Subnautica 2 Developer’s Bonus Period Has Been Extended by Krafton – Rumour

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After publisher Krafton’s disagreements with Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds regarding the launch of Subnautica 2, a new report suggests that Krafton has delayed the deadline for the revenue goal required for Unknown Worlds employees to receive a $25 million bonus. As reported by Jason Schrier from Bloomberg, this bonus, worth $25 million, was intended to be distributed among the approximately 40 employees at Unknown Worlds if the revenue targets were met by the end of 2025.

Based on the report, Krafton’s agreement with Unknown Worlds includes a provision allowing the publisher to postpone the bonus, causing concern among employees as they believe the financial goals established for the studio may not be achievable. This challenge has been exacerbated by the delay of the expected release of Subnautica 2 in Early Access this year. Krafton has further clarified that Unknown Worlds will receive a share of the projected profit-sharing bonus pool for this year, which is separate from the $25 million bonus.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been closely following the developments between the game publishers Krafton and Unknown Worlds. It seems that the delay in the release of Subnautica 2 during Early Access is due to some internal issues at the studio. From what I gather, the publisher has stated that the absence of key leadership, specifically Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire, the three co-founders of the studio, has left their responsibilities unfulfilled. It’s unfortunate, but it appears they’ve stepped away from their duties.

Krafton stated that the initial plan for releasing Subnautica 2 during Early Access in early 2024 has been pushed back considerably.

Following this development, the three original creators have disclosed they’ve initiated a legal action against Krafton. They also hinted at sharing further insights regarding the publisher’s $500 million purchase of the studio and the $250 million compensation package for the three co-founders, which was part of the acquisition deal.

Cleveland shared on social media that they’ve taken legal action against Krafton, indicating that the details of this lawsuit are likely to be disclosed (largely so) in the future – everyone deserves the complete narrative. Suing such a massive corporation wasn’t something I had planned; however, it’s important for justice to be served. Subnautica has been my life’s labor of love and I would never voluntarily let go of it or the dedicated team who have put their hearts into it.

Lately, a leaked document suggested that if Subnautica 2 were to come out as an Early Access game this year, it would be incomplete, lacking some of its planned features. This implies that the game would have fewer species of creatures, no custom game modes, limited vehicles, and two entire biomes missing. Krafton has verified the authenticity of the document in a statement.

The publisher has announced that the document in question belongs to a routine sequence of “internal progress evaluations” known as milestone reviews, which are carried out frequently to enable Krafton to examine the project’s advancement. Furthermore, the company has expressed its intention to collaborate closely with the developer on the upcoming release of Subnautica 2, and they have emphasized that the core team working on the game remains entirely the same.

For more details about the clashes between Krafton and Unknown Worlds, check out our full coverage.

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2025-07-16 16:11