move Krafton Said 'Will Bring Renewed Energy and Momentum'

Former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis has been named the new leader at Unknown Worlds, developer of Subnautica 2, following the sudden departure of the previous executive team—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—"effective immediately."

Krafton, publisher of PUBG and owner of Unknown Worlds, did not specify reasons for the leadership overhaul. However, the company noted that while it aimed to retain co-founders Cleveland and McGuire in the game's development, it "wishes them well on their next endeavors."

According to Krafton, Papoutsis will "prioritize development momentum and delivering [the] best possible fan experience," bringing "renewed energy and momentum" to the studio. It remains unclear how this transition affects the release window for Subnautica 2.

Cleveland and McGuire established the now 24-year-old company, while Gill joined nearly seven years ago as president before being promoted to CEO in August 2024. As of this writing, all three still list their employment at Unknown Worlds on LinkedIn, indicating a sudden transition with little prior notice.

"There is nothing more important than the gamer experience," said Krafton CEO CH Kim regarding Subnautica 2. "Given the anticipation around [the] game, we owe our players nothing less than the best possible game, as soon as possible."

Kim added, "We are thrilled Steve is joining us in our shared commitment at Krafton and Unknown Worlds to deliver Subnautica 2 as a more complete and satisfying entry in the series — one that truly lives up to player expectations."

Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021. At the time of the deal, it said the studio behind Subnautica would continue operating independently.

The upcoming sequel accommodates up to four players, transporting them to a brand-new planet filled with fresh environments, flora, and fauna to explore. While an exact release date is still unknown, Subnautica 2 is scheduled for launch later in 2025 on PC and Xbox Series X|S. The title will also be available day-one on Game Pass.

We previously praised the original Subnautica, giving it a score of 9.1 and noting: "Subnautica's a survival game with focus and an excellent sci-fi story, but its greatest achievement is its underwater horror." The series' last entry, Subnautica: Below Zero, also received high marks, earning a nine out of ten in its IGN review.