Krafton agrees to pay bonuses to all Subnautica 2 staff as CEO steps down to settle lawsuit

Krafton has agreed to pay bonuses to the entire staff of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind Subnautica 2, following a legal settlement that brings an end to a months-long dispute over a $250 million earn-out tied to the game's performance. Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill has stepped down as part of the agreement.

The details:

• Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021 for $500 million, with a contract stipulating that executives and staff would share in a $250 million bonus if Subnautica 2 hit certain revenue targets, which the game has met following its successful Early Access launch
• Gill was fired in summer 2025 alongside studio co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire; the trio alleged the dismissals were an attempt to avoid paying the earn-out, while Krafton claimed the firings were due to "neglect of duties" and development delays
• A judge ordered Krafton to reinstate Gill in March 2026, allowing him to oversee Subnautica 2's Early Access release
• Under the settlement, all current Unknown Worlds staff will be "compensated significantly more" than the original acquisition agreement called for, with further incentives tied to ongoing updates and support for the game, and the bonus structure has been extended to include staff hired after the acquisition
• Gill confirmed his departure following the settlement, stating: "We mutually agreed to part ways. New leadership is the best way for the studio to move forward."