Subnautica 2 Early Access Launch Triggers $250 Million Bonus Payout for Developers

Subnautica 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Unknown Worlds’ underwater survival hit, launched into early access today and quickly proved its commercial viability by selling 1 million units within the first hour of release.

Legal Battles Pave the Way for $250 Million Bonus

The game’s early access success comes after years of legal turmoil involving its publisher, Krafton, and the original developers at Unknown Worlds. A Delaware court recently ruled that Krafton must honor a $250 million bonus originally tied to revenue targets by the end of 2025. However, delays—allegedly forced upon Unknown Worlds—made meeting those targets nearly impossible.

The court’s decision included a critical adjustment: the bonus deadline was extended to September 15, 2026, to account for time lost when one of Unknown Worlds’ founders, Ted Gill, was temporarily removed from his CEO role. The founders also retain the option to push the deadline further to March 2027 with written notice to Krafton.

Krafton’s ChatGPT Controversy

Reports surfaced earlier this year that Krafton’s CEO, Changhan Kim, consulted ChatGPT for advice on how to avoid paying the bonus. The court’s ruling effectively nullifies those efforts, ensuring the developers will receive the funds they were promised.

As of April, Krafton was no longer listed as Subnautica 2’s publisher on Steam. When contacted by Polygon, a Krafton representative stated,

"Krafton is currently focused on successfully supporting the Early Access launch of Subnautica 2. We have nothing further to share at this time."

Will the Bonus Actually Be Paid?

While the legal path is now clear, questions remain about Krafton’s willingness to comply. Industry analyst Jason Schreier of Bloomberg confirmed the bonus stipulation exists in the purchase agreement and suggested that Krafton will likely be forced to pay. He tweeted:

"Safe to say Krafton will be forced to pay out the $250 million bonus it tried very hard (via advice of ChatGPT) to avoid paying."

In a 2025 report, Schreier highlighted that Unknown Worlds’ leadership had planned to distribute the bonus among all studio employees—around 100 staff members—with payouts ranging from hundreds of thousands to seven figures for those employed at the time of Krafton’s acquisition.

Key Takeaways from the Legal Saga

• Court Ruling: Delaware court mandated the $250 million bonus payout, extending the deadline to September 2026 (or March 2027).
• ChatGPT Involvement: Krafton’s CEO reportedly sought AI advice to avoid the bonus, which backfired.
• Employee Impact: The bonus was intended to reward all eligible Unknown Worlds staff, including those laid off during the acquisition.
• Publisher Shift: Krafton’s removal from Steam’s publisher listing raises questions about its future involvement.

With Subnautica 2 off to a strong start, the developers now appear poised to receive the financial reward they fought for—assuming no further delays or legal maneuvers from Krafton.