Fired Subnautica founders fight Krafton over ChatGPT records and are accused of deleting and taking data

Listen too

This article shows the new phase of the dispute between the founders from Unknown Worlds and publisher Krafton. They exchange accusations after a dismissal unexpected and are now competing for ChatGPT. The dispute revolves around contracts and a high-value agreement linked to the purchase of the studio, with the future of Subnautics sequence at stake. For more original context on the case, see: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/ousted-subnautica-2-founders-fight-krafton-over-chatgpt-records-as-the-publisher-accuses-them-of-deleting-and-stealing-data-make-sure-theres-nothing-incriminating/

New files show dispute between Subnautica 2 creators and publisher Krafton

New court documents reveal details of the dispute between the former Unknown Worlds leaders and the publisher Krafton after the July layoffs. The former executives claim they are entitled to US$ 250 million by revenue targets linked to the acquisition of US$ 500 million carried out by Krafton in 2021. The publisher, for its part, is filing counter-allegations against the former employees and claims that some of the evidence requested has not been located. Sources and initial reports on the case can be found at: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/ousted-subnautica-2-founders-fight-krafton-over-chatgpt-records-as-the-publisher-accuses-them-of-deleting-and-stealing-data-make-sure-theres-nothing-incriminating/

Main allegations and responses

Reports indicate that former executives Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire and former CEO Ted Gill requested access to the search history of the chatbot used by Krafton, claiming that CEO Kim Chang-han would have used the AI system to plan ways of not paying the earnout. The publisher responded that it was unable to locate these histories and classified the request as a belated attempt to find evidence.

Krafton also accuses the plaintiffs of instructing each other, on the day of dismissal, to review internal AI accounts and remove potentially compromising content. The publisher suggests that relevant data may have been destroyed or concealