Because the messy breakdown between Krafton and Subnautica 2 developer and subsidiary Unknown Worlds goes to courtroom this week, an explosive new authorized submitting claims that Krafton’s CEO mentioned a takeover of the studio in Slack messages, and allegedly even turned to ChatGPT “to assist him brainstorm methods to keep away from paying the earnout.”
Unknown Worlds’ complete management was fired amid a messy public falling out over a $250 million bonus from dad or mum firm, Krafton. For months now, most protection in regards to the sequel has involved the painful breakdown between Unknown Worlds’ founders and Krafton, which acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021. Over the summer time, reviews got here to mild that Subnautica 2’s early entry launch was delayed to 2026 simply months earlier than Krafton was due to pay a $250 million bonus to the event crew “in opposition to the desires of the studio’s former management.”
Krafton issued a response to the lawsuit filed by former leads of Subnautica 2, Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, providing rebuttals to the builders’ claims and alleging they “resorted to litigation to demand a multimillion-dollar payout they have not earned.” Then, final month, Unknown Worlds itself sued its founders Cleveland, former CEO Ted Gill, and studio co-founder Max McGuire for allegedly stealing sport design information shortly earlier than they had been fired.
Now, in new authorized paperwork, the founders allege Krafton CEO CH Kim and Unknown Worlds newly-appointed CFO Richard Yoon mentioned a potential takeover over Slack, and allegedly used ChatGPT for concepts on how to get out of paying the bonus, and arrange a “secret activity power” to take over the studio.
“Within the lead-up to this determination, Krafton CEO CH Kim had change into pissed off with the contract Krafton signed to purchase Unknown Worlds. From his seat, it had change into a dangerous deal for Krafton — one ‘underneath which [Krafton] can solely be dragged round,'” the submitting states.
“Krafton created a secret activity power referred to as ‘Venture X’ whose mandate was easy: both make a ‘deal’ with the Founders on the ‘earnout’ or execute a ‘Take Over’ of Unknown Worlds. When the Founders refused to accede to Krafton’s calls for, Krafton pulled the set off.
“[Maria Park, Krafton’s global head of corporate development] advised Kim that ‘it appears to be extremely seemingly that the earn-out will nonetheless be paid if the gross sales aim is achieved whatever the dismissal with trigger,’” the brand new submitting provides. “Kim turned to synthetic intelligence to assist him brainstorm methods to keep away from paying the earnout. ChatGPT likewise suggested that it might be ‘tough to cancel the earn-out.’”
The cofounders allege that Krafton refused to “produce the ChatGPT conversations,” later claiming “they not exist.”
The submitting additionally seeks to bolster Unknown Worlds’ claims that Subnautica 2 was certainly prepared for its deliberate delicate launch, stating that Unknown Worlds’ playtest information, offered to Krafton in Might, “confirmed that the sport met gamers’ expectations.” Moreover, Krafton’s “personal inner skilled declared that the deliberate 2025 launch can be greatest (and that firing Ted Gill would lead to a multi-year growth delay),” and Maria Park wrote “the sport was prepared for an August launch.”
In a assertion to press, Krafton mentioned: “There may be nothing extra necessary to us than making certain the gamers get the very best expertise. We’re wanting ahead to highlighting that every one of our choices have been centered on making certain Subnautica 2 exceeds the excessive expectations that come from our gamers.
“We had been compelled to make a change when the previous leaders confirmed little curiosity within the growth of Subnautica 2, which has at all times been our high precedence. Now, this trial comes down to plaintiffs asking to be restored to jobs they weren’t doing, mentioned that they had little interest in doing, and had beforehand declined requests that they arrive again and do these jobs.
“Krafton stays centered on what issues: delivering the very best sport to Subnautica’s followers.”
As for Subnautica 2 itself? Developer Unknown Worlds lately shared a behind-the-scenes have a look at an all-new deep-sea predator, and “how the crew has used Unreal Engine 5 AI for lifelike conduct, real-time reactions and tense encounters for participant.” The ten-minute vlog is without doubt one of the first growth updates we have had for the reason that authorized wrangling started over the summer time.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and advisor with 15+ years expertise working with among the world’s greatest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.