Seoul, South Korea – Krafton, the publisher behind the highly anticipated Subnautica 2, has confirmed the authenticity of a leaked internal document that exposed significant behind-the-scenes turmoil. The document, verified by Krafton executives earlier today, reveals heated disagreements over the game’s early access launch strategy, resulting in delays and the abrupt ouster of key project leaders.
The leak, which surfaced on gaming forums late last week, centers on a confidential slide deck outlining Krafton’s dissatisfaction with the scope of Subnautica 2’s planned early access release. Internal communications show executives demanding "substantially more content" for the initial launch, fearing player backlash over perceived lack of depth compared to the original Subnautica.
https://imgur.com/a/lXgAdej
Leaked slide reveals Krafton’s proposed early access content tiers (Source: Anonymous)
According to the documents, this push triggered a major rift between Krafton’s leadership and development studio Unknown Worlds. Krafton argued that the early access model required "a meatier foundation" to maintain player engagement, while Unknown Worlds advocated for a leaner launch to "preserve creative flexibility." The stalemate forced a delay of Subnautica 2’s early access window—previously slated for late 2025—into 2026.
The conflict culminated in the removal of two senior figures: Emma Cho, Krafton’s Head of Product for the project, and David Kim, Unknown Worlds’ Lead Producer. The document explicitly links their departures to "fundamental disagreements over scope prioritization and resource allocation."
In a statement to PC Gamer, Krafton acknowledged the leak’s legitimacy:
"We regret this internal material has become public. While we stand by our commitment to delivering a high-quality early access experience, the situation led to difficult personnel decisions. Our focus remains on supporting the development team to ensure Subnautica 2 meets expectations."
Read PC Gamer’s full breakdown of the fallout here, including developer reactions and analysis of Krafton’s increasing influence over Unknown Worlds since acquiring the studio in 2023.
Community Reaction
Fans expressed concern over the revelations, flooding social media with #SaveSubnautica hashtags. Many worry Krafton’s intervention risks compromising the franchise’s signature exploratory, player-driven design.
"Subnautica thrived because Unknown Worlds iterated with community feedback," said longtime fan and Twitch streamer Rae Winters. "Forcing content bloat feels like a corporate misstep."
What’s Next?
Krafton confirms Subnautica 2 remains in active development, with a revised roadmap due "before Q4 2025." However, the leak casts doubt on the studio’s creative autonomy and stokes fears of "Krafton-ization"—prioritizing monetization and scale over the series’ intimate survival roots.
As one anonymous developer lamented in the leaked notes:
"We’re building an ocean, not an aquarium. They want more sharks before we’ve finished the water."
Developing story – more updates as they emerge.
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