GAMES
Subnautica 2 Early Access Launch Appears to Trigger $250 Million Bonus Payout for Developers
Subnautica 2 launched in Early Access and its strong initial performance appears to meet the conditions for a $250 million bonus owed to developers at Unknown Worlds by publisher Krafton. Krafton had previously attempted to avoid paying the bonus — reportedly using ChatGPT for advice in that effort — by firing key staff before the milestone could be reached, sparking a high-profile legal dispute. The game's launch suggests the bonus conditions have now been met, making a payout likely.
First seen 1d ago2 sources covering
Sources (2)
Click any to read originalEN-ORIGINAL (2)
Sure seems like Subnautica 2's developers are going to get their $250 million bonus aftermath.site/subnautica-2-u...
Aftermath17h
Subnautica 2 launched 20 minutes ago. Safe to say Krafton will be forced to pay out the $250 million bonus it tried very hard (via advice of ChatGPT) to avoid paying
Jason Schreier1d
How sources are framing this
Both sources agree on the core facts; Jason Schreier's post adds the ChatGPT detail while Aftermath focuses on the broader bonus outcome.
What we know
- Subnautica 2 launched in Early Access, with early performance signaling a likely trigger of a $250 million developer bonus
- Publisher Krafton had previously attempted to avoid paying the bonus, reportedly consulting ChatGPT as part of that effort
- Unknown Worlds developers had been fired by Krafton in a move widely seen as an attempt to circumvent the bonus payout
- The game's successful launch appears to undercut Krafton's legal position and make the $250 million payout hard to avoid
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