Skip to main content GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love Search GamesRadar+ View Profile Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Tabletop Gaming Toys & Collectibles Retro Gamer Newsletters Total Film Gaming Magazines Why subscribe? Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99Subscribe now The Fantastic Four: First Steps Donkey Kong Bananza Switch 2 Starter Pack Recommended reading Survival Games As Subnautica 2's ugly $250 million lawsuit debate rumbles on, its new CEO hits back at claims the game was delayed to save a huge payout Survival Games Subnautica 2 owner Krafton says "former leadership abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them" in response to concerns over sudden changes and official delay: "We feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure" Survival Games OG Subnautica director is suing parent company Krafton after leadership changes: "Subnautica has been my life's work and I would never willingly abandon it" Survival Games Subnautica studio co-founder speaks on "shock" dismissal, says "we know that the game is ready" – "To find that I'm no longer able to work at the company I started stings" Survival Games Fired Subnautica 2 leads suing Krafton say the company "was not focused on a successful launch" because it was too busy sabotaging that launch to avoid paying a $250 million bonus Survival Games "No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass": Subnautica 2 devs address concerns following major leadership changes, insist "it will remain a single-player first experience" Survival Games In a massive shakeup, Subnautica creators and Unknown Worlds co-founders have been replaced by The Callisto Protocol studio CEO months before Subnautica 2's early access launch Survival Games Subnautica 2 New Unknown Worlds CEO reacts to fans planning Subnautica 2 boycott: "Wow ... That's very disappointing" Jordan Gerblick 19 July 2025 "People put a lot of effort into making those games" When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Unknown Worlds) New Unknown Worlds CEO Steve Papoutsis says the recent calls to boycott Subnautica 2 over the studio's recent leadership upheaval are "very disappointing." Previously of The Callisto Protocol studio Striking Distance, Papoutsis stepped in as Unknown Worlds' new CEO early this month after Krafton fired the studio's former leaders and co-founders Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire, allegedly for abandoning their posts. The ousted leaders have since collectively filed a lawsuit claiming Krafton "flagrantly breached both the letter and the spirit of the promises at the very core of its agreement to purchase Unknown Worlds" in an effort to withhold a $250 million payout stipulated in its $500 million buyout. You may like As Subnautica 2's ugly $250 million lawsuit debate rumbles on, its new CEO hits back at claims the game was delayed to save a huge payout Subnautica 2 owner Krafton says "former leadership abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them" in response to concerns over sudden changes and official delay: "We feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure" OG Subnautica director is suing parent company Krafton after leadership changes: "Subnautica has been my life's work and I would never willingly abandon it" Regardless of the true reality of the situation, which may never come into clear view, the backlash from the Subnautica community has dominated the news cycle for the better part of a month now. The new top post of all time on the Subnautica subreddit reads: "Do not buy Subnautica 2" and alleges the game was delayed to 2026 "so that devs wouldn't receive $250 million in bonuses." I pointed this post out to Papoutsis in our recent conversation. "Wow. Yeah. I mean, I guess my initial reaction is, that's very disappointing," Papoutsis said. "Making games is a labor of love, and people put a lot of effort into making those games. Throughout the time I've been involved in making games, there's there always been changes. There have always been people that have come and gone. "All I can say in this particular instance is the people that started on the journey of building Subnautica 2, they're here. They care. They're working diligently to deliver a great experience for players that is an evolution of Subnautica, the franchise, not a major departure from the things that our players enjoyed and loved. The vision has been to stay true to what made the original Subnautica so special." In a statement sent to GamesRadar+ in the aftermath of my conversation with Papoutsis, Krafton alleged, "Charlie and Max have had minimal–to-no involvement in the development of SN2. The SN2 development team remains intact and is actively continuing its work." Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Added Papoutsis, "[current Unknown Worlds leadership is] committed to the community, the spirit of open development. We're not looking to change the monetization model or add microtransactions or any of these things that people tend to find as a negative. This is about delivering a meaningful player experience that respects the community and the legacy of Subnautica." As Subnautica 2's ugly $250 million lawsuit debate rumbles on, its new CEO hits back at claims the game was delayed to save a huge payout See more PC Gaming News Jordan Gerblick Social Links Navigation After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. As Subnautica 2's ugly $250 million lawsuit debate rumbles on, its new CEO hits back at claims the game was delayed to save a huge payout Subnautica 2 owner Krafton says "former leadership abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them" in response to concerns over sudden changes and official delay: "We feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure" OG Subnautica director is suing parent company Krafton after leadership changes: "Subnautica has been my life's work and I would never willingly abandon it" Subnautica studio co-founder speaks on "shock" dismissal, says "we know that the game is ready" – "To find that I'm no longer able to work at the company I started stings" Fired Subnautica 2 leads suing Krafton say the company "was not focused on a successful launch" because it was too busy sabotaging that launch to avoid paying a $250 million bonus "No subscriptions. No loot boxes. No battle pass": Subnautica 2 devs address concerns following major leadership changes, insist "it will remain a single-player first experience" Latest in Survival Games As Subnautica 2's ugly $250 million lawsuit debate rumbles on, its new CEO hits back at claims the game was delayed to save a huge payout As Palworld update soars, IP expert says "weird" new moves from Nintendo in ongoing lawsuit read like a "desperate attempt to win by doing something odd" Fired Subnautica 2 leads suing Krafton say the company "was not focused on a successful launch" because it was too busy sabotaging that launch to avoid paying a $250 million bonus Subnautica 2 leak confirmed by Krafton, highlighting the cause of the survival game's delay and publisher's plans to "enhance the content volume and level of polish before launching" OG Subnautica director is suing parent company Krafton after leadership changes: "Subnautica has been my life's work and I would never willingly abandon it" Subnautica 2 owner Krafton says "former leadership abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them" in response to concerns over sudden changes and official delay: "We feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure" Latest in News Battlefield 6 is seemingly just called Battlefield 6, according to leaked packages sent to content creators that might signal a reveal from EA soon "Frankly, it's just so dang convenient": Ghost of Yotei's new camping trips are an answer to traditional RPG mechanics like fast travel James Gunn confirms he considered Bradley Cooper for Lex Luthor in Superman before casting Nicholas Hoult Early Fantastic Four: The First Steps reactions call it "one of Marvel’s best" Helldivers 2 CEO absorbs duty of a chivalrous galactic knight, swears to heavens that "we won't rest until some kind of chainsword is in the game" Valve boss and superyacht enthusiast Gabe Newell says pitching VCs is a "deeply distracted" way to make money: "If you're creating value for people, the capital will come your way" GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years" Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans" College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf” Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy" Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse" Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU" Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber" M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion" 28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy” Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation" Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever" Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era" Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date" Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling" Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Contact Future's experts Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookies policy Advertise with us Review guidelines Write for us Accessibility Statement Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Please login or signup to comment Please wait...