Judge Orders Krafton to Reinstate Fired Subnautica 2 CEO and Devs, Restoring $250 Million Bonus Package
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
A court has ordered Krafton to reinstate Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and fired developers on Subnautica 2, invalidating their termination and restoring a lucrative $250 million bonus package.
A legal battle over the future of Subnautica 2 has taken a dramatic turn. According to a report by Eurogamer, a judge has issued a ruling requiring South Korean publisher Krafton to reinstate Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and his fellow co-founders following their termination in July 2025. The court found that Krafton breached agreements by terminating the key developers without valid cause and improperly seizing operational control of the studio.
As part of the bombshell order, Gill must be restored to his position with full operating authority over both the studio and the upcoming Early Access release of Subnautica 2. The board resolution that stripped the team of their positions has been declared ineffective. This decision also puts a massive $250 million bonus payout period back on the table, extending the timeline so the developers have a renewed path to earn the milestone compensation they were initially cut off from receiving.
The conflict originally flared up when Krafton claimed the developers abandoned their responsibilities, while the studio leadership countered that they were pushed out deliberately to avoid triggering the lucrative bonus package. With Steam platform access returning to the original leadership team, the focus shifts back to development. For players invested in the survival franchise, this legal win for the creators stabilizes the project as it navigates its crucial Early Access phase across PC and console platforms.
Tags: Subnautica 2, Krafton, Unknown Worlds, PC Gaming, Industry News
Original article: Eurogamer