Krafton Confirms Subnautica 2 Leak Amid Drama

Amid a heated dispute over a $250 million bonus, Krafton has officially acknowledged the authenticity of a leaked Subnautica 2 development document that criticizes the highly anticipated sequel.

To provide context, Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021, initially promising the studio would remain independent. Recently, former Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis took over as CEO of Unknown Worlds, replacing the original leadership team—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—with immediate effect. Cleveland later described the sudden leadership change as a "shock," expressing disappointment over being removed from the company he founded. He also suggested Krafton disagreed with the team's assessment that the game was ready for early access.

Reports emerged last week that Subnautica 2 faced delays until 2026, coinciding with Krafton's obligation to pay a $250 million bonus to the developers if revenue targets were met by 2025. Bloomberg noted the delay opposed the former leadership's plans, effectively voiding the bonus. Krafton denied financial motives, attributing the delay to playtest feedback and claiming discussions began before the leadership overhaul. Shortly after, the former executives announced legal action against Krafton.

The controversy escalated with the leak of an internal review document criticizing the game's progress. Krafton confirmed its authenticity, stating transparency was necessary to curb speculation. The leaked images, possibly photos of a monitor, reveal discrepancies between Krafton’s expectations and the game’s current state. The document suggests launching with a minimum viable product (MVP) to showcase core gameplay but warns the current build lacks the polish and market impact needed to sustain the franchise.

"The game requires more content and refinement to appeal to a wider audience during early access," the review states. "While diverse, the content falls short of sequel expectations and fails to meet OWSC and Asian market standards."

Krafton addressed the leak in a statement to Eurogamer, explaining the document was part of routine milestone reviews to ensure quality. "We acknowledge the confusion caused by this leak," the company said. "Our priority is clear communication with players. We remain committed to delivering a game that meets fan expectations."

A leak from a credible source regarding the milestone review of Subnautica 2
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