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Amid escalating tensions over a disputed $250 million bonus, Krafton has officially verified the authenticity of leaked Subnautica 2 development documents that offer critical feedback on the highly-anticipated sequel.
Some background first. Following Krafton's acquisition of Unknown Worlds in October 2021, the publisher assured the Subnautica studio would maintain independent operations. However, last week's surprise appointment of former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis to lead Unknown Worlds came with immediate executive changes - founders Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire were "effectively immediately" replaced. Cleveland publicly expressed dismay at what he called a "shocking" leadership transition, stating "after dedicating years building this company, being suddenly locked out cuts deep." The outgoing team reportedly believed the game was ready for early access, while Krafton disagreed.
The situation intensified when reports surfaced that Subnautica 2's release would be pushed to 2026 - just months before Krafton was scheduled to pay a $250 million performance bonus. According to Bloomberg, hitting certain revenue targets by 2025 would have triggered the payout, but the delay effectively cancels those plans. Their sources indicated the postponement occurred "directly against former leadership's wishes".
Krafton told IGN the delay decision wasn't financially motivated, citing playtest feedback as the driver. They claimed internal discussions about postponement predated the leadership changes. Shortly afterward, the former executives announced legal action against Krafton.
The conflict deepened when an internal critique document leaked online. Notably, Krafton acknowledged its authenticity rather than denying it, explaining: "Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent communication is necessary."
The leaked images, apparently photos taken of a monitor screen, contain two pages of development feedback highlighting gaps between Krafton's expectations and current progress. While the document's authorship remains unclear, it delivers blunt criticism - recommending Subnautica 2 launch with a minimum viable product demonstrating core gameplay loops, but noting the current build "lacks sufficient polish and market impact to grow the franchise."
"We recommend enhancing content volume and refinement before launch to ensure broader appeal from early access," the report states. "While containing diverse elements, the current iteration fails to deliver expected sequel innovation."
"Additionally, it doesn't meet the high standards expected by OWSC and Asian markets."
The leak's origins remain unknown.
A leak from a credible source regarding the milestone review of Subnautica 2
byu/Complete_Bread_4924 inSubnautica_2
"Krafton is issuing the following statement in response to growing speculation surrounding the development of Subnautica 2," the publisher told Eurogamer. "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 community confusion.
"Considering these developments, we've opted for transparency by validating the documents' authenticity," Krafton continued. "We prioritize minimizing speculation and ensuring accurate player communication.
"Milestone reviews represent standard procedure across all Krafton studios, helping evaluate progress and maintain creative/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.
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