Subnautica 2 Leak Confirms Scaled-Back Content as Krafton Responds to Internal Document Going Public
- Sagar Mankar
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
The storm around Subnautica 2 isn't letting up anytime soon. After the abrupt removal of Unknown Worlds’ leadership, a delayed launch, and a $250 million lawsuit, things have now taken another dramatic turn — this time involving a leaked internal development document that lays bare the game’s troubled production state.
The leak first surfaced on an unofficial Subnautica 2 subreddit, where two images from what appears to be a May 2025 internal milestone review began making the rounds. The documents showed a detailed comparison of content planned over the past few years and revealed just how much of the original scope had been scaled back.
Shortly after the images began circulating online, Krafton stepped in to confirm their authenticity. “The document that has been circulating on social media and reported by various outlets is indeed part of an internal milestone review conducted as part of the Subnautica 2 project,” the publisher’s PR team said in a media release (via Insider Gaming). “Portions of it have been leaked and are now being widely shared… Krafton recognizes the confusion this has caused.”
In the same statement, Krafton said it felt the need to address the leak due to how quickly the information was spreading, adding that “transparent communication is necessary” to prevent speculation and keep players accurately informed.
The internal document paints a picture of a project that has undergone major changes. According to the milestone review, the game’s planned Early Access scope has been trimmed down significantly since 2023. Several biomes were removed, the number of creatures was reduced, one of the Leviathan types was scrapped, and the ecosystem restoration system was replaced with a new mechanic called "Blight."
Narrative content also took a hit. Originally, Subnautica 2 was meant to launch with two chapters totaling around 13–16 hours of gameplay. The current milestone shows only one chapter implemented, offering 8–10 hours.
In terms of gameplay systems, custom game modes were cut, the dedicated multiplayer server plan shifted to peer-to-peer, and while the number of base-building parts increased, one of the original vehicles (Trident) was dropped from the launch build. Even some character customization features were removed, with biomods now split into smaller systems.
The second leaked image — a final recommendation summary from the May 2025 milestone review — proposes launching with an MVP (minimum viable product)-level build. It suggests the current version can deliver a solid survival experience but lacks the polish and content depth needed to make a strong impact as a sequel. The recommendation urges expanding content by at least 30% and enhancing polish before launch to meet market expectations.
This leak comes just days after Subnautica 2’s early access launch was officially delayed to 2026 — a decision that former Unknown Worlds leaders claimed was made against their wishes. That delay, according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, could also mean the studio misses key revenue milestones tied to a $250 million earnout bonus Krafton had promised upon acquisition.
Krafton later told IGN that the delay had nothing to do with financial considerations and was based solely on feedback from playtesting and internal reviews — though this very document seems to be a part of that rationale. The publisher went a step further by accusing the former leadership of “abandoning” their responsibilities and claimed they failed to guide development effectively.
The ousted leadership — Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill — strongly denied those claims. They have since filed a lawsuit against Krafton, arguing that the game was ready for early access and that the publisher is withholding earned bonuses unfairly.
With the legal fight now underway and a major leak confirming just how far the game has drifted from its original plan, the Subnautica 2 development story has shifted from just a rocky project to one of the most talked-about controversies in the gaming industry this year.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what the two leaked Subnautica 2 development docs contain:
Milestone Review — Content Changes (2023 Q2 → 2025 Q2)
1. Biomes
2023 Target: Coral Gardens, Void Zone, Kelp Forest, Vep Hives (3 main POIs)
2024 Target: Coral Gardens (4 POIs), Sparse Plains (renamed from Void Zone), Kelp Forest (3 POIs)
2025 Target: Coral Gardens (7 POIs), Sparse Plains
Key Change:
2 biomes removed since 2023
“Deep Start” biome added
Coral Gardens POIs increased
2. Characters / Progression
2023 & 2024 Target:
2 Leviathan types
20+ creatures
4 playable characters with light customization
20 biomods
Ecosystem restoration system
2025 Target:
1 Leviathan (+2 in preview phase)
12 creatures
Same 4 characters, but customization excluded
2 adaptations + 2 genetic mods
"Blight" system replaces restoration
Key Reductions:
1 Leviathan removed
8 creatures cut
Biomods split into smaller systems
Customization features scrapped
3. Construction / Equipment
2023 Target:
10–20 tools/equipment
3 vehicles (Wakemaker, Tadpole, Trident)
20+ base parts/furniture
2025 Target:
14 tools/equipment
Only 2 vehicles (Trident removed)
56 base parts
7 pre-order furniture items added
Key Notes:
Slight increase in furniture
Trident vehicle cut
Tools reduced from original target
4. Game Modes / Platforms
2023 Target: Survival, Creative, Custom modes, Dedicated servers, PC-only Early Access
2025 Target: Survival, Creative (Custom removed), P2P Multiplayer, Cross-play (cloud + KID), PC & Xbox Early Access
Key Changes:
Custom mode removed
Switched to peer-to-peer networking
Added KID support and Xbox EA
5. Narrative
2023 & 2024 Target: 2 narrative chapters (13–16 hrs)
2025 Target: 1 chapter (8–10 hrs)
Key Change: One chapter cut (about 6 hours of content)
Final Recommendation — State of Subnautica 2 (May 2025)
Core Summary
Game is playable but lacks polish, content, and sequel-worthy “freshness”
Internal recommendation is to delay and launch with enhanced scope and quality
Current vs. Target Expectations ("As-is" vs. "To-be")
Category | Current (As-is) | Target (To-be) |
Biomes | Intro (Deep Start), 1 region | Intro + 1st & 2nd regions fully complete (out of 6 planned) |
Creatures | 12 creatures, 2 Leviathans | 12 current + 8 more, 2 Leviathans complete |
Equipment/Progression | 20 tools/equipment, 2 adaptation systems, 2 submersibles | Add 5 biomods, mining + farming systems |
Gameplay Spec | Survival/Creative, Single-player/Co-op, Cross progression | Same + ~30 hours of core gameplay, 50 hrs full experience, online account integration |
Narrative | Chapter 1 only | Chapters 1–3 complete (10 total planned for full version) |
That's it for now. If any new info or leaks come out i we'll update the article.