Sensational Subnautica 2: Judge Orders CEO's Return
Krafton will have to return the work to its authors, and there's a lot of money at stake
The conflictual relationship between Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind Subnautica, and Krafton, the company that controls it, has taken a new, sensational turn. Last year, Krafton fired the studio's top executives, Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max Mcguire, accusing them of failing in their responsibilities. Those directly involved responded in kind to the accusations: the matter is very complex and involves something like 250 million dollars in bonuses.
The Ruling on Subnautica 2
The matter ended up in court: as reported by Kotaku, yesterday the Delaware court handling the issue issued a surprising ruling. According to the judge, Krafton removed key elements of the studio without valid reason and improperly took control of Subnautica 2's development. For this reason, it is ordered not only to restore Ted Gill's position as CEO, but also to give him full control over Subnautica 2's early access.
A very significant effect of this ruling is that the deadline for the potential 250 million dollar bonus is extended: The Unknown Worlds team has until September 15, 2026 to achieve it, but the date could even be moved further back. This additional bonus should be triggered if the Subnautica franchise reaches certain economic targets.
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What Future for Subnautica?
A Krafton spokesperson states that the company is obviously not happy with the ruling (so the legal battle will continue), but that the priority is still to deliver the best possible experience to players. Subnautica 2 will be launched in early access on PC, via Steam: at this point Gill should decide when that happens, but we're willing to bet it will be released before September 15…
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