The CEO of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2, has stepped down as Krafton agrees to provide a $250 million bonus

The conflict between Krafton and the previous executives of Unknown Worlds, creators of Subnautica 2, has concluded with Krafton agreeing to a $250 million bonus settlement.

The lawsuit surfaced last year, alleging Krafton attempted to defer the game’s release to sidestep a $250 million bonus linked to 2025 revenue objectives for Subnautica 2's Early Access release. Former shareholders, represented by Fortis Advisors LLC, claimed these tactics pressured delays.

Krafton countered these claims by alleging that the former leaders, Max McGuire, Ted Gill, and Charlie Cleveland, threatened to launch Subnautica 2 independently, bypassing Krafton’s promotional efforts. They argued this left them no alternative but to dismiss the trio and accused them of improperly downloading company data ahead of their terminations. The founders deny these accusations, maintaining that Krafton altered their narrative during legal proceedings to justify dismissals and control transfer.

A report from Bloomberg indicates a settlement has resulted in bonuses for all staff at Unknown Worlds Entertainment. This includes a structured bonus payment to team members, applying even to recent hires, which could surpass the initial financial expectations.

In the wake of the settlement, CEO Ted Gill stepped down, a decision he described as mutual and in the studio's best interests for future direction. This follows a prior court ruling mandating his reinstatement earlier this year.

"The success of Subnautica 2 is something we are all thrilled about," Gill commented.

Plans are reportedly in place for Krafton to enlist an external CEO to direct the studio.

Explore more about this case through GameIndustry.biz’s detailed account of the legal battles involving Subnautica 2’s former leadership and Krafton here.