In gentle of the latest drama between Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds Leisure and writer Krafton, director of the unique Subnautica and studio co-founder Charlie Cleveland has introduced that he’s pursuing authorized motion in opposition to the writer.
Taking to social media platform X, Cleveland wrote about Krafton’s feedback concerning the “absence of core management” for Subnautica 2, and the way vital the unique Subnautica has been for him and his fellow studio co-founders Ted Gill and Max McGuire.
“We’ve now filed a lawsuit in opposition to Krafton: the small print ought to finally change into (no less than largely) public – you all deserve the complete story,” wrote Cleveland on X. “Suing a multi-billion greenback firm in a painful, public and presumably protracted means was definitely not on my bucket listing. However this must be made proper. Subnautica has been my life’s work and I might by no means willingly abandon it or the wonderful workforce that has poured their hearts into it.”
In his put up, Cleveland additionally wrote about Subnautica 2 being prepared for an Early Entry launch, in addition to how Krafton’s assertion concerning the three co-founders is “completely unfaithful”.
“As for the earnout, the concept that Max, Ted and I needed to maintain all of it for ourselves is completely unfaithful,” he wrote. “I’m on this trade as a result of I like it, not for riches. Traditionally we’ve at all times shared our earnings with the workforce and did the identical once we bought the studio. You will be damned positive we’ll proceed with the earnout/bonus as properly. They deserve it for all their unimaginable work attempting to get this nice recreation into your palms.”
Cleveland additionally wrote about it being a surreal time for the workforce that has labored onerous on creating Subnautica 2. “None of that is what we needed,” he wrote. “However we really recognize the wonderful assist we’ve gotten from everybody. It means lots to us, particularly now.”
This announcement by Cleveland comes simply hours after Krafton had launched its assertion concerning the state of Subnautica 2 and Unknown Worlds as an entire. The writer had revealed that, of the $500 million it had spent in its acquisition of the studio, $250 million was put aside as earn-out compensation. Out of this $250 million, 90 p.c was slated to go to the three co-founders of the studio.
“We’re deeply disillusioned by the previous management’s conduct, and above all, we really feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure to honor the belief positioned in them by our followers,” wrote Krafton in its assertion.
Krafton’s assertion was in itself a response to the studio speaking about Subnautica 2 being delayed to 2026 earlier this week. Unknown Worlds acknowledged that it obtained “some nice suggestions” from playtests, occurring to speak about how the studio felt that it was “swimming in the fitting route”.
The choice to delay the Early Entry launch for Subnautica 2 happened as a result of the studio needed to “give ourselves a little bit additional time to answer extra of that suggestions earlier than releasing the sport into Early Entry.”
When it comes out in 2026, Subnautica 2 can be obtainable on PC and Xbox Collection X/S.
