In 2021, PUBG publisher Krafton purchased Unknown Worlds, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Subnautica. The sequel, Subnautica 2, began development roughly a year later. But last week, Subnautica director and designer Charlie Cleveland and his fellow Unknown Worlds co-founder Max McGuire were reportedly forced out the company alongside CEO Ted Gill. Now, Cleveland has shared a message for fans about his ouster and where Subnautica 2 currently stands.
In an extended post on Reddit, Cleveland wrote “the events of this week have been quite a shock” in addition to recapping the history of Unknown Worlds, which began with a Half-Life mod called Natural Selection. Krafton’s announcement of Cleveland’s departure suggested that Subnautica 2 isn’t ready for early access, an assertion that the director denies.
“We know that the game is ready for early access release and we know you’re ready to play it,” said Cleveland. “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.”
“Our priority is, and has always been, to make the best damned game we can for the best community in the world,” added Cleveland. “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. And I also want you to know that this is not where the story ends.”
As reported by PC Gamer, some fans have called for a Subnautica 2 boycott and urged others to remove the game from their wish lists. That led to a response from Unknown Worlds which asks players for patience and notes that most of Subnautica 2’s developers remain with the project.
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