Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica, has suffered a major round of departures this week, with Ted Gill (CEO), Charlie Cleveland (co-founder and creative director), and Max McGuire (co-founder and technical director) all having left the studio.
Right now there’s no word on why the three have departed Unknown Worlds, and no statement from any of the trio has been issued at the time of writing. However, it has been confirmed that Steve Papoutsis will take over as CEO of Unknown Worlds, having previously served as head of Striking Distance Studios.
Importantly, Krafton is confident that Papoutsis, with decades of experience behind the planning, development, and production of some of the highest-rated game franchises, will bring renewed energy and momentum to delivering the long-anticipated Subnautica 2 experience to fans.
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Speaking on his new role, Papoutsis commented:
I am thrilled to be taking on this new role within the Krafton family and to be working alongside the immensely talented team at Unknown Worlds. Player experience is our North Star, and the team is laser-focused on delivering the best possible game for the Subnautica community. We appreciate Ted, Charlie and Max for their past roles in having built this beloved world, and thank the fans for your devotion and patience.
Subnautica 2 is currently in development at Unknown Worlds, with a release date yet to be announced. Subnautica was released for the PC in January 2018 and arrived on PS4 and Xbox One in December of that year. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions turned up in May 2021.
[Source – VGC]