Gamer Update
  • Home
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Sunday, Jul 27, 2025
Gamer UpdateGamer Update
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Search
  • Home
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Follow US
- Advertisement -
Ad image
Main

Subnautica 2 studio bosses replaced by Krafton, with early access looming

Author
Last updated: 02.07.2025 16:42
Author
Share
SHARE

Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds has seen key members of its leadership team – including Charlie Cleveland, who was game director on the original Subnautica – ‘replaced’ by owner Krafton, just months before the underwater survival sequel’s long-awaited early access release.


Krafton, which acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021, announced the leadership changes in a press release. Cleveland – who founded the studio in 2001 and has variously served as designer, programmer, team lead, chief executive office, and franchise creative director since then – is out, alongside chief executive officer Ted Gill, and special projects director Max McGuire.


Krafton did not specify a reason for the departures in its announcement, but claimed it had “sought to keep the Unknown Worlds’ co-founders and original creators of the Subnautica series involved in the game’s development”. All three have been replaced by Steve Papoutsis, who’ll oversee the Subnautica developer while maintaining his current role as CEO at Krafton’s The Callisto Protocol studio Striking Distance. “The company wishes [Cleveland, Gill, and McGuire] well on their next endeavours,” Krafton added.

Subnautica 2 teaser trailer.Watch on YouTube


There are, however, hints throughout Krafton’s statement that it wasn’t happy with Unknown Worlds’ planned timeline for the development of Subnautica 2. There are references to owing “our players nothing less than the best possible game, as soon as possible”, as well as talk of “delivering the right game at the right time” using “clearly defined metrics and targets”. New Unknown Worlds boss Papoutsis is said to “fully [support] this process”. Unknown Worlds had previously announced Subnautica 2 was – much like its highly acclaimed proginator – anticipated to remain in early access for two to three years.


Subnautica 2 (actually the third game in the acclaimed series, following 2021’s standalone Subnautica expansion Below Zero), was confirmed to be in the works back in 2022. A first cinematic trailer finally arrived last October, tipping a nod to the sequel’s new co-op mode, and additional details have slowly emerged since then in the run-up to Subnautica 2’s planned early access release later this year.


So far, Unknown Worlds has aired small snippets of gameplay, and confirmed some of the things players can expect to see in Subnautica 2. The sequel will, for instance, ditch Below Zero’s controversially chatty lead and return to the silent protagonist approach of the first game. That’s alongside the introduction of a brand-new ocean planet promising “all-new mysteries, creatures, and experiences”, customisable characters, new vehicles, and more.


Subnautica 2 doesn’t have an early access release date yet, but when we last heard from Unknown Worlds the aim was still to launch it sometime this year.

You Might Also Like

Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM’s new RPG C4 is part espionage thriller, part psychedelic sci-fi

Two limited edition Ghost of Yōtei PS5 bundles with designs “rooted in traditional Japanese art” announced

Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X/S in August, as first Sony-published game on the platform

One mere month after it launched, Mario Kart World is making its debut at flagship speedrunning marathon, Summer Games Done Quick

Cities: Skylines 2’s troubled console release sounds like it’s still some way off

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Contact us

- Advertisement -
Ad image

You Might Also Like

Main

Dune Awakening surpasses Elden Ring Nightreign on Steam’s Top Sellers before it’s even out

2 Min Read
Main

A major Battlefield reveal still set for summer, as Mass Effect bundle takes fans by surprise

3 Min Read
Main

Samsung shows off foldable handheld that’s basically a Switch you can bend in half

2 Min Read
Main

Angry Birds is getting a third film to rival Zelda and Sonic in 2027

3 Min Read
  • Home
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2025 Gamer Update. All rights reserved.

Gamer Update
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?