Charlie Cleveland, co-founder of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds, has addressed publisher Krafton’s decision to remove him and fellow co-founders Ted Gill and Max McGuire from the studio, describing it as “quite a shock.”
In a post on his personal website, Cleveland recounts his journey through the games industry before focusing on Subnautica 2, revealing that the trio believed the sequel was “ready for early release” prior to their ousting.
“So you can see why for Max, Ted, myself, the Unknown Worlds team, and for our community, the events of this week have been quite a shock,” Cleveland wrote. “We know that the game is ready for early access release and we know you’re ready to play it. And while we thought this was going to be our decision to make, at least for now, that decision is in Krafton’s hands. And after all these years, to find that I’m no longer able to work at the company I started stings.
“I want you to know that whatever happens to the founders, to the team and to the game, our priority is, and has always been, to make the best damned game we can for the best community in the world. With your Gorge plushies and your hand-drawn fish fan-art, and yes, your hard-earned dollars, you’ve supported us in every way, in every season, cold and warm, since Half-Life modding was even a thing.”
Krafton’s decision to replace Cleveland, Gill, and McGuire took everyone by surprise when it was announced last week.
With Striking Distance Studios’ Steve Papoutsis joining as Unknown Worlds’ new CEO, the developer promised an “update to our schedule and more information, including the Early Access timeline” would be “coming soon.”
Subnautica 2 is currently on track for a 2025 early access launch, but it remains to be seen whether or not the shift in leadership will impact this.
“Nothing has changed with how the game is structured,” the Unknown Worlds’ letter to the community linked above reads. “It will remain a single-player first experience, with optional co-operative multiplayer. No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass. No microtransactions.”
Although the specifics of Cleveland’s removal weren’t addressed by any party, the leadership change does add one more obstacle the highly-anticipated sequel needs to clear as it prepares to welcome in players.
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