Subnautica 2 Creators Take Legal Action Against Publisher Over Game’s Troubled Release: What This Means for Fans

The conflict between Krafton, the publisher of Subnautica 2, and three former executives from its developer, Unknown Worlds, is heating up. Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire were fired earlier this year, and they’ve now filed a lawsuit. They claim Krafton tried to sabotage the game’s early access launch to avoid paying a promised bonus of $250 million.

The lawsuit states that Krafton’s actions have harmed fan excitement and threatened the game’s success. This bonus was designed to reward the executives and around 100 developers if Unknown Worlds hit revenue targets by 2025. With Subnautica 2 set for early access release in late 2025, it seemed likely those targets would be met.

Documents from the lawsuit suggest Krafton was aware Subnautica 2 was on track to meet its goals, yet began taking steps to prevent that success. The original Subnautica was a major hit, and its sequel quickly became one of the most wishlisted games on Steam.

According to the lawsuit, a meeting between Krafton’s US and Korean teams shifted the focus away from promoting the game. Reports indicated that Krafton’s leadership was less interested in a successful launch and more focused on delaying the release.

The lawsuit says that Krafton’s US team explicitly informed the founders that their legal team was looking for ways to terminate their agreements if they moved ahead with their release plan.

When Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021, it agreed to let the original founders maintain control over the game’s release. However, the lawsuit alleges that Krafton has tried to overreach that agreement. Actions were allegedly taken to pull marketing support and stop creative tasks related to Subnautica 2’s development.

One particularly striking claim from the lawsuit involves Krafton CEO Changhan Kim, who supposedly said that Subnautica 2’s planned release could lead to severe financial repercussions for Krafton.

While Krafton had previously denied delaying the game for anything other than polishing, reports have emerged suggesting they extended the timeline for the bonus to accommodate delays. Recent leaks from internal documents corroborate earlier claims about content adjustments for the game’s early access launch. Krafton acknowledged the authenticity of these documents, asserting that they showed Subnautica 2 was not ready to launch.

In the world of gaming, such tensions between developers and publishers aren’t uncommon. As the industry grows, these disputes can even affect consumer perceptions. Twitter and other social platforms are abuzz with reactions from fans, many expressing frustration over the potential impact on the game’s release.

Understanding the dynamics of this situation is vital, not just for the fans of Subnautica, but for the gaming community at large. As the legal battle unfolds, it highlights the complex relationship between creative teams and corporate interests, raising questions about accountability and the expectations placed on developers.

For more on this evolving story, you can check out Bloomberg’s coverage.

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