Krafton to pay bonuses to all Unknown Worlds staff

Krafton has agreed to pay bonuses to every employee at Unknown Worlds as part of a settlement that ends a year-long lawsuit over the success of Subnautica 2.

The dispute began after Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and other senior staff were fired in July 2025. The original publishing agreement for Subnautica 2 included sales targets that would trigger a $250 million payment to Unknown Worlds. Plaintiffs alleged Krafton terminated key personnel to avoid the payout and filed suit.

A judge later ordered the reinstatement of the fired employees after testimony that included claims Krafton’s CEO used an AI tool to brainstorm ways to limit the payment. The court record also examined the timing of the game’s delay from 2025 to May 2026.

Under the settlement, every employee will receive a bonus and the studio’s development team will receive higher compensation than under the 2021 acquisition terms. Gill told an interviewer the development team will be “compensated significantly more” and that there will be “further incentives” tied to the game’s lifecycle.

Gill described his departure from the company as mutual and will leave four months after his return, saying he believes new leadership will be best for the studio. The next CEO is expected to be appointed from outside both companies.

Subnautica 2 has sold more than four million copies in early access. The game remains in early access with a full launch and additional updates planned, a performance that factored into the dispute over the $250 million clause.

After the judge’s reinstatement order, the parties resumed negotiations and reached the settlement that ends the public litigation. Krafton and Unknown Worlds did not disclose the total value of the settlement beyond the employee bonuses and the broader compensation terms described by Gill.