Krafton Responds to Lawsuit Filed by Unknown Worlds Founders, Citing Leadership Absence as Impacting Development

Krafton has submitted a legal response to the lawsuit initiated by the former leadership of Subnautica 2 developer, Unknown Worlds. The lawsuit alleges that Krafton attempted to avoid paying a $250 million bonus tied to revenue targets for the 2025 Early Access release of Subnautica 2 by using 'pressure tactics' to delay the game. According to Krafton, the absence of founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire has begun to affect the development team. Krafton claims that the decision to delay the game's release was made to ensure the quality of Subnautica 2 and maintain player trust, stating that 'at the heart of every decision Krafton makes are the fans, who deserve the best possible experience.' The company insists that the development lead for Subnautica 2 noted that the early access periods would only cover a small portion of the game's intended scope, and that Krafton requested a delay to safeguard the game's quality. Krafton also alleges that the co-founders were focused on maximizing their earnout opportunity, even if it meant damaging the company's goodwill. The company believes that the facts support their position, and that their response reflects their commitment to protecting the Subnautica IP and the global community that has supported it for years.