Subnautica Project 2 Returns to Real CEO Control After Official Victory
Back in early July 2025, everyone was caught off guard by the news that Crafton he was taking out three heads of Unknown Worlds – Ted Gill, Charlie Clevelandagain Max McGuire – with immediate effect. These were the creative minds responsible for the critically acclaimed Subnautica, so everyone was in a frenzy as the long-awaited sequel was already on the way.
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At that time, the company only announced the sudden dismissal without explaining the exact reason to the public, and also suspended Early Access Subnautica 2which was planned for 2025. This sparked a lawsuit between Krafton and the studio’s ousted co-founders, and the legal battle has just reached a major new chapter.
The Final Judgment of the Unknown Worlds
About a year later, the Court of Chancery of Delawarewho is in charge of the case, has decided that Ted Gill, founder and CEO of Unknown Worlds, should be reinstated as CEO of the company, giving him “full operational authority” over the studio.
According to information from Bloomberg, the judge in charge of the case also decided that Gill must be “immediately restored access to the Steam platform” and that he is allowed to launch Subnautica 2 in Early Access whenever he chooses, which means that Krafton has no power to stop him now.
All filings are available online and explain the arguments made by both sides, especially those that decided the case. Basically, the dispute revolves around the payment of $250 million that Krafton will pay Unknown Worlds if the first Subnautica reaches certain financial goals.
The judge presiding over the case also ruled that Gill must be “immediately reinstated on the Steam platform” and that he is allowed to launch Subnautica 2 into Early Access whenever he chooses.
In context, Krafton bought the studio in 2021 for $500 million following the success of the first game, announcing a sequel soon after. However, a clause in the contract indicated that the studio was eligible for a $250 million bonus based on the target.
After listening to both sides, the judge came to the decision that the game had indeed met the bonus criteria, but Krafton’s CEO, Changan Kimreportedly used an AI chatbot (well, that’s weird) in an attempt to avoid paying it.
“As Strange Worlds prepares to release its much-anticipated sequel, Subnautica 2, the team’s relationship has broken down. Internal speculation has shown a new top-grossing title that could easily raise earnings. Fearing that he agreed to a ‘pushover’ contract, Krafton’s CEO consulted an artificial intelligence chatbot to confectionery, read ‘chatbot’ intelligence without properly explaining that AI was used how.
Additionally, the document shows how the judge found some missing pieces in Krafton’s allegations that the firings of Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire were due to a “collective dereliction of duty,” saying the company used this as an excuse. “Frustrated by Key Employees’ refusal to take control of operations and face a nine-person lawsuit, Krafton went looking for an excuse,” the judge wrote.
Everything decided by the Court of Chancery of Delaware is working immediately, so it is possible that Subnautica 2 will finally come out of the deep later this year, following months after the closure of this case. Krafton has not commented publicly on the matter, and it is expected that the company will try to file an appeal, given how it has fought the case so far.
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