Tag: Subnautica

  • Unknown Worlds Sues Founders Amid Krafton Lawsuit Saga

    Unknown Worlds Sues Founders Amid Krafton Lawsuit Saga

    Key Takeaways

    1. Unknown Worlds Entertainment is suing its co-founders for neglecting their roles and misusing sensitive company information.
    2. The lawsuit, filed on August 15, 2025, claims the founders’ disengagement harmed the development of Subnautica 2 and its release was rushed for financial gain.
    3. Accusations include the founders neglecting their responsibilities and causing significant delays in the game’s development.
    4. The founders are also accused of stealing confidential data before leaving the company, with large file downloads noted just before their access was cut off.
    5. The legal action follows the founders’ termination on July 1, 2025, after Krafton’s acquisition of Unknown Worlds in 2021.

    The team behind Subnautica, Unknown Worlds Entertainment, is taking legal action against its co-founders, Charlie Cleveland, Ted Gill, and Max McGuire. They claim that the founders neglected their roles, misused sensitive company information, and rushed the launch of Subnautica 2 for a big payout.

    Details of the Lawsuit

    The lawsuit spans 74 pages and was submitted to the Delaware Court of Chancery on August 15, 2025. It details how the founders’ disengagement negatively impacted the development of Subnautica 2 and jeopardized the integrity of the game series.

    This legal action occurs after the trio was let go on July 1, 2025, and is linked to Krafton’s acquisition of Unknown Worlds in 2021 for $500 million. There was also a possible additional $250 million if the studio met certain revenue goals by 2025.

    Allegations Against the Founders

    The lawsuit states that McGuire, Gill, and Cleveland were entitled to 90% of the $250 million, with their bonuses connected to the game’s successful development and release. However, their actions reportedly caused delays and limited progress.

    Further accusations in the suit claim that the executives “largely neglected” their responsibilities as creative and technical leads. Cleveland, for example, turned his attention to filmmaking by 2023, changing his LinkedIn to reflect a “part-time” status. By 2024, he had completely stepped down from all creative leadership roles, with internal complaints citing a lack of direction as early as 2022.

    Gill is criticized for not addressing the total abandonment of leadership in both creative and technical aspects, allowing the studio to drift aimlessly while knowing the ongoing problems at Unknown Worlds.

    Project Shifts and Delays

    It has been reported that McGuire focused on his passion project, Moonbreaker, a turn-based digital miniatures game that ultimately did not succeed commercially in February 2024. He ceased all technical participation in Subnautica 2.

    Due to their alleged actions, the development of Subnautica 2 fell years behind schedule. Internal reviews by Krafton in 2025 described the game’s current builds as “unready” and lacking essential gameplay features. Consequently, the game faced three delays, and its scope was downgraded from a fully-prepared Early Access to merely a digital sandbox.

    Misappropriation of Data

    In addition to these claims, Unknown Worlds accuses the founders of stealing confidential information as they departed from the studio. Between early June and July 2025, McGuire reportedly downloaded almost 100,000 files, including many related to Moonbreaker, while Cleveland downloaded about 72,000 files just eight minutes before his access was cut off.

    Gill had exported his entire company email account two times, which triggered alerts from the IT department. These downloads were the largest undertaken by each of the three founders since at least 2022.

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  • Subnautica 2 Early Access Delay Sparks Fan Boycott Calls

    Subnautica 2 Early Access Delay Sparks Fan Boycott Calls

    Key Takeaways

    1. Fans are urging a boycott of Subnautica 2 in response to Krafton’s firing of the original co-founders of Unknown Worlds.
    2. Krafton delayed the early access release of Subnautica 2 until 2026, raising suspicions about motives related to a potential $250 million bonus for the team.
    3. The subreddit post titled “DO NOT BUY SUBNAUTICA 2” is rallying the community to oppose Krafton and support the developers.
    4. Mixed opinions exist within the community, with some suggesting waiting for discounts instead of outright boycotting.
    5. Krafton has not provided updates on the game’s current development stage or the new early access release date.

