Brandon Fletcher
Krafton has been attempting to evade its obligation to make this substantial payment for some time.
Subnautica 2 is experiencing remarkable sales, even in its early access phase. The demand for immersive underwater exploration has propelled the game to sell over 4 million copies. As a result, publisher Krafton is now obligated to fulfill its commitment to provide developers with a $250 million bonus, as reported by IGN.
This bonus has sparked a significant legal dispute between Krafton and developer Unknown Worlds. Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021, and the contract included provisions for executives and staff to share in the $250 million bonus contingent upon meeting specific revenue goals. Reports from South Korean business sources confirm that these goals have been achieved, making the payout imminent.
This outcome was not always certain. The developers missed the initial revenue target deadline of 2025 because Krafton postponed the game to avoid triggering the bonus. A pre-trial brief indicated that Krafton CEO Changham Kim allegedly rejected the payout, viewing it as a “professional embarrassment” and fearing it would portray him as a “pushover.” Krafton also terminated the CEO of Unknown Worlds along with other co-founders before a judge compelled them to alter their stance.
As we enter 2026, a curious AI element emerges in this narrative. Reports suggest that CEO Kim sought advice from ChatGPT on ways to circumvent the bonus payout. Even the AI indicated that canceling the earnout would be “difficult.” Nonetheless, Kim and his AI companion devised a convoluted strategy called Project X, which involved either negotiating a lower bonus or attempting to take control of Unknown Worlds.
“They sought to buy time,” stated vice-chancellor Lori Will of the Delaware court of chancery in her ruling. “In the following month, Krafton implemented most of ChatGPT’s suggestions.”
Ultimately, those efforts were unsuccessful. Subnautica 2 is now available for players after a lengthy wait. Meanwhile, Krafton has declared its intention to evolve into an “AI first” organization. Best of luck with that.
Daniel Mercer
