The gaming community has been buzzing with controversy following Krafton's recent decision to replace the leadership team at Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind the highly anticipated Subnautica 2. This unexpected move has raised serious concerns about the game's development timeline and future quality.

The situation escalated when Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire - the original founders and leaders of Unknown Worlds - were abruptly replaced by Krafton, with Steve Papoutsis taking over as the new CEO. This sudden change occurred without any initial explanation, leaving fans confused and worried about the sequel's direction.

Community concerns reached new heights when Krafton announced a delay in Subnautica 2's early access launch, pushing it back to 2026. A Bloomberg report suggested this delay might be financially motivated, as it could allow Krafton to avoid paying a $250 million bonus tied to revenue targets. However, the publisher has strongly denied these allegations.

In an official statement, Krafton placed blame on the former leadership team, claiming they "abandoned their responsibilities" and failed to contribute adequately to the game's development. The publisher maintains that the current build lacks sufficient content, necessitating the delay, despite some developers' claims that the game was ready for early access.

Interestingly, Krafton revealed that Subnautica 2 was originally planned to enter early access in 2024, suggesting significant development challenges have emerged. The publisher also stated that 90% of the controversial $250 million bonus had already been allocated to the former leadership team prior to their replacement.