Unknown Worlds Challenge Krafton Over Mid-Litigation Shift in Subnautica 2 Case

Founders of Unknown Worlds—Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire—have accused their parent publisher Krafton of changing its rationale for firing them and taking over the studio in court filings. They argue that Krafton initially cited concerns over a possible premature release of Subnautica 2, but has pivoted to claims about downloading confidential files only after the terminations.

The trio has successfully blocked Krafton’s request for a protective order and a forensic inspection of their devices. According to the court’s decision, Krafton’s motion for these orders was denied without prejudice, meaning it may try again in future proceedings.

Their filings state Krafton’s “new theory” was developed after firing the founders, and that the company’s original concerns centred on game readiness. The ex-leadership insists that backing up files—now pointed to by Krafton—were part of their normal access, and that Krafton only raised these allegations in response to legal pressure.

Krafton had publicly asserted that the departure of Gill, Cleveland, and McGuire stemmed from their failure to meet game development milestones and what was described as “abandonment of responsibilities” at Unknown Worlds. The publisher also defended the delay of Subnautica 2 into 2026, saying it was required to ensure the game met quality expectations. The founders counter that the game was ready for early access and claim the delay was engineered to avoid triggering a $250 million earn-out payment tied to 2025 targets.

Legal experts commenting on the case describe Krafton’s shift in argument as a “seismic change” that creates potential risks for its credibility in court. Judge Lori W. Will reportedly expressed concern over the discrepancy between Krafton’s published termination notices and its current claims.