Subnautica 2 News

Subnautica 2 is "ready" for early access says co-founder ousted from studio, but the publishers seem to disagree

One of the co-founders of Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds has made a statement about the dramatic reshuffle of management at the studio, saying that it "stings" to have the game and company taken away from him by publishing overlords Krafton. He also asserts that the game is "ready for early access", but that Krafton may disagree. It doesn't explicitly answer any of the outstanding questions about what actually happened at the studio to cause the axing of three senior leaders last week. But it does provide some clues.

Developer Unknown Worlds has shared a letter asking for patience from Subnautica fans after publisher Krafton announced the departure of its senior leadership⁠—including studio co-founder Max McGuire⁠—and the installation of Dead Space producer and Striking Distance (The Callisto Protocol) CEO, Steve Papoutsis, as the new studio head...
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Subnautica 2 dev attempts to reassure fans after controversial leadership swap

Of all the upcoming survival games we know about, Subnautica 2 is right up there as one of the most anticipated. There's been a lot of excitement for a new underwater adventure, this time with full co-op support so you can explore alien seas with a friend. This week, that excitement has faded and been replaced with concern and anger after Krafton, the game's publisher and owner of developer Unknown Worlds, removed the studio's co-founders and president, replacing them with a new CEO. After widespread outcry, and even calls for a boycott of the game, Unknown Worlds has followed this news up with a statement reassuring fans that the vision for Subnautica 2 remained unchanged and that no extra monetization was being added to the game.

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Subnautica 2 creators offer no explanation for sudden regime change, instead promise "no loot boxes"

The studio making underwater survival game Subnautica 2 have promised fans that "nothing has changed" despite a recent drastic change in leadership at the company. The game is still planned to be a single player survival adventure with optional co-op.

"Nothing has changed with how the game is structured," said a statement posted to Unknown World's website yesterday. "It will remain a single-player first experience, with optional co-operative multiplayer. No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass. No microtransactions." Okay nameless statement, this still dosn't clear anything up.

A Letter to the Subnautica Community

[p]Hello Subnauts,
[/p][p]We know that you have a lot of questions and concerns about the news from our publisher regarding the leadership changes at Unknown Worlds. [/p][p][/p][p]First, we want to take a moment to reflect on the vision and core values of exploration and discovery that have defined Subnautica from the very beginning. They have not only shaped the identity of the entire series, but they continue to guide how we think, build, and create every day. We believe strongly in those values and are dedicated to upholding them in Subnautica 2.
[/p][p]We’re also supporting Steve Papoutsis as he transitions into his role as CEO at Unknown Worlds. He’s already expressed his excitement to check out everything we’ve been working on and is diving into supporting our ongoing vision and journey to releasing Subnautica 2 Early Access.
[/p][p]When it comes to Subnautica 2, the team that has been working on the game day-to-day over the last few years remains completely unchanged. That team includes veterans of the Subnautica series, dating back to the earliest days of the original Subnautica, to the many incredible and talented developers who came aboard to help us bring our vision for Subnautica 2 to life.
[/p][p]The world and experience we’ve been crafting is something that we’re all extremely proud of. From the story we’re hoping to tell, to every creature (big and small), down to the tiniest rock. We want to reassure you that KRAFTON feels strongly about supporting that vision at the studio, as we continue to navigate the game toward Early Access.
[/p][p]Our commitment to Open Development and crafting Subnautica 2 alongside our community during Early Access hasn’t changed. We believe strongly in listening to your voices, and have already received invaluable feedback from hundreds of community members who have participated in early playtests of the game. We want to ensure, along with full support from KRAFTON, that Subnautica 2 meets the highest quality standards and delivers on your expectations.
[/p][p]While we work closely with Steve and get him up to speed with all the amazing work the team has already done on Subnautica 2, we also understand that it means we’ll need to ask you to remain a little patient and support us as we adjust our plans. An update to our Early Access schedule and more information will be coming soon!
[/p][p]One final thing we want to address, as we’ve seen some additional concerns about it: Nothing has changed with how the game is structured. It will remain a single-player first experience, with optional co-operative multiplayer. No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass. No microtransactions.
[/p][p]We want to thank you, as always, for your incredible support and enthusiasm for Subnautica 2. We’ve seen so many of your messages and well wishes for the studio and development team, and we’re all incredibly grateful for every one.
[/p][p]Keep Diving![/p][p]
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