Krafton Confirms Subnautica 2 Leak Scandal

Amid escalating tensions over a $250 million performance bonus dispute, Krafton has confirmed the authenticity of a leaked Subnautica 2 development document - a mid-cycle review expressing concerns about the highly anticipated sequel.

For context: Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021, initially promising the Subnautica developer would maintain operational independence. The situation changed dramatically last week when Steve Papoutsis (former Striking Distance CEO) replaced Unknown Worlds' original leadership team - Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire - "effective immediately." Cleveland later described his sudden removal from the company he co-founded as "painful." Reports indicate Krafton disagreed with the former leadership's assessment that the game was ready for early access.

The controversy intensified when reports revealed Subnautica 2 would miss its 2025 release window - months before Krafton was scheduled to pay a $250 million bonus tied to revenue targets. Bloomberg reported the delay contravened the studio's former leadership's wishes, effectively canceling the potential payout.

Krafton denied financial motivations to IGN, citing playtester feedback as driving the delay - allegedly under discussion before the leadership change. Shortly after, the ousted executives filed legal action against Krafton.

The leaked internal review document paints a concerning picture of development progress. Rather than disputing its authenticity, Krafton confirmed: "Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent communication is necessary."

The photographed two-page review reveals a significant gap between Krafton's expectations and current development status. While authorship remains unclear, it critiques Unknown Worlds' progress, suggesting Subnautica 2 should launch with a "'MVP-level build" showcasing core gameplay - but warns current polish and content depth fall short of franchise expectations.

"The game requires expanded content and refinement to appeal to broader markets from early access," states the report. "While featuring diverse content, it lacks the innovation and scale expected for a sequel."

"Additionally, it fails to meet OWSC and Asian market standards."

The document's public emergence remains unexplained.

A leak from a credible source regarding the milestone review of Subnautica 2
byu/Complete_Bread_4924 inSubnautica_2

Krafton told Eurogamer: "We acknowledge circulating speculation about Subnautica 2's development. This statement provides necessary context.

"The shared document constitutes legitimate excerpts from our internal milestone review process. Krafton confirms its authenticity and recognizes the resulting confusion.

"Transparent communication must supersede speculation," Krafton continued. "Milestone reviews represent standard practice across all Krafton projects, ensuring alignment with our creative and quality standards.

"We remain committed to collaborating with Unknown Worlds to deliver a Subnautica 2 experience worthy of our passionate community," concluded the statement.