Krafton must rehire the creators of Subnautica 2 and pay them 250 million dollars

- March 17, 2026
- Updated: March 17, 2026 at 8:50 PM

The development of Subnautica 2 has become a hot topic in the video game industry, caught in a legal dispute between Krafton, the South Korean parent company, and three former executives of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind the successful original title. As this conflict intensifies, a judge has ruled that Krafton breached agreements by unjustly firing these executives in an apparent attempt to avoid paying a $250 million bonus.
ChatGPT made a mistake
According to the legal resolution published on March 16, the former CEO of Unknown Worlds, Ted Gill, has regained his position and operational control over the project, allowing him to manage the early access of Subnautica 2. This is crucial, as the game still does not have a defined release date. Early access was expected to begin in 2026, but the effects of the dispute on this timeline remain uncertain for players.
The judge supported the accusations that Krafton acted improperly by dismissing these key employees, which could result in compensation if the game’s management leads to a drastic decrease in revenue. This outcome is significant, especially considering that internal forecasts indicated that Subnautica 2 could generate considerable revenue, which fueled Krafton’s fear of facing the corresponding bonus payment.
In a surprising turn, it was reported that the CEO of Krafton had consulted with an artificial intelligence chatbot about strategies to gain control of Unknown Worlds, adding a layer of intrigue to the case. Although no official statement has been issued regarding the current situation of the game, the community remains alert for any news that may arise in the coming days.
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