Developer Unknown Worlds has announced a leadership transition, with co-founder Max McGuire departing and Steve Papoutsis appointed as the new head of the studio. This change has led to mixed reactions from the Subnautica community, including calls for a boycott of Subnautica 2. The announcement did not provide details about the reasons for the departures of key figures. The studio reassured fans that Subnautica 2 will not shift to a live service model or change its monetization strategy. Unknown Worlds emphasized the commitment of the remaining development team and requested patience from fans as they navigate this transition.