Krafton Appoints Steve Papoutsis as CEO of Unknown Worlds
– 2 min read
Krafton has announced a change at the top of Unknown Worlds, which is working on Subnautica 2. Steve Papoutsis, previously CEO of Striking Distance Studios, is replacing the previous leadership trio of Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, with immediate effect.
Even though the announcement of the change at the top of Unknown Worlds includes clear words of thanks to the company's founders, the tone and, above all, the urgency of the change suggest that Krafton was apparently concerned that the upcoming Subnautica 2 would not meet market expectations. Krafton writes that it is confident that Papoutsis, "with decades of experience behind the planning, development, and production of some of the highest-rated game franchises, will bring renewed energy and momentum to delivering the long-anticipated Subnautica 2 experience to fans". While efforts have been made to continue involving the co-founders of Unknown Worlds and the original creators of the Subnautica series in the development of the game, Krafton wishes them every success in their future projects now.
"There is nothing more important than the gamer experience. Given the anticipation around Subnautica 2, we owe our players nothing less than the best possible game, as soon as possible," said CH Kim, CEO Kraftin. "We are thrilled Steve is joining us in our shared commitment at Krafton and Unknown Worlds to deliver Subnautica 2 as a more complete and satisfying entry in the series—one that truly lives up to player expectations."
"Krafton puts players at the heart of every decision because they deserve the absolute best," Kim added." We understand how eager our community is to dive into the underwater world of Subnautica 2, and we are working diligently to deliver an experience that meets those expectations – while maintaining our unwavering commitment to quality and player experience. We deeply appreciate the patience and trust of our Subnauts, and we are doing everything possible to ensure the final result is worth the wait."
And Steve Papoutsis adds: "I am thrilled to be taking on this new role within the Krafton family and to be working alongside the immensely talented team at Unknown Worlds. Player experience is our North Star, and the team is laser-focused on delivering the best possible game for the Subnautica community. We appreciate Ted, Charlie and Max for their past roles in having built this beloved world, and thank the fans for your devotion and patience."
Never miss anything from the German, Swiss and Austrian games industry again: subscribe for free to our Daily newsletter and get all news straight to your inbox.
Written by
Stephan is Editor in Chief
