In a surprising turn of events, a co-founder of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2, has spoken out following the shocking decision to overhaul the leadership team. The dismissal has left many reeling, with the developer confessing that the news "stings."

While the shift in management hints at deeper issues between Krafton, the parent company that acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021, and the studio's original leaders, Krafton has attempted to quell community fears. They reassured fans that the game will remain a single-player experience, introducing optional cooperative multiplayer without any pesky microtransactions, subscriptions, or loot boxes.

Last week, the former CEO of Striking Distance, Steve Papoutsis, took the helm at Unknown Worlds, replacing the beloved leadership trio: Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire, effective immediately. The abrupt leadership change was handled without explanation from Cleveland or insight into Papoutsis' plans for the studio.

In a heartfelt statement shared on Reddit, Cleveland expressed the shock felt by himself and his teammates. "We know that the game is ready for early access release, and we believed the decision to release it was in our hands. But now, that's been taken away. After all this time, it hurts to be removed from the company I built from the ground up."

Cleveland reassured fans that regardless of the leadership changes, the team remains committed to delivering a top-tier gaming experience. "Our priority has always been to create the best game possible for our amazing community. Your support—whether through plushies, fan art, or hard-earned dollars—has kept us going through every challenge since our beginnings in Half-Life modding."