LogInKrafton announced that the studio is now led by the former director of Striking Distance.
Out of the blue, publisher Krafton has announced that Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire have left Unknown Worlds, the studio known for the Subnautica franchise. Cleveland and McGuire were also the founding members of the company.
Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Subnautica 2
"There is nothing more important than the gamer experience. Given the anticipation around Subnautica 2, we owe our players nothing less than the best possible game, as soon as possible," said CH Kim, KRAFTON’s CEO, in the announcement. "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."
The reason behind the leadership’s departure remains unknown. In a press release, Krafton said that it wanted to retain the studio’s co-founders and the creators of the Subnautica series, and now wishes them the best in their future endeavors.
"I am thrilled to be taking on this new role within the KRAFTON family and to be working alongside the immensely talented team at Unknown Worlds. Player experience is our North Star, and the team is laser-focused on delivering the best possible game for the Subnautica community. We appreciate Ted, Charlie and Max for their past roles in having built this beloved world, and thank the fans for your devotion and patience," said Steve Papoutsis, the new CEO of Unknown Worlds.
Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Subnautica 2
Unknown Worlds is currently working on a sequel to Subnautica, which is expected to launch in early access by the end of 2025. The game will first be available on PC and Xbox, then on PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
You can find the full press release here. So what happened there? Share your ideas in the comments and don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.