Overview

• The co-founders of Unknown Worlds filed a breach of contract lawsuit on July 16 over their ousting and alleged wrongful termination by Krafton.
• Krafton delayed Subnautica 2’s early access launch to 2026 after revealing in leaked milestones that the game’s scope fell short of its original targets.
• Internal slides leaked online showed reductions to planned biomes and story elements, fueling developer and fan frustration over the sequel’s revised content roadmap.
• Krafton extended the earn-out deadline for Subnautica 2 bonuses through the end of 2026, including a $25 million payout ring-fenced for around 40 studio developers.
• The clash illustrates the challenges of Krafton’s performance-driven earn-out clauses and the balance between corporate oversight and a studio’s creative autonomy.