Subnautica 2 studio wins bonus dispute with Krafton — and gets more than it asked for

The studio behind Subnautica 2 has settled its courtroom dispute with publisher Krafton, and the outcome favors the developers. Unknown Worlds Entertainment will receive a bonus exceeding the original $250 million target — a figure that became the center of a messy public legal fight after Krafton fired CEO Ted Gill and two co-founders in summer 2025, then refused to honor the agreed payout.

The dispute

Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021 for a reported $500 million, with an earnout clause tying a $250M bonus to performance milestones. When Krafton dismissed Gill and disputed the payout, he and his colleagues sued. A Delaware court ordered Gill reinstated in March 2026, forcing Krafton back to the negotiating table. Subnautica 2 then launched into Early Access on May 14, selling 4 million copies in five days — almost certainly clearing whatever revenue threshold Krafton had tried to contest.

The settlement

The final terms are confidential, but Gill confirmed to Bloomberg (July 1) that the studio will receive "significantly more" than the original $250M ask. The payout is structured across three annual installments through 2026–2027. Crucially, the money won't go only to founders or employees who were at Unknown Worlds at the time of the 2021 acquisition — all current staff are eligible, including people who joined recently. Gill described the new leadership as "the best way forward" for the studio; an external search for his successor is now underway, per Game Developer.

What's next for the game

Subnautica 2 remains in Early Access and is expected to stay there for another two to three years before a full release. The underwater survival game is available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and on Xbox Series X|S including through Game Pass — priced at $29.99. A PlayStation release has not been announced. Development continues under Krafton's ownership, with the studio committed to regular content updates based on player feedback.