Amid an more and more bitter row over a $250 million bonus, Krafton has now chosen to verify a leaked Subnautica 2 improvement doc purportedly criticizing the highly-anticipated sequel is, in actual fact, actual.
However first, some context. Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021 and on the time, mentioned the Subnautica studio would proceed to function as an impartial outfit. Final week, nevertheless, former Hanging Distance CEO, Steve Papoutsis, joined Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds as CEO. The shock announcement confirmed that the earlier management crew — Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire — had been changed “efficient instantly.” In a subsequent assertion, co-founder Cleveland responded to what he known as the “shock” choice to interchange the management crew, saying that “in spite of everything these years, to search out that I’m not in a position to work on the firm I began stings.” The assertion additionally intimated that whereas the previous management crew thought-about the sport prepared for early entry launch, Krafton didn’t.
Then, final week, stories got here to gentle that Subnautica 2 had been delayed to 2026 simply months earlier than Krafton was resulting from pay a $250 million bonus to the event crew. Bloomberg mentioned the delay was “towards the desires of the studio’s former management,” and that the $250 million bonus would have kicked in if Unknown Worlds hit sure income targets by the top of 2025. Now, with out Subnautica 2 popping out this 12 months, that bonus wouldn’t be paid out.
In an announcement to IGN, Krafton insisted the choice had nothing to do with “any contractual or monetary issues.” As a substitute, Krafton claimed, the delay was about responding to suggestions from playtests, and delay talks had been already underneath dialogue earlier than Cleveland, McGuire, and Gill had been outed. Shortly after this assertion, the previous management crew revealed they had been submitting a lawsuit towards Krafton.
And now the drama continues, with the leak of an inside overview doc that shares a less-than-stellar mid-cycle overview. Slightly than deny the leak, nevertheless, Krafton has authenticated it, saying: “Given these circumstances, Krafton has decided that clear communication is critical and has chosen to verify the authenticity of the doc.”
The leaked photographs themselves present two pages of a improvement overview, and look like pictures of a PC monitor. They present the disconnect between the place Krafton anticipated improvement to be versus the as-is place. Whereas we do not know who or which firm authored the report, it is clearly vital of Unknown Worlds, recommending Subnautica 2 ought to “launch with an MVP-level construct that enables gamers to expertise the core loop at a excessive stage of high quality,” however including that, because it at the moment stood, the sport “lacks the extent of polish and market influence required to drive IP development and enlargement.”
“It’s endorsed to boost the content material quantity and stage of polish earlier than launching in order that it may attraction to a broader market from the [early access] launch stage,” the report says. “Whereas the sport contains quite a lot of content material, it at the moment lacks the freshness and quantity anticipated of a sequel.
“As well as, it falls wanting assembly the excessive expectations of the OWSC and the Asian market.”
It’s at the moment unclear how the leaked doc started circulating publicly on-line.
“Krafton is issuing the next assertion in response to rising hypothesis surrounding the event of Subnautica 2,” Krafton mentioned in an announcement to Eurogamer. “This assertion goals to supply readability and context relating to the present scenario.
“The doc that has been circulating on social media and reported by varied retailers is certainly a part of an inside milestone overview carried out as a part of the Subnautica 2 undertaking. Krafton has confirmed that parts of it have been leaked and are actually being extensively shared throughout on-line platforms and inside the fan group. Krafton recognises the confusion this has induced.
“Given these circumstances, Krafton has decided that clear communication is critical and has chosen to verify the authenticity of the doc,” the writer added. “Krafton believes that minimising hypothesis and making certain correct communication with gamers should take priority.
“Milestone evaluations are carried out frequently in collaboration with Krafton’s inventive studios throughout all initiatives. These evaluations assist assess improvement progress, outline clear goals, and make sure that every undertaking aligns with Krafton’s requirements in each creativity and high quality. This course of is central to Krafton’s dedication to delivering polished, high-quality video games on the proper time.
“Krafton will proceed working intently with Unknown Worlds to make sure that Subnautica 2 meets the expectations of gamers who’ve supported the franchise over time,” the assertion concluded.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and advisor with 15+ years expertise working with a number of the world’s greatest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.