US EditionOusted Subnautica 2 Leadership 'Files Lawsuit' Against Parent Company Krafton as Row Over $250M Bonus Gets Personal
GLOBAL (UNKNOWN WORLDS IS A FULLY REMOTE STUDIO; KRAFTON IS SOUTH KOREAN PUBLISHER), JUL 11 – Former Unknown Worlds executives sue Krafton over Subnautica 2 delay amid dispute involving a $250 million bonus tied to financial milestones, with both sides bl
- In early July 2025, Krafton removed key Unknown Worlds executives, including Subnautica 2's director Charlie Cleveland, studio co-founder Max McGuire, and the company's CEO Ted Gill, amid a significant internal conflict.
- The dismissals followed disagreements over the delay of Subnautica 2 to 2026 and a $250 million bonus tied to revenue targets expected by the end of 2025.
- Krafton claimed the leadership failed to deliver a launch-ready game and accused them of abandoning responsibilities, while Cleveland disputed these claims and confirmed legal action.
- Cleveland stated, "you can be damned sure we'll continue with the earnout/bonus as well," calling allegations of financial misconduct "totally untrue" and describing the time as "explosive and surreal."
- The lawsuit and leadership changes have unsettled the Subnautica community and may affect the game's release, which remains slated for early access in 2026 amid ongoing uncertainty.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Ousted Subnautica 2 Leadership 'Files Lawsuit' Against Parent Company Krafton as Row Over $250M Bonus Gets Personal
The founders of Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds, Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with former CEO Ted Gill, are filing a lawsuit against parent company Krafton amid an increasingly bitter row over a $250 million bonus.
The Subnautica 2 Saga Just Keeps Getting Messier Amid New Lawsuit And Alleged Leaks
The mysterious firing of Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds’ founders earlier this month keeps taking unexpected turns, and the latest is that the veteran game developers are now suing publisher Krafton over the dismissals, which occurred with a $250 million payout on the line. Caught in the apparent crossfire is the…Read more...
Krafton Responds To Subnautica 2 Lawsuit, Doubling Down On Claims That Executives 'Abandoned’ Development
Krafton lawyers say the lawsuit is over ‘a multimillion-dollar payday [the former executives] haven’t earned’ The post Krafton Responds To Subnautica 2 Lawsuit, Doubling Down On Claims That Executives ‘Abandoned’ Development appeared first on Aftermath.
Buy Subnautica 2 | XboxGame PassGame PassGame PassGame PassGame PassGame PassGame PassUbisoft+Game PassGame PassYour Privacy Choices Opt-Out Icon
Immerse yourself in a new adventure with Subnautica 2, an open-water survival game from the creators of the Subnautica series. Play alone or with friends as you explore alluring biomes and discover fascinating creatures. Craft vehicles, tools, and bases to survive this mysterious alien world.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
