Greetings!
 

The ocean is getting turbulent over at Unknown Worlds. Recently, the studio behind Subnautica 2, the highly anticipated sequel to one of the most beloved indie survival games of the last decade, underwent a major leadership change, and fans across Reddit and beyond are raising serious questions about what it means for the game’s direction. 
 

Krafton, the publisher behind Subnautica 2, announced that longtime studio leads Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire have been removed from their roles at Unknown Worlds. In their place, Krafton has brought on Steve Papoutsis, former CEO of Striking Distance Studios, best known for his work on Dead Space 2, Dead Space 3, and The Callisto Protocol, who has taken over as the new CEO of Unknown Worlds.  

Krafton’s official line is that the move is meant to “bring renewed energy and momentum” to Subnautica 2’s development." But many fans aren't convinced this is just a friendly baton pass. Those speculating have pointed to the suspicious timing and the total replacement of the original heads as evidence that the change might have been forced, and fast-tracked. With fast-tracked being the keyword here. The official press release from PR Newswire quotes Krafton CEO, CH Kim:  

“...we owe our players nothing less than the best possible game, as soon as possible." 

It’s the second half of that quote that makes me worried as a fan. We have seen time and time again what releasing a game too early does. RIP Halo: Infinite, am I right? This aids the claims that this change was due because the former leadership team refused to compromise quality over releasing an unfinished and rushed product. And if that’s true, mad respect to them!  
 

Some fans are especially wary given Papoutsis’ background. While the Dead Space franchise has its loyal following, Dead Space 3 in particular faced criticism for leaning into action-heavy design choices and microtransaction-driven gameplay. That’s a far cry from the quiet, exploration-first appeal of the original Subnautica. And for a community that has always valued the series’ slower pace, isolation, and environmental storytelling, the change has sparked fears of a fundamental shift in tone. 

Adding to the concern is Subnautica 2’s previously announced direction: optional co-op multiplayer, a more flexible progression system, and broader gameplay structure. While none of this is inherently negative, and actually super dope, (looking at you co-op) the leadership change coming so close on its heels has some fans feeling like the original spirit of the series is being replaced by perhaps a more “live-service” mindset. 
 

After reading all of this and speculating, it’s worth noting that Krafton and Unknown Worlds have not indicated any major gameplay changes since the leadership shift. This is all speculation based off of Krafton’s history and some valid, yet emotional takes online. At the end of the day Subnautica 2 is still planned as a primarily single-player experience with optional co-op. But in the wake of this shake-up, fans are watching closely. We will truly just have to wait and see what sort of game hits our screens when the time comes to jump in.  

For now, Subnautica 2 is still on track, but the seas ahead may be rough. 

What do you think!? Are you worried about Subnautica 2? Do you think this is an overreaction from fans worried about the sequel? Sound off in the comments! I want to hear your thoughts!