Krafton to Pay $250 M Bonus After Subnautica 2 Launch

The developer of the underwater survival game Subnautica 2 is set to receive a $250 million bonus from its parent company, Krafton, following the game's record-breaking launch in early access. The payment resolves a protracted and public legal dispute between the two companies over the contractual bonus tied to the game's sales performance.

According to reports citing industry sources, Krafton has agreed to honor the terms of an earnout agreement established when it acquired Unknown Worlds Entertainment in 2021. The deal stipulates that Krafton must pay $3.12 to former shareholders of the studio for every $1 earned, up to a maximum of $250 million, each time the studio's monthly revenue exceeds $69.8 million. Analysis from Alinea Analytics indicates Subnautica 2 generated over $100 million in revenue within its first week, easily surpassing the threshold and triggering the payout.

The bonus became the center of a legal battle that began in July 2025, when Krafton fired Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and other senior staff members, including co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire. The company cited development concerns, but the ousted executives alleged the terminations were...