The studio "Unknown Worlds" (UW), developers behind the beloved underwater survival game Subnautica, have recently revealed their next project, Subnautica 2.... and by the initial reactions on social media? Ohhhh boy, are we certainly in for... something alright...
While many fans were initially excited to find out info on the follow-up, a closer look at the character design has raised eyebrows... and widened chins. The characters presented in the trailer all appear androgynous, stripped of distinct gender features, raising those all-too-familiar questions about the developer’s priorities. As I discovered in my research on this one, this DEI agenda goes far deeper than any ocean...
Diving deeper (sorry, had to say it) into the studio behind the game, it becomes clear that Unknown Worlds has FULLY embraced Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, pushing them above all else, including what looks to be - the actual gameplay experience. WHYYYYY...
The DEI Agenda Front and Center
One of the most telling signs of their DEI agenda can be found right on the Unknown Worlds website, where the company proudly declares their goal:
“We want to unite the world through play by making unique games with a globally represented team.”
The notion of "unite the world" through a "globally represented team" sounds great on paper, but in practice, it's this kind of language that's always a sign that the focus has shifted away from crafting excellent gameplay experiences and toward pushing DEI-driven messaging. With character designs in Subnautica 2 reflecting this bland, non-distinct diversity, it’s clear that the developers are more interested in checking those diversity boxes than providing players with unique and engaging characters.
Prioritizing Representation Over Gameplay
In their "Who We Are" section, the studio reinforces this DEI push by proudly highlighting their diverse team:
“We strive to create inclusive experiences through diverse representation of characters, cultures, environments, and more.”
Again, we see this ridiculous emphasis on inclusivity and representation - as if making sure that all possible identities are covered has somehow become more important than ensuring that the game itself is innovative or fun. They dive further into DEI right on their Careers page:
At Unknown Worlds, we pride ourselves on being a globally based and represented team. As such, we are committed to diversity as one of our core values. However, we also have the responsibility to ensure that our values translate into concrete actions: what games we make, how we make them, and how we hire our people. We pledge to carry out this effort in earnest, with an open mind and with the intention to improve this industry for everyone. We’re dedicated to working towards that goal in many ways, and improve some things we’re already doing. We believe this is long overdue, and will ultimately broaden the perspective and creativity of our games. We understand that this means on-going commitment, education, discussion, and outside advice where necessary.
This kind of focus usually results in one-dimensional characters and a watered-down experience, where players feel like they’re being force-fed politically correct content rather than simply enjoying a game.
The problem with prioritizing DEI over merit is made crystal clear in their job application section:
“Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply at jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Unknown Worlds we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.”
By outright stating that they encourage applicants to apply even if they don’t meet the qualifications, Unknown Worlds is straight-up admitting that they're more concerned with meeting diversity quotas than hiring the most qualified individuals. This is nothing more than a thinly veiled dog whistle to hire people based on their identity rather than their actual ability to create incredible game experiences. When merit takes a backseat, the quality of work inevitably declines, if not immediately, always... eventually. In an industry as competitive as gaming, this is a recipe for disaster - and taking this approach, they have no one to blame but themselves for their inevitable demise.
The Hidden ESG and DEI Agenda
While there’s no mention of currently working with an outside consultancy like Sweet Baby Inc., the language on their website tells me that Unknown Worlds is essentially following the playbook of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and DEI initiatives. The website is littered with phrases like “unite the world,” “inclusive experiences,” and “diverse representation,” all of which are hallmarks of companies that have adopted a more subtle form of DEI. It's all so tiring at this point...
This is not unlike BRIDGE DEI programs, where diversity and inclusion become so ingrained in a company’s culture that it’s harder to call out or pinpoint. We're seeing this happen more and more, it seems. Unlike more blatant DEI efforts, which are easy to criticize and dismiss, these stealthy programs weave DEI principles into the very fabric of a company’s operations, making it nearly impossible to separate the actual work from the ideological agendas. Unknown Worlds has managed to do exactly this. By integrating DEI into every aspect of their development process, they’ve shielded themselves from direct scrutiny while continuing to push this agenda through the content they produce.
Why DEI-Driven Companies Fail
The issue with prioritizing DEI over actual talent and merit is that - it inevitably leads to subpar products. We’ve seen this time and time again with other studios and companies that embrace these ideologies, only to find that their products falter and their audience shrinks. When your focus is no longer on creating the best possible game, but instead on ticking off identity boxes, the final product suffers.
In the case of Unknown Worlds, this approach will ultimately hurt their future endeavors. The global gaming community is diverse not because of forced representation, but because the medium itself appeals to people of all backgrounds, naturally. Gamers come together for the love of the game, not to be lectured about social issues or to play androgynous characters designed to appease DEI advocates. The moment a studio loses sight of that, it begins alienating its audience and, eventually, its relevance.
It looks like it all started to go down hill in 2021, when Unknown Worlds joined KRAFTON... and ohhh boy here we go down another rabbit hole...
Parent Company Only Cares About ESG...
KRAFTON Americas, the parent company of Unknown Worlds, is heavily involved in pushing ideological narratives through its games, all while aiming to boost its ESG score rating.
KRAFTON’s vision emphasizes building “immersive, virtual worlds” where players can connect, but this pursuit seems more about shaping these worlds around a curated, DEI-driven agenda than simply fostering fun and creativity.
Their commitment to being "bold" and "pioneers" in their field is underscored by a focus on expanding original IPs, but behind the tired buzzwords is the crystal clear dedication to ideological alignment. With phrases like "one team, one dream" and a focus on leveraging their "multicultural team," it’s evident that the company is weaving DEI into their core values, much like their subsidiary, Unknown Worlds.
Minimize men, maximize women, turn them into numbers in a table. Their corporate strategy reflects a much broader ESG agenda, pushing identity politics in the name of creativity and innovation, but ultimately prioritizing social credit over delivering a quality product. They even promote their ESG score front and center on their website:
Another Studio Falls to DEI
Subnautica 2 may have been originally been a highly anticipated title, but it seems that Unknown Worlds has fallen into the same trap that so many companies do—prioritizing a DEI-driven agenda over the actual craft of game development. With their global DEI approach and their blatant job application tactics encouraging diversity hires over qualified ones, it’s clear as day that Unknown Worlds is more concerned with virtue signaling than with delivering the quality games that made them famous in the first place.
Their approach is eerily similar to BRIDGE DEI programs, blending diversity initiatives into the company's culture and branding, making it harder to call out. But just because it’s hidden doesn’t mean it’s not there. In fact in this case, it's pretty blatant all over their website. Eventually, the cracks will show, and like many companies before them, Unknown Worlds will likely find that DEI doesn’t pay the bills—quality products do.
~Smash
Welp. There goes another successful franchise down the crapper. 🚽
Why do they feel the need to go this route and what is this people won't apply if they don't meet the qualifications of course they won't apply. It's supposed to be based on merit other people are missing out who actually have the education to do the job, but now they won't get the job just because their not the right color or gender. Another company that's going to shut down i can see it now