Krafton faces a hefty payout after Subnautica 2 sold over 4 million copies in early access. The game’s popularity forced the publisher to honor a $250 million earn‑out promised to Unknown Worlds staff when revenue goals hit. Sales data shows the title is already a bestseller, sparking the payment debate.

Krafton delayed Subnautica 2 in 2025 to avoid the earn‑out, prompting Unknown Worlds to sue. A judge forced the company to reverse course after the CEO, Changham Kim, dismissed the payout as a “professional embarrassment.” Kim even consulted ChatGPT for a loophole, but the AI warned cancellation would be hard, leading to a convoluted “Project X” plan which aimed to negotiate a lower bonus.

With the court ruling settled, Krafton must pay the bonus and has announced a shift to become an “AI first” company. The move signals a broader trend of studios leveraging technology to navigate legal and financial hurdles. Consumers now face a game that is almost finished but still tied to a corporate dispute that reshaped its release strategy for the industry.