Former Subnautica 2 Devs File Lawsuit Against Krafton

by

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been keeping an eye on the unfolding drama behind the scenes of Subnautica 2. It’s turning out to be quite the fascinating tale, although not in the way Krafton might have hoped. The recent harsh words from Krafton towards the former heads of Subnautica 2’s developer Unknown Worlds, including Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill, has led to a lawsuit being filed against the company by these very individuals.

In a recent announcement on Reddit, Cleveland disclosed that they have filed a lawsuit. This announcement came mere days after they hinted that Subnautica 2 was prepared for an early release. Previous reports suggest that the decision to dismiss the former team leaders and postpone the game might be linked to a $250 million bonus Krafton owes Unknown Worlds. However, this bonus would only be paid if Unknown Worlds achieves specific financial targets in 2025, a feat that could prove challenging or unattainable without Subnautica 2 launching early-access this year as initially planned.

As a passionate gamer, I was hyped about the upcoming release of Subnautica 2, but my excitement quickly turned sour when Krafton announced a delay alongside the new trailer. The online community reacted fiercely, criticizing the bonus offerings and urging a boycott against the game. In response, Krafton fired back with a harsh statement, accusing developers Cleveland, McGuire, and Gill of shirking their duties during Subnautica 2’s development. Unfazed, Cleveland responded to the company’s claims.

Cleveland stated that they have initiated a lawsuit against Krafton, and it’s expected that the specifics of the case will eventually come to light. He believes everyone deserves the whole truth about the situation. Filing a lawsuit against such a large corporation in a public arena was not on his wish list, but he feels it’s necessary to rectify what has happened. Subnautica is the fruit of his lifelong labor and he would never intentionally leave it or the dedicated team who have put their hearts into it behind.

In a heartfelt statement, Cleveland acknowledged the gratitude towards Subnautica’s fanbase for their unwavering support, and he clarified any misconceptions about him and his associates regarding the intention of retaining the bonus money for personal use.

Cleveland made it clear that the notion of him, Max, and Ted selfishly keeping the earnout was completely false. He clarified that his passion for the industry, rather than personal wealth, motivated his involvement. Historically, they’ve always distributed profits among the team, a practice they continued when selling the studio, and he assured everyone that this tradition would carry over to the earnout as well. The team had worked tirelessly to bring the excellent game to the public, and Cleveland believed they deserved the bonus for their efforts.

Subnautica 2 will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026.

Read More

2025-07-11 14:39