Subnautica 2

Product

Last mentioned: Mar 23, 2026

Timeline

  1. Early Access Target

    Subnautica 2 is scheduled to enter early access on PC and Xbox platforms.

  2. Planned Launch

    Subnautica 2 is expected to enter early access on PC and Xbox.

  3. Early Access Launch

    Subnautica 2 is set to launch into early access following the leadership transition.

  4. Court Ruling

    Delaware Court of Chancery orders Krafton to restore the studio leadership.

  5. Court Ruling

    Delaware Court of Chancery orders the immediate restoration of UWE leadership.

  6. Court Ruling

    Delaware Court of Chancery orders Krafton to restore studio leadership and labels the AI-led plan improper.

  7. Court Ruling

    Delaware Court of Chancery orders Krafton to reverse the removals and restore studio independence.

  8. Court Ruling

    A judge orders the reinstatement of Ted Gill as CEO of Unknown Worlds.

  9. Court Ruling

    A judge orders Krafton to rehire Ted Gill at Unknown Worlds Entertainment.

  10. Court Ruling

    A judge rules in favor of the founders, ordering Gill's immediate reinstatement.

  11. Leadership Removed

    Krafton terminates Unknown Worlds founders after they refuse to renegotiate.

  12. Project X Execution

    Krafton removes UWE leadership and attempts to seize control of game code and Steam rights.

  13. Project X Initiated

    CEO Kim consults ChatGPT to devise a strategy to avoid the $250M payout.

  14. Project X Conceived

    CEO Changhan Kim consults ChatGPT to devise a strategy to dodge the payout.

  15. AI Consultation

    CEO Changhan Kim consults ChatGPT to find ways to renegotiate or avoid the payout.

  16. Internal Forecasts

    Projections show Subnautica 2 is likely to trigger the full $250M bonus payout.

  17. Lawsuit Filed

    Ousted leaders sue Krafton over wrongful termination and a $250M bonus dispute.

  18. Internal Forecasts

    Krafton identifies that Subnautica 2 targets will trigger the full earnout.

  19. Bonus Panic

    Internal projections suggest Subnautica 2 will trigger the $250M payout.

  20. Leadership Purge

    Krafton fires CEO Ted Gill and other leaders; Subnautica 2 launch is delayed.

Stories mentioning Subnautica 2 7

compensation Bearish

Krafton CEO’s AI-Driven Plot to Evade $250M Payout Blocked by Delaware Court

A Delaware court has ordered Krafton to reinstate the leadership of its subsidiary, Unknown Worlds Entertainment, after CEO Changhan Kim used ChatGPT to orchestrate a 'takeover' aimed at avoiding a $250 million bonus payout. The ruling highlights the severe legal and ethical risks of using generative AI to circumvent contractual obligations and manage executive talent.

2 sources
corporate-law Bearish

Krafton CEO’s ChatGPT-Led Payout Evasion Strategy Fails in Delaware Court

The Delaware Court of Chancery has ordered Krafton to reinstate the leadership of Unknown Worlds Entertainment after CEO Changhan Kim used ChatGPT to devise a 'takeover' strategy to avoid a $250 million earnout. The ruling highlights the legal risks of using generative AI to circumvent contractual obligations and the court's intolerance for bad-faith maneuvers in M&A deals.

2 sources
leadership Neutral

Subnautica 2 Set for May Release Amid Krafton Legal Surrender

Subnautica 2 is scheduled for an early access release in May 2026 following a court ruling that forced publisher Krafton to reinstate ousted Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill. The legal battle centers on allegations that Krafton fired the studio's founders to avoid paying a $250 million incentive bonus.

2 sources
corporate-law Neutral

Krafton-Unknown Worlds Dispute: Court Orders CEO Reinstatement Amid $250M Battle

A court has ordered the reinstatement of former Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill following a high-stakes legal battle over a $250 million earn-out provision in the studio's acquisition by Krafton. The ruling comes as the highly anticipated sequel, Subnautica 2, is scheduled for a May early access release, highlighting the tension between corporate performance targets and executive management.

2 sources