Unknown Worlds Co-Founder Describes Sudden Departure as a Major Surprise

Charlie Cleveland, the former creative director and co-founder of Unknown Worlds, has expressed his surprise and disappointment over his recent departure from the company. In a post on the Subnautica subreddit, Cleveland revealed that Subnautica 2 is nearly ready for early access release, but noted that the decision to release is now in the hands of Krafton. Cleveland stated that the loss of control over the company he started is difficult to accept, saying "it stings" to no longer be a part of it. Despite the changes, Cleveland emphasized that the team's priority remains creating the best game possible for their dedicated community. The news comes after Krafton announced changes to Unknown Worlds' leadership team, appointing a new CEO and prompting the departure of several key figures, including Cleveland and fellow co-founder Max McGuire. Krafton has stated its intention to keep the original Subnautica creators involved in the development of Subnautica 2, despite the changes in leadership.