Summary
- A staff member from Unknown Worlds Entertainment, named Anthony, revealed in a Discord conversation that the recently fired Subnautica 2 heads were not involved in daily development but trusted their team to handle it.
- Krafton verified a leaked document confirming the game was significantly behind schedule, contributing to its delay and reassessment.
- The fired executives are currently suing Krafton over breach of contract claims, disputing accusations of neglecting responsibilities.
Developer Reveals Limited Day-to-Day Involvement of Fired Heads
A recent leak shared on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit sheds new light on the controversy surrounding Subnautica 2’s development. Anthony, a developer at Unknown Worlds Entertainment, defended the fired studio heads Charlie Cleveland, Ted Gill, and Mark McGuire, stating they “were not actively working on the game day-to-day,” but trusted their team to manage the daily development.
He explained that this approach was intentional to empower newer team members and was “never bad.”
While Anthony praised the leadership, his comments also indirectly support Krafton’s accusations that the executives may have been too detached from hands-on work. This revelation adds complexity to the ongoing debate about whether the fired heads neglected their duties or employed a valid management style.
Krafton Confirms Delays and Extends Bonus Earnout Amid Lawsuit
In parallel, Krafton officially verified a leaked internal document revealing that Subnautica 2 was significantly behind schedule, which necessitated pushing back the game’s Early Access release and prompted a project reassessment.
Unknown Worlds had hoped to secure a $25 million bonus earnout, but the delay threatened these payments. Fortunately for the developers, Krafton has extended the earnout deadline through 2026, offering a financial lifeline.
Despite this concession, the fired executives have filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Krafton, challenging the claims that they abandoned their responsibilities. Charlie Cleveland has promised that more details about the lawsuit will be made public, emphasising that fans “deserve the full story.”
As the legal battle and development struggles unfold, the full truth about Subnautica 2’s troubled production remains unclear. The game’s ultimate success will be critical in resolving the disputes surrounding its creation.
