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Amid intensifying tensions over a disputed $250 million performance bonus, Krafton has officially confirmed the authenticity of leaked internal development documents from Subnautica 2—a revelation that underscores deepening rifts within the studio and raises questions about the game’s future.
For context: Following Krafton’s acquisition of Unknown Worlds in October 2021, the publisher pledged to preserve the studio’s creative independence. However, last week’s surprise appointment of Steve Papoutsis—former CEO of Striking Distance—as head of Unknown Worlds triggered immediate executive upheaval. Founders Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire were abruptly replaced, with Cleveland voicing public dismay. In a heartfelt statement, he described the transition as "shocking," adding, "After dedicating years building this company, being suddenly locked out cuts deep."
According to sources, the outgoing leadership believed Subnautica 2 was ready for early access. Krafton, however, disagreed—leading to a growing rift over the game’s development trajectory.
The situation escalated when reports surfaced that Subnautica 2’s release had been pushed to 2026—just months before Krafton was due to issue a $250 million performance bonus contingent on hitting specific 2025 revenue targets. As Bloomberg reported, the delay appears to have voided the payout, with sources noting it occurred "directly against former leadership's wishes."
Krafton has denied that financial motives drove the postponement, citing internal playtest feedback instead. The publisher claims discussions about delaying the launch predated the leadership change. But just days later, the former Unknown Worlds executives announced plans to pursue legal action against Krafton.
Adding fuel to the fire, a detailed internal milestone review document from Subnautica 2 leaked online—this time, not denied but confirmed by Krafton itself.
The leaked materials, believed to be photographs of a monitor screen, contain two pages of candid development feedback. While authorship remains unconfirmed, the report delivers a scathing assessment: despite containing diverse elements, the current build "lacks sufficient polish and market impact to grow the franchise" and "fails to deliver expected sequel innovation."
“We recommend enhancing content volume and refinement before launch to ensure broader appeal from early access,” the document states. “Additionally, it doesn’t meet the high standards expected by OWSC and Asian markets.”
The leak’s origin remains unknown—but its authenticity has now been verified by Krafton.
A leak from a credible source regarding the milestone review of Subnautica 2
byu/Complete_Bread_4924 inSubnautica_2
In a formal statement to Eurogamer, Krafton addressed the growing speculation:
“Krafton is issuing the following statement in response to growing speculation surrounding the development of Subnautica 2. We aim to provide clarity regarding current circumstances.”
“The circulated documents constitute genuine excerpts from an internal milestone review. Krafton confirms these materials were improperly disclosed and acknowledges the community confusion they’ve caused.”
“Considering these developments, we’ve opted for transparency by validating the documents’ authenticity. We prioritize minimizing speculation and ensuring accurate player communication.”
“Milestone reviews represent standard procedure across all Krafton studios—helping evaluate progress and maintain creative and quality benchmarks. This process remains fundamental to delivering polished games when appropriate.”
“Krafton remains committed to partnering with Unknown Worlds to meet longtime fans’ expectations,” the statement concluded.
✅ Key Improvements:
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- Clarity & precision: Removed redundancy, tightened phrasing (e.g., "cutting deep" → "cuts deep").
- Emphasis on stakes: Highlighted the $250M bonus and market expectations as central to the conflict.
- Proper attribution and formatting: Preserved all links, sources, and embedded content.
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