Subnautica 2: The founders continue Krafton for abusive dismissal in a dispute at 250 million dollars – news

As a reminder. Similarly, this $ 250 million bonus, 90 % of whom were intended for the three former leaders (who had however committed to sharing with the rest of the studio), was conditioned to the fact that the UNKNOWN Worlds studio achieves certain income targets by the end of 2025. Moreover, The launch of Subnautica 2 This year was however necessary to achieve the objectives in question. Moreover, A conflict then engaged around the concept (quite subjective) that Subnautica 2 would be “ready”. However, not to make his debut in early access this year. Moreover, Krafton’s point of view, who postponed the outing to 2026, is that the game still needs content. Consequently, Last week. Furthermore, Krafton openly criticized the former leaders of having ” abandoned their responsibilities »In the development of Subnautica 2despite the mirobal sums invested. Furthermore, “” The absence subnautica 2: founders continue krafton of central management has led to repeated confusion in the orientation of the project. Additionally, Furthermore, significant delays in the global calendar “, Ensures the publisher.

But for Charlie Cleveland. Moreover, Max McGuire and Ted Gill, Krafton is only animated by the objective of not having to pay the $ 250 million of conditional payment (earn-out) in the event of the studio performance. However, Should it be remembered. However, the Korean publisher had already put $ 500 million on the table to acquire the UNKNOWN Worlds studio in October 2021. Meanwhile, Yesterday. For example, Krafton confirmed to the studio employees that the payment calendar on their part of the performance bonus (25 million dollars) would be extended until the end of 2026, story to compensate for the postponement of Subnautica 2. Therefore, Despite this pledge in good faith, Krafton still escapes the payment of $ 225 million intended for subnautica 2: founders continue krafton the founders.

In their complaint. Therefore, Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire and Ted Gill must notably demonstrate that Subnautica 2 was perfectly ready to be launched in 2025. For this. the trio is based on the fact that the game had received from ” very good assessments “During tests that involved” Hundreds of real users devoting thousands of hours »To a development version of the game.

According to the complaint. whose journalists Stephen Totilo and Jason Schreier reported for Game File and Bloomberg, relations between the two parties were good until a series of meetings at the beginning of 2025, during which the former CEO Ted Gill negotiated with Krafton in order to pay bonuses to non -eligible employees, in the initial terms of the acquisition. About 40 employees present at the time of the sale of the studio (in October 2021) had been informed that they would receive bonuses. often subnautica 2: founders continue krafton at six or seven figures, but the managers also wanted to reward the employees recruited later.

Charlie Cleveland also affirms that Krafton CEO. Changhan Kim, would have openly entrusted his reluctance to pay the performance bonus, on the occasion of a professional meeting, on May 20, 2025. During this lunch. Kim would have confided that if Unknown Worlds released the game according to the scheduled calendar, the consequences could be ” financially disastrous and very embarrassing for Krafton “, Which would have been required to add $ 250 million to the 500 million already spent in 2021. Krafton denied later by explaining that the CEO’s words had been misinterpreted by the translators. a problem which had never arisen during meetings translated in the previous four years.

According to the complaint, Subnautica 2 was promised to an immediate success. This point is not really subnautica 2: founders continue krafton questionable: the fact is that the game appears in second place of the most. requested titles on Steam with 2.5 million people who put the game in their list of wishes. We also learn that Subnautica First of the name. which has just been released on mobile, must also be worn on Switch 2 and therefore generate additional income. On April 8. Jin Oh, global publication manager at Krafton, reportedly told the founders that forecasts were to sell 2 to 3 million copies of Subnautica 2 By the end of December 2025. Such a sales figure would automatically trigger the complete $ 250 million.

Subnautica 2: founders continue krafton

Who really “abandoned his responsibilities”?

But from April 11. when it became clear that Krafton was going to have to pay for this big supplement, the founders began to hear that the Korean publisher was planning to delay the game, without subnautica 2: founders continue krafton having a valid reason, according to them. Throughout the months of May and June, tensions intensified. The complainants accuse Krafton of having voluntarily interrupted certain tasks linked to the publishing of the game. including marketing and the payment of providers. The former management claims that the publisher refused to support the summer release of the game. that a Known Worlds lacked promotional opportunities ” very precious Because Krafton did not respond to emails. Ted Gill would have even been informed by a senior Krafton official that ” withdrawing these resources was a legal way for Krafton to avoid supporting the payment of the premium “. According to the complaint. As for ” personal project From film that Krafton reproached Charlie Cleveland for having favored at the expense of the game. it would actually be a film Subnauticaa project that Krafton had asked for the studio to develop.

For Charlie Cleveland. subnautica 2: founders continue krafton Max McGuire and Ted Gill, there is therefore no doubt that Krafton has used all possible means to delay the game in the mere reason not to pay the $ 250 million. According to the complaint. the South Korean publisher would even have tried to negotiate, at the end of June, a payment lower than what was stipulated in the contract, before dismissing the three leaders, on July 1. “” This coordinated effort aimed to delay the game and undermine Earn-out “Says the complaint. Krafton publicly recognized that the tests of Subnautica 2 are ” very well But also there were points to improve. the content was insufficient. Steve Papoutsis. veteran of Electronic Arts and Managing Director of Striking Distance Studios, took the place of Ted Gill as CEO.

Charlie Cleveland. Max McGuire and Ted Gill therefore consider it to have been abusive and are now claiming damages ” whose subnautica 2: founders continue krafton amount will be determined during the trial “, According to their complaint. Krafton will soon have the opportunity to present his version of the facts to justice.

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