"Nothing has changed," Subnautica 2 devs reassure fans after leadership overhaul

Unknown Worlds, the studio behind the popular Subnautica franchise, has addressed community concerns following the unexpected removal of its founding leadership by publisher Krafton. In a public letter to fans, the studio reaffirmed its commitment to the original vision of Subnautica 2.

According to the statement, the day-to-day development team remains "completely unchanged." This includes staff who’ve worked on the franchise since its early days, ensuring continuity as Subnautica 2 heads toward Early Access.

"From the story we’re hoping to tell, to every creature (big and small), down to the tiniest rock - we’re extremely proud of what we’ve built," the team wrote.

“Nothing has changed with how the game is structured,” says Unknown Worlds

The studio expressed full support for Steve Papoutsis, former Dead Space 2 and Callisto Protocol executive producer, as he steps into a new role at Unknown Worlds. The developers emphasized that Papoutsis is "diving into supporting our ongoing vision," but noted that a brief adjustment period is to be expected.

Further, Unknown Worlds directly addressed fan concerns about potential changes to Subnautica 2. “Nothing has changed with how the game is structured,” the team wrote in their community letter. “It will remain a single-player first experience, with optional co-operative multiplayer.”

The studio further reassured players that there will be “No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass.” The plans for Early Access are still on track, with the team promising that “an update to our schedule and more information, including the Early Access timeline, will be coming soon.”

In any case, Subnautica 2 remains one of the most anticipated survival games of 2025. The studio’s recent reassurances may help ease concerns sparked by the sudden leadership overhaul.