Subnautica 2, a title that promises a serene survival experience, has navigated a turbulent path leading to its early access launch in May. The journey was marked by significant upheaval, including legal disputes and allegations of sabotage that would make any business executive’s head spin.
Corporate Turmoil and Legal Battles
In 2025, Krafton made the controversial decision to remove the leadership of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2, resulting in a delay of the game’s early access release. The publisher accused the studio heads of neglecting the project, while the ousted leadership countered with claims that Krafton was intentionally stalling the game to avoid fulfilling a promised 0 million earnout. This strategy, reportedly conceived by Krafton’s CEO with the assistance of ChatGPT, aimed to extend the earnout period while undermining the studio’s efforts.
As the situation escalated, Krafton quickly announced a new early access release date, a move that Unknown Worlds’ CEO, Ted Gill, interpreted as a final attempt to sabotage the game and evade financial obligations. Despite the chaos, Subnautica 2 eventually launched successfully, achieving a remarkable milestone of 5 million copies sold shortly thereafter.
Leadership Changes and Financial Outcomes
Amidst this backdrop of corporate strife, Gill voluntarily departed from his position, a decision not entirely unexpected given the fraught relationship with Krafton. With the game’s success, the staff at Unknown Worlds were set to receive bonuses from the earnout, marking a bittersweet conclusion to a tumultuous chapter.
Krafton, in an effort to move forward, has celebrated the success of Subnautica 2, announcing record-breaking financial results for the second quarter. The company reported revenues of KRW 1.29 trillion and an operating profit of KRW 410.9 billion, both unprecedented figures for this period. The press release attributed this success primarily to the performance of Subnautica 2 and the continued growth of the PUBG franchise.
Revenue Insights and Future Implications
Interestingly, PC revenue has surpassed KRW 500 billion for the first time, outpacing both console and mobile revenue streams, which have also seen year-over-year increases. However, the financial landscape is not entirely rosy for Krafton, as the substantial costs associated with acquiring Unknown Worlds and the recent earnout have taken a toll. Despite the record operating profit, the net profit reflects a deficit of KRW 29.9 billion, highlighting the balancing act between revenue generation and expenditure.
While Krafton has indeed reaped significant financial rewards, the costs incurred suggest that the path to profitability remains complex and challenging.
