Steve Papoutsis, former CEO of Striking Distance Studios, has been appointed as the new head of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, developer of Subnautica 2. This sudden leadership shift comes alongside the immediate departure of the studio's previous executives — Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire.
Krafton, Unknown Worlds' parent company and creator of PUBG, offered no specific explanation for the management overhaul. However, the company stated that while it "aimed to maintain involvement from the studio's co-founders and original Subnautica creators," it simultaneously "wishes them success in their future pursuits."
The publisher emphasized Papoutsis will "focus on maintaining development progress while ensuring optimal player experiences," bringing "fresh energy to the project." The leadership transition raises questions about potential impacts on the game's release timeline.
Cleveland and McGuire established the veteran studio 24 years ago, with Gill joining as president seven years before his 2024 promotion to CEO. LinkedIn profiles still identify all three as current Unknown Worlds employees, indicating the transition occurred abruptly.
"Player experience remains our utmost priority. With Subnautica 2's high expectations, we're committed to delivering the finest possible game as quickly as we can," commented CH Kim, Krafton's chief executive.
"Steve's appointment reinforces our shared vision at Krafton and Unknown Worlds — to create Subnautica 2 as the most polished and rewarding series installment that meets gamers' standards."
Krafton purchased Unknown Worlds in October 2021, initially promising the Subnautica developer would maintain operational independence.
The upcoming sequel introduces four-player cooperative gameplay, transporting crews to an uncharted planet featuring novel ecosystems and wildlife. While the exact launch remains undetermined, players can expect to explore these depths in late 2025 on PC and Xbox Series X/S platforms, available through Game Pass for premium members.
The original Subnautica earned critical acclaim, securing a 9.1/10 with praise for its "focused survival mechanics, compelling sci-fi narrative, and masterful underwater terror." Its follow-up, Subnautica: Below Zero, maintained this excellence with an equally strong 9/10 rating in our evaluation.
