Subnautica 2 Drama Gets Even Messier As Krafton Confirms Internal Document Leak Is Real

Amid an progressively bitter enactment implicit a $250 cardinal bonus, Krafton has present chosen to corroborate a leaked Subnautica 2 improvement papers purportedly criticizing the highly-anticipated sequel is, successful fact, real.

But first, immoderate context. Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds successful October 2021 and astatine the time, said the Subnautica workplace would proceed to run arsenic an autarkic outfit. Last week, however, erstwhile Striking Distance CEO, Steve Papoutsis, joined Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds arsenic CEO. The daze announcement confirmed that the erstwhile enactment squad — Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire — were replaced "effective immediately." In a consequent statement, co-founder Cleveland responded to what helium called the "shock" determination to regenerate the enactment team, saying that "after each these years, to find that I’m nary longer capable to enactment astatine the institution I started stings." The connection besides intimated that portion the erstwhile enactment squad considered the crippled acceptable for aboriginal entree release, Krafton did not.

Then, past week, reports came to airy that Subnautica 2 had been delayed to 2026 conscionable months earlier Krafton was owed to wage a $250 cardinal bonus to the improvement team. Bloomberg said the hold was “against the wishes of the studio’s erstwhile leadership,” and that the $250 cardinal bonus would person kicked successful if Unknown Worlds deed definite gross targets by the extremity of 2025. Now, without Subnautica 2 coming retired this year, that bonus wouldn’t beryllium paid out.

In a connection to IGN, Krafton insisted the determination had thing to bash with “any contractual oregon fiscal considerations.” Instead, Krafton claimed, the hold was astir responding to feedback from playtests, and hold talks were already nether treatment earlier Cleveland, McGuire, and Gill were outed. Shortly aft this statement, the erstwhile enactment squad revealed they were filing a suit against Krafton.

And present the play continues, with the leak of an interior reappraisal papers that shares a less-than-stellar mid-cycle review. Rather than contradict the leak, however, Krafton has authenticated it, saying: "Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent connection is indispensable and has chosen to corroborate the authenticity of the document."

The leaked images themselves amusement 2 pages of a improvement review, and look to beryllium photographs of a PC monitor. They amusement the disconnect betwixt wherever Krafton expected improvement to beryllium versus the as-is position. While we don't cognize who oregon which institution authored the report, it's intelligibly captious of Unknown Worlds, recommending Subnautica 2 should "launch with an MVP-level physique that allows players to acquisition the halfway loop astatine a precocious level of quality," but adding that, arsenic it presently stood, the crippled "lacks the level of polish and marketplace interaction required to thrust IP maturation and expansion."

"It is recommended to heighten the contented measurement and level of polish earlier launching truthful that it tin entreaty to a broader marketplace from the [early access] merchandise stage," the study says. "While the crippled includes a assortment of content, it presently lacks the freshness and measurement expected of a sequel.

"In addition, it falls abbreviated of gathering the precocious expectations of the OWSC and the Asian market."

It is presently unclear however the leaked papers began circulating publically online.

"Krafton is issuing the pursuing connection successful effect to increasing speculation surrounding the improvement of Subnautica 2," Krafton said successful a connection to Eurogamer. "This connection aims to connection clarity and discourse regarding the existent situation.

"The papers that has been circulating connected societal media and reported by assorted outlets is so portion of an interior milestone reappraisal conducted arsenic portion of the Subnautica 2 project. Krafton has confirmed that portions of it person been leaked and are present being wide shared crossed online platforms and wrong the instrumentality community. Krafton recognises the disorder this has caused.

"Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent connection is indispensable and has chosen to corroborate the authenticity of the document," the steadfast added. "Krafton believes that minimising speculation and ensuring close connection with players indispensable instrumentality precedence.

"Milestone reviews are conducted regularly successful collaboration with Krafton's originative studios crossed each projects. These reviews assistance measure improvement progress, specify wide objectives, and guarantee that each task aligns with Krafton's standards successful some creativity and quality. This process is cardinal to Krafton's committedness to delivering polished, high-quality games astatine the close time.

"Krafton volition proceed moving intimately with Unknown Worlds to guarantee that Subnautica 2 meets the expectations of players who person supported the franchise implicit the years," the connection concluded.

Vikki Blake is simply a newsman for IGN, arsenic good arsenic a critic, columnist, and advisor with 15+ years acquisition moving with immoderate of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's besides a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her astatine BlueSky.