Subnautica 2 Drama: Did Krafton Scuttle the Game to Dodge a $250 Million Bonus?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
The former leaders of *Subnautica 2* studio are suing Krafton, accusing them of sabotaging the game's development to avoid paying out a large bonus, while Krafton claims the leaders weren't performing their duties properly. This legal battle casts a shadow over the highly anticipated sequel's release.
Right, so the deep-sea diving sim sequel, *Subnautica 2*, is currently swimming in more murky waters than the Aurora's crash site. According to a newly unsealed complaint, reported by Bloomberg and shared by Aftermath, the former top brass at Unknown Worlds (the studio behind *Subnautica*) are accusing parent company Krafton (the PUBG folks) of deliberately sabotaging the game's development to avoid paying out a hefty $250 million bonus. Blimey.
Here's the gist: Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire – the original *Subnautica* founders – reckon things were ship-shape until early 2025. That's when they presented Krafton with some rather rosy revenue projections for *Subnautica 2*. Apparently, it was looking like a bigger hit than they initially thought. They even tried to get more of the dev team in on the bonus action. What happened next? According to the lawsuit, that's when the Kraken was released.
The ex-leadership claims Krafton started suggesting delays, allegedly scouring contracts like a goblin lawyer to find a loophole, even though the contract explicitly gave Unknown Worlds the decision on when to release the game. But it gets better, doesn't it? They allege Krafton actively tried to *prevent* the game from launching on time. We're talking pulled marketing materials, ignored pre-launch commitments, and a whole heap of negative feedback about the game's readiness for early access. The climax? Krafton gave the three founders the boot earlier this month and officially pushed back *Subnautica 2*'s release. Ouch. More recently, Krafton extended the bonus period for the remaining employees, claiming that the former leadership was eligible for 90% of the bonuses, meaning Krafton would only have to pay out a maximum of $25 million if targets are met, not $250 million.
Krafton, naturally, has a different story. They reckon the former leadership weren't exactly pulling their weight and that *Subnautica 2* wasn't ready for prime time. They even claim Charlie Cleveland was spending too much time on a "personal project" instead of, you know, making the game. Hold on a sec... The lawsuit alleges that this "personal project" was a *Subnautica* film, and was actually commissioned by Krafton themselves. Cor blimey, what a load of codswallop! You couldn't make it up.
The question on everyone's lips: was *Subnautica 2* actually ready? Leaked documents (verified by Krafton) suggest Unknown Worlds *was* getting feedback that the game wasn't ready for early access. However, a Bloomberg report (citing developers on the project) and the founders' lawsuit paints a different picture. So, who do you believe? It’s a proper he-said, she-said situation.
What does this all mean for us gamers? Well, *Subnautica 2* is delayed, that's for sure. And there's a messy legal battle brewing, which could drag on for ages. Whether or not Krafton deliberately sabotaged the game to save a few bob is something the courts will have to decide. But fair dinkum, it all sounds a bit fishy to me. (Sorry, had to get one more sea pun in there.) I am keeping an eye on this case, and so should you!
Tags: Subnautica 2, Krafton, Game Development, Lawsuit, Gaming Industry
Original article: IGN South Africa