    Developed by Unknown Worlds, the initial Subnautica was launched in December 2014 and quickly gained a loyal following, maintaining an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam. In October 2024, the sequel was announced, and everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. However, recent events have caused fans to take a stand against Subnautica 2, urging gamers to refrain from purchasing the game upon its release.

    Fan Reactions

    A post on the Subnautica subreddit titled “DO NOT BUT SUBNAUTICA 2” encourages the community to support the developers and oppose the large corporation Krafton by not buying the sequel.

    For background, Krafton took control of Unknown Worlds in October 2021. The team was actively working on Subnautica 2, and after the teaser in October 2024, excitement among fans was high. In April of this year, Design Lead Anthony Gallegos provided an update on the game, inviting fans as they approached early access. Up until this point, all seemed well.

    Major Changes

    The trouble for the upcoming game began when Krafton unexpectedly fired the original co-founders of Unknown Worlds—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—earlier this month without any clear explanation. Following this, Cleveland posted on Reddit stating that Subnautica 2 was prepped for early access, despite the recent layoffs. Nevertheless, Krafton announced a delay for early access until 2026 in order to incorporate additional content. Later reports revealed that the Unknown Worlds team could have earned a $250 million bonus if the game met specific revenue goals by year-end. This led fans to suspect that the delay was aimed at preventing the bonus payout, resulting in the Reddit petition advocating for a boycott of Subnautica 2.

    Some users in the comments support the boycott, while others argue that Krafton will still profit regardless, as many will likely purchase the game. A few have suggested waiting a year or two to buy the game when it’s on sale or discounted. Another suggestion made was to remove the game from Steam wishlists as a way to communicate dissatisfaction with Krafton.

    Current Situation

    As it stands, Krafton has not provided any updates on the early access release date, and it remains unclear what stage of development Subnautica 2 is currently in.

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  • Subnautica Launches on iOS and Android with Discount on July 8

    Subnautica Launches on iOS and Android with Discount on July 8

    Key Takeaways

    1. Mobile Launch Date: Subnautica will be available on iOS and Android on July 8, 2025, through Playdigious.

    2. Comprehensive Port: The mobile version will include all content from the original game, with improved performance and touch screen controls.

    3. Gameplay Features: Players will explore the ocean on the alien planet 4546B, managing survival needs while using Survival, Creative, and Freedom modes.

    4. User Interface Enhancements: The mobile interface has been redesigned for better usability, with adjustable HUD settings and optimized controls for smartphones and tablets.

    5. Pricing and Discounts: The game will cost $9.99 at launch, with a 10% pre-order discount available, reducing the price to $8.99.

    When Subnautica debuted in 2014, many players didn’t foresee that a survival game entirely based in water would gain popularity. Over time, Unknown Worlds’ adventure game has turned into one of the most cherished titles in its field – and now it’s coming to mobile devices.

    Mobile Launch Details

    Brought to mobile by Playdigious, the studio known for the mobile adaptations of Dead Cells and Northgard, Subnautica is set to officially arrive on iOS and Android on July 8, 2025. This version is a comprehensive premium port of the original game, featuring all content intact while enhancing performance and touch screen usability.

    Gameplay Elements

    Players will find themselves on the alien world of 4546B, diving into the ocean’s depths to collect resources, construct underwater habitats, and unravel a gradually revealed sci-fi mystery – all while managing survival aspects like oxygen, food, and pressure. The mobile edition offers Survival, Creative, and Freedom modes, mirroring the options available on PC and console.

    User Experience Improvements

    According to Playdigious, they have redesigned the interface specifically for mobile, incorporating adjustable HUD settings and optimized controls for both smartphones and tablets. Although no gameplay footage has been released yet, the studio’s previous projects suggest a quality gaming experience.

    Subnautica will be priced at $9.99 at launch, but those who pre-order from the App Store or register on Google Play can benefit from a 10% discount, bringing the final price down to $8.99 when it launches.

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