Krafton Verifies Subnautica 2 Leak Amid Turmoil

Amid mounting tensions over a disputed $250 million bonus, Krafton has officially verified the authenticity of leaked development documents criticizing Subnautica 2, confirming industry speculation about the sequel's troubled production.

To understand this controversy, we must rewind to October 2021 when Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds, initially promising autonomy for the Subnautica developer. However, last week's sudden leadership shakeup saw former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis replacing founding members Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire with "immediate effect." Cleveland publicly expressed dismay, stating, "Being forced out of the company I built after all these years cuts deep." Internal disagreements reportedly centered on whether the game was ready for early access.

The situation escalated when reports revealed Krafton postponed Subnautica 2's release to 2026 - just months before triggering a $250 million developer bonus tied to 2025 revenue targets. According to Bloomberg, this delay directly prevented the payout, despite objections from the ousted leadership. Former executives subsequently filed legal action against Krafton, who maintains the decision stemmed from playtesting feedback rather than financial motives.

The conflict deepened this week when an internal evaluation document surfaced, delivering a harsh assessment of Subnautica 2's development. Instead of denying its validity, Krafton authenticated the leak, emphasizing transparency. The photographed two-page review highlights significant gaps between development targets and current progress, bluntly stating the build lacks sufficient polish for early access.

"We recommend launching with a viable core gameplay experience rather than the current state," the document advises, adding that the sequel "fails to innovate sufficiently" and "disappoints Asian market expectations."

Leaked milestone review surfaces amid Subnautica 2 development turmoil
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In response to Eurogamer, Krafton acknowledged the leaked document as genuine: "We confirm portions of our internal milestone review have circulated publicly. Such evaluations are standard practice across all projects to maintain quality standards.

"Transparency remains our priority during this challenging period," the statement continued. "We're collaborating closely with Unknown Worlds to ensure Subnautica 2 meets fan expectations when properly ready."

The publisher reiterated its commitment to quality releases, though questions persist about the document's unauthorized disclosure and ongoing legal disputes.