The full lawsuit filed by former Unknown Worlds leadership against Krafton concerning the mishandling of Subnautica 2’s early access launch and development has surfaced, revealing damning claims.
Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds for $500 million in 2021, with an additional $250 million bonus earn-out tied to revenue targets by 2025. However, just before Subnautica 2’s release, Krafton abruptly replaced key executives Charlie Cleveland, Ted Gill, and Max McGuire with Steve Papoutsis and delayed the game’s launch to 2026.
Krafton insisted this decision was due to a lack of content in the early access version and unrelated to financial considerations. This claim was supported by leaked internal documents confirmed genuine by Krafton.
In response, Cleveland and the former leadership filed a lawsuit in Delaware through Fortis Advisors, accusing Krafton of deliberately sabotaging Subnautica 2’s development. According to the lawsuit, Krafton orchestrated a “months-long campaign to delay Subnautica 2’s release” with malicious intent to avoid paying the $250 million bonus.
This legal battle highlights the increasing tensions between independent studio founders and major publishers, raising questions about creative control, contractual obligations, and ethical practices in the gaming industry.
Stay tuned with us while Krafton continues to develop Subnautica 2, fans are left wondering how this lawsuit will affect the game’s future and the relationship between creators and publishers moving forward.