Krafton Reshuffles Subnautica 2 Leadership for Boost

Former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis is taking the helm at Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds, following the abrupt replacement of the previous leadership team—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—effective immediately.

Publisher Krafton, parent company of PUBG, offered no explanation for the sudden leadership overhaul. The company stated it had "hoped to maintain collaboration with Unknown Worlds' co-founders and original creators of the Subnautica series," but now "wishes them success in their future ventures."

Krafton emphasized that Papoutsis will "focus on maintaining development progress and optimizing player experience," bringing "fresh energy and leadership" to the project. The management shakeup raises questions about the anticipated release timeline for the upcoming game.

Cleveland and McGuire established the studio 24 years ago, while Gill joined nearly seven years back as president before becoming CEO in August 2024. Interestingly, all three still list their employment at Unknown Worlds on LinkedIn, indicating the leadership transition occurred unexpectedly with minimal prior notice.

"Player satisfaction is our paramount priority. With the immense excitement surrounding Subnautica 2, we're committed to delivering the finest possible experience without delay," stated CH Kim, CEO of Krafton.

"Steve's arrival reinforces our shared dedication at Krafton and Unknown Worlds to create a more polished and fulfilling sequel—one that meets gamers' high expectations for the franchise."

Krafton purchased Unknown Worlds in October 2021, initially assuring the Subnautica studio would maintain operational independence.

The next Subnautica title introduces four-player cooperative gameplay, transporting explorers to a brand-new planet teeming with undiscovered biomes, plants, and creatures. While an exact launch date remains unconfirmed, PC and Xbox Series X/S players—including Game Pass Ultimate subscribers—can expect to plunge into these alien depths in late 2025.

The franchise's previous underwater adventure, Subnautica, earned a stellar 9.1/10 in our review, praised as "a survival game with remarkable focus and sci-fi storytelling, achieving brilliance through its aquatic terror." Its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero, similarly impressed with a 9/10 score in its IGN evaluation.