A judge has officially ordered the return of the original leadership behind the studio. Subnautica 2It puts an end to a messy legal dispute that delayed one of Steam's most anticipated titles. The court ruled that publisher Krafton must immediately reinstate CEO Ted Gill to his position at Unknown Worlds. Developers' legal victory means founders are fired future Subnautica 2 I am in uncertainty.
Friction between the two companies began shortly after Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021. As part of that deal, hefty performance-based bonuses were on the table, with the development team set to earn up to $250 million if the studio met certain financial goals by the end of 2025. To reach these numbers, the team planned a launch. Subnautica 2 In Early Access, late 2024 or early 2025 is the likely time frame for the payout to run. But as the deadline approached, relationships soured and a sudden corporate takeover eliminated the very people who created the solution. Subnautica franchise.
Subnautica 2's Krafton Controversy Explained
Krafton has come under fire for firing the leadership team of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds ahead of a $250 million payout.
Court overturns founder's 'unfair' dismissal
Vice Chancellor Lori W. Will of the Delaware Court of Chancery ruled that Krafton breached its contract by firing Gill and co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire without good cause. The judge described the publisher's actions as an “unwarranted usurpation of operational control” and declared the July 2025 board resolution that ousted the leaders invalid. The court has now ordered the publisher not to interfere with Gill's authority over the project's roadmap, budget or launch strategy.
This ruling was particularly harsh on the motive for the shooting. According to Bloomberg Law, the court ruled that Krafton's claim that its founders had “disbanded” was pretextual. Instead, the evidence suggested the publisher engaged in “obstructive tactics,” including withholding marketing support and blocking key partnerships, specifically to ensure the game missed its 2025 release window. The judge noted that the sequel was indeed “full-featured” and ready to debut as early as late 2024, but Krafton sought to “frustrate” the milestone to avoid a $250 million payout.
One of the most bizarre aspects of the case involves the alleged use of artificial intelligence to plan the takeover. Court documents show that Krafton CEO Chang-Han Kim actually consulted with an AI chatbot to find ways to avoid paying out millions of dollars in bonuses. The suit claimed that ChatGPT actually advised the CEO that “cancelling the savings would be difficult.” Despite this advice, the publisher went ahead with the layoffs, citing “absence of key leadership” as the official cause.
Internal messages revealed during the trial further fueled the founder's claims. Exchanges between Krafton top executives suggested they feared the payout would lower the studio's long-term value. One message suggested it might be easier to “buy out” the studio than renegotiate a lower bonus. Krafton denies the claims and says a delay is necessary. Subnautica 2 There has been a strict drive to improve the quality of the game and ensure it lives up to fans' expectations.
In an unusual move, the judge decided that simply paying the founders their lost wages was not enough. Under Bloomberg Law, the court ruled that One Team's “unique creative vision” was essential to the game's reputation and the studio's survival. As a result, several legal orders were issued to resolve the dispute. Ted Gill has returned as CEO of Unknown Worlds and now has full operational authority over the product roadmap, budgeting, and sequel release plans. Krafton must immediately restore administrative access to the Steam platform to allow Gill to manage the presence of his titles on the store. Krafton's interference made it impossible to meet the original 2025 deadline, so the judge extended the $250 million revenue eligibility period until mid-September 2026. The co-founders also retain the contractual right to request a further extension of this payment period, if necessary, until March 15, 2027.
Rearranges covers into correct US release order.
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Rearranges covers into correct US release order.
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A specific release date has not been set, but Subnautica 2 It is now expected to move towards an Early Access release on PC and Xbox Series X/S later this year. With the original's lead returning, fans seem to expect the sequel to stay true to the vision that made the first game a hit. Unknown Worlds also confirmed that Krafton will not include generative AI in the game, a notable stance given its recent branding as an “AI-first company.”
According to Bloomberg, a Krafton spokesperson said the company “respectfully disagrees” with the ruling but is evaluating options for a way forward. Meanwhile, the founders called the decision a “complete vindication” of the team's efforts. For now, Krafton's interference is legally prohibited, meaning the developer is finally free to complete the game on his own terms.
Source: Delaware Court of Probability
