The conflict between publisher Krafton (PUBG, InZOI) and former CEOs of Unknown Worlds (Subnautica 2) since July 2025 may be nearing its conclusion. This seems possible based on the recent court verdict from the Delaware State Court. However, Krafton is not easily admitting defeat and unveils a piece of good news with the eagerly awaited game being available in early access in May! What impact will this have on the future of Subnautica 2?
The banished return to the surface
For those who missed the earlier episodes of this saga, here’s a recap. Last July, Krafton abruptly fired Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire from the leadership of Unknown Worlds after delaying the release of Subnautica 2. The publisher cited mismanagement and appointed Steve Papoutsis as the new head of the studio. According to insiders, this move was actually a sneaky way to avoid paying the developers a $250 million performance-based bonus for 2025 (which would have been hard to achieve without Subnautica 2).
After a legal battle where blame was thrown back and forth (amidst allegations of racism and evidence suggesting Krafton’s CEO consulted ChatGPT to exploit loopholes in the acquisition contract), the Delaware Court finally reached a verdict. On Monday, March 16, the judge ruled in favor of the founders, and Krafton was found guilty of contract violation. Gill was immediately reinstated as CEO with full control over the game’s launch.
Krafton delivers a final blow
Just when it seemed like the story had ended with this surprising turn of events… The day after Ted Gill’s reinstatement, a leaked memo from Papoutsis surfaced at IGN, despite no longer having control over the project! The memo revealed that Subnautica 2 was ready and an early access release was planned for next May.
For Gill’s lawyers, this was seen as a declaration of war. The announcement was viewed as a deliberate sabotage orchestrated by Krafton, aiming to end things with a bang and leave Unknown Worlds no chance. The studio now faces a challenging situation. Gill and his team are just regaining control of a project they haven’t been involved in for months. They have to decide whether to stick with the announced release date, launching the game without proper preparation, or delay again, risking the disappointment of fans after an initial postponement.
Subnautica 2 is currently the most wishlisted game on Steam. The pressure is immense for Unknown Worlds, and after so many setbacks, players are likely anticipating the title with both apprehension and eagerness. Gill’s lawyers have counterattacked by requesting the judge to charge Krafton with contempt of court, along with demanding the reimbursement of all legal fees.
