Subnautica 2 lawsuit takes an unexpected turn

The legal battle between Unknown Worlds (developer of Subnautica) and parent company Krafton has shifted dramatically. Krafton told the court that “documents relating to the readiness of the game were irrelevant to the termination” of Unknown Worlds’ leadership — a central point that previously helped trigger the dispute.

Quick recap

• Unknown Worlds’ developers argued Subnautica 2 was ready for Early Access; Krafton disagreed and delayed release to 2026.
• The disagreement is tied to a reported $250 million performance bonus and the firing/replacement of Unknown Worlds’ leadership.
• Fortis Advisors, representing the ousted founders, called Krafton’s new position a “seismic shift” in the case.
• Krafton now appears to be focusing on claims that Unknown Worlds’ leadership “abandoned their post” and “deceived” the company.
• The case is in the discovery phase; Fortis says Krafton is not fully cooperating with evidence production.

Why it matters

Documents about the game’s readiness would normally be pivotal in determining whether the founders were justified in claiming the game was ready (and thus entitled to contractual bonuses). Krafton’s withdrawal of that line of argument complicates the litigation and may change the evidence both sides prioritize.

Sources & further reading

• PC Gamer: Latest report on the case
• IGN: Coverage of ongoing development and legal context
• GamesIndustry.biz: Additional reporting

Related shopping

If you want to check out Subnautica products or editions, search on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Subnautica&tag=f1rede-20

Note: Removed links to RSS feeds and did not post Engadget’s RSS. This summary is based on the PC Gamer report and other independent coverage.

What do you think this U-turn means for the outcome? Leave a comment below.