The previous management of Unknown Worlds has filed a lawsuit towards Krafton.
The submitting – reported by Bloomberg – insists that the Korean video games large put stress on the studio to bump Subnautica 2 past its 2025 launch date; it additionally reiterates some extent made by ex-creative director and co-founder Charlie Cleveland, who has beforehand mentioned that the sport was prepared to return out this 12 months in Early Entry.
Underneath the phrases of its acquisition of Unknown Worlds, Krafton had left operational duties as much as the studio, that means that they have been free to launch the sport at any time when it wished. The lawsuit alleges that the Korean agency took steps to delay the sport, equivalent to pulling advertising and marketing supplies, being non-commital on “essential partnerships” and pulling again from “long-standing commitments to deal with vital pre-launch duties”.
All this, the previous Unknown Worlds administration claims, was to get out of a $250 million fee. This follows Krafton firing founders Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire, and changing them with business vet Steve Papoutsis.
“Krafton’s first choice upon taking on? To delay the launch of Subnautica 2 till someday in 2026,” the submitting continued.
“That means, Krafton may maintain the sport’s income for itself, whereas avoiding the $250 million earnout it might seemingly have owed the Founders and different Unknown Worlds staff.”
In its personal assertion to AftermathKrafton added that its “selections have been made to make sure Subnautica 2 is the very best sport and lives as much as fan expectations. Releasing the sport prematurely with inadequate content material, falling in need of what followers count on in a sequel, would have each upset the gamers — who’re on the coronary heart of every little thing Krafton does — and broken the reputations of each the Subnautica and Unknown Worlds manufacturers. Whereas we’re upset that Charlie, Max, and Ted have filed a lawsuit looking for an enormous payout, we sit up for defending ourselves in courtroom. Within the meantime, Krafton stays targeted on what issues: delivering the very best sport as rapidly as potential to Subnautica’s followers.”
