Krafton Responds to Subnautica 2 Legal Ruling as Leadership Battle Continues
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Krafton has responded to a recent court ruling ordering the reinstatement of the Unknown Worlds CEO and the extension of milestone bonuses for Subnautica 2, stating the publisher is currently evaluating its legal options while keeping the focus on the upcoming Early Access release.
Publisher Krafton has issued a formal response following a significant court ruling regarding developer Unknown Worlds and the highly anticipated release of Subnautica 2. The legal decision mandates that the studio CEO must be reinstated to the role with direct control over the Steam page and the upcoming Early Access launch. Additionally, the ruling orders the extension of a substantial performance bonus package. As originally reported by Eurogamer, Krafton stated that while the company respectfully disagrees with the decision, leadership is actively evaluating all available options to determine the path forward for the project and the studio.
The underlying dispute stems from leadership changes in July 2025 when several key developers, including game director Charlie Cleveland, CEO Ted Gill, and special projects director Max McGuire, were removed from their positions. These ousted figures subsequently filed a lawsuit against Krafton. The legal action alleged that the publisher pushed them out and intentionally delayed development to cause the studio to miss critical revenue targets, thereby avoiding payout of a massive $250 million milestone bonus. Previous legal filings also involved controversial allegations regarding artificial intelligence use during internal strategy discussions, though Krafton dismissed those claims as mere distractions from operational issues.
Despite the ongoing courtroom drama, Krafton maintains that its primary focus remains on the player community and delivering a polished sequel. The publisher emphasized that teams have worked hard over the past several months to strengthen the build ahead of its eventual Early Access debut across PC and Xbox platforms. With further litigation still pending regarding damages and financial earnouts, the immediate future of the franchise remains a complex balancing act between corporate restructuring and creative continuity for fans eagerly awaiting the next deep sea adventure.
Tags: Subnautica 2, Krafton, Unknown Worlds, PC Gaming, Industry News
Original article: Eurogamer