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Krafton Accused of 'Project X' Takeover Plan and ChatGPT Consult in Subnautica 2 Earnout Dispute as Trial Begins

The dispute enters trial in Delaware following a detailed pre-trial brief from the plaintiffs.

Overview

  • The ousted Unknown Worlds founders allege Krafton created a secret task force called 'Project X' to delay Subnautica 2 and avoid a massive earnout, citing Slack messages that reference a takeover.
  • Plaintiffs say Krafton’s finance team forecast a base‑case earnout of $191 million, with other reports citing a $250 million figure tied to an early‑access launch.
  • The filing claims CEO CH Kim asked ChatGPT how to avoid paying the earnout and that the conversations were not produced in discovery after plaintiffs requested them.
  • Krafton disputes the allegations, contending the founders stopped working, that Subnautica 2 required more development time, and in revised filings accusing the trio of taking confidential materials after dropping an earlier claim about a premature launch plan.
  • The plaintiffs seek reinstatement to their roles at Unknown Worlds, while Subnautica 2 is now expected to enter early access in 2026 according to recent reporting.