Drama Beneath the Waves: Subnautica 2’s Slightly Wacky Turn of Events
In a splash-worthy twist that seems more like a scene from a game than reality, the creative brains behind the underwater escapade known as Subnautica 2, a little studio called Unknown Worlds, are swimming in a sea of legal battles. Apparently, the CEO of their publisher, the ever-creative Krafton, decided to consult ChatGPT for advice—not on how to create a mesmerizing game world, but rather, how to duck out of a $250 million payout. Yes, that’s right, readers: ask a chatbot how to avoid paying your employees. What could go wrong?
Earlier in this soap opera, the trio of Ted Gill (CEO), Charlie Cleveland (co-founder and creative director), and Max McGuire (co-founder and technical director) got the boot from Krafton. The reasoning was steeped in vague terminology like “absence of core leadership,” which is basically corporate speak for, “They were probably not doing what we wanted.” More theatrically, Krafton expressed feeling “a profound sense of betrayal,” likely because they expected the founders to juggle flaming swords while blindfolded and performing Shakespeare.
The drama escalates when the former trio alleged that Krafton’s decision to fire them just before delaying Subnautica 2 was jerk-like behavior aimed at avoiding a hefty bonus. They claim this entire saga was orchestrated to sabotage the game’s release—and incidentally, save a few million along the way. After all, who wouldn’t want to dodge a financial storm while navigating the unpredictable waters of game development?
Legal Shenanigans and Corporate Mischief
Enter the pre-trial brief filed by these former execs, which reads more like a script for a courtroom comedy. It bluntly states that “Krafton fired the founders and delayed the launch of Subnautica 2 to avoid paying the earnout.” Apparently, when Krafton’s finance department forecasted an optimistic $191 million payout, panicked whispers ensued, leading to the brainstorming session of a lifetime. Instead of diving deep for solutions, they opted for grabbing a chatbot.
In a riveting twist, the legal papers allege that as the CEO, Kim—let’s call him Captain Corporate—feared becoming known as “the guy who pays bonuses,” he concocted a plan that could involve firing the founders instead. Genius, right? However, the plot thickened when corporate development wizard Maria Park scoffed at this idea and told Kim it was “highly likely” that the bonus would still be owed, even if the founders were booted. So much for that thought!
Just when it seemed things couldn’t get more tangled, it was revealed that even ChatGPT had the audacity to advise against canceling such payouts. This marks the unprecedented moment when a corporation turns to an AI not for creating cutting-edge gameplay but for dodging financial commitments. If only ChatGPT could suggest how to negotiate a better deal on those endless string cheese sticks at corporate lunches.
The Happy Ending Is Still Undecided
As the chaos unfolds, it has come to light that Slack messages reveal an even deeper conspiracy—or at least an embarrassing lack of negotiation prowess. CFO Richard Yoon dropped bombshells like, “They’re asking for 75 million for themselves and 40 million for the team,” hardly the recipe for a cooperative studio atmosphere. His genius suggestion to take over the studio instead of negotiating was one that likely raised eyebrows—or perhaps set the boardroom buzzing like a bunch of caffeinated minions.
Fast forward to July 1, when Captain Corporate fired the founders, seized control of Unknown Worlds, and delayed the much-anticipated Subnautica 2’s release, now teetering on the edge of 2026. Who needs a game launch when you can have a corporate reality series?
Meanwhile, Krafton asserts that the termination was purely due to the founders allegedly focusing on everything except Subnautica 2—reminds one of a toddler who masters the art of distraction. They claim to be doing this for the fans, inviting a heartfelt chuckle. How noble! But beware, dear readers; the saga continues with a legal proceeding promising to unearth all sorts of thrilling material, proving that corporate shenanigans can sometimes rival the entertainment value of a video game!
