Earlier this month, Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds studio co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, and former CEO Ted Gill, were reportedly forced out of the studio by parent company Krafton. One of the conflicts between the two sides was over whether Subnautica 2 is ready for early release. Now, a negative internal review of Subnautica 2 has been leaked online, and Krafton has confirmed that the document is real.
The leaked document was shared on Subnautica 2’s reddit, and it critiques the current build–as of May 2025–as lacking several features that were intended to be a part of an early-access release. Most notably, the document mentions that six hours of content have been cut, a game mode has been removed, and that the build has two fewer biomes, a missing leviathan and vehicle, and a delayed narrative. The report concludes that Subnautica 2 fell short of its goals set in 2023 and recommended that the release timeline and content roadmap be reassessed. Krafton subsequently announced Subnautica 2’s delay alongside a new trailer for the game.
“Milestone reviews are conducted regularly in collaboration with Krafton’s creative studios across all projects,” said a Krafton spokesperson while authenticating the document. “These reviews help assess development progress, define clear objectives, and ensure that each project aligns with Krafton’s standards in both creativity and quality. This process is central to Krafton’s commitment to delivering polished, high-quality games at the right time.”
A report from Bloomberg indicated that Subnautica 2’s delay may be linked to a $250 million bonus that Krafton was supposed to pay Unknown Worlds if certain financial thresholds were met in 2025. Because those marks are unlikely to be hit without Subnautica 2 being released, some fans have openly called for a boycott of the game. Krafton responded with a scorched-earth statement that accused Unknown Worlds’ former leadership team of abandoning their responsibilities for the sequel.
Cleveland subsequently announced that he is launching a lawsuit against Krafton alongside McGuire, and Gill. That legal battle may take years to play out. In the meantime, Subnautica 2 is expected to be released on PC and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.
