Subnautica 2 Developers Likely to Receive $250 Million Payout After CEO’s ChatGPT Misstep

Subnautica 2 has been developed by Unknown Worlds, which was acquired by Krafton. As part of the acquisition, Krafton promised the studio’s founders a staggering payout of up to $250 million if they achieved record revenues. This led to a lawsuit when Krafton attempted to back out of that commitment. Not only did Krafton lose the lawsuit, but it also seems to be struggling financially, as Subnautica 2 has been performing exceptionally well on Steam during its first month in Early Access.

Here’s how the agreement works: Krafton agreed to pay $3.12 to the cofounders of Unknown Worlds for every $1 of revenue once the studio’s monthly revenue exceeded $70 million. This means a potential payout of $218 million for the first month, with the total bonus capped at $250 million. According to a recent report, Krafton is on track to meet this payout, which would represent 35 percent of its operating profit for 2025.

Since its release on Steam on May 14, Subnautica 2 has already sold 4 million copies. Priced at $30 each, and after accounting for Valve’s 30 percent cut, that translates to around $85 million in potential revenue for this month alone. This figure doesn’t even factor in sales from the existing games, which are likely seeing a boost in interest as well. Additionally, Subnautica 2 is available on Xbox Series X/S and is part of an ongoing Game Pass deal.

So, what led Krafton to make such a questionable deal in the first place? Did they genuinely believe Unknown Worlds would never reach those ambitious monthly targets, or were they simply eager to secure a U.S.-based studio amid the competitive landscape of post-pandemic studio acquisitions? It’s worth noting that Unknown Worlds was purchased for an upfront price of $50 million in 2021, during a time when investment was pouring in from China and major players like Sony and Microsoft were acquiring studios left and right.

Krafton nearly escaped the $250 million payout last summer when it delayed the launch of Subnautica 2 and dismissed the studio’s cofounders for alleged underperformance. The CEO even sought assistance from ChatGPT regarding the agreement, a move that backfired during a trial over breach of contract. Earlier this year, a judge ruled in favor of the studio’s cofounders, although the court is still determining the exact payout under the new conditions.

At least Krafton now has one of the most anticipated PC games of 2026 on its roster.