After a messy, year-long legal fight, Krafton agreed to pay bonuses to the staff of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind Subnautica 2. The settlement came with a twist: Ted Gill, the CEO who was ousted and then reinstated by court order, immediately left the company.
The legal battle
The dispute started when Krafton tried to avoid paying performance bonuses to Unknown Worlds employees. The publisher argued it wasn’t obligated to hand over the cash. Gill fought back, got fired, then won a court ruling that put him back in charge. Now, with the settlement, Krafton finally caved.
“Krafton has agreed to pay bonuses to the studio staff of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment,” the source states.
What happens next
Gill’s departure means Unknown Worlds needs new leadership. The studio is still working on Subnautica 2, but this shakeup leaves questions about who’ll steer the ship. Krafton didn’t announce a replacement or comment on the studio’s future structure.
The settlement ends a year of courtroom drama, but it doesn’t erase the tension. Gill fought for his team’s pay, won, and then walked. That’s a strange ending to a story that started with a CEO trying to protect his developers.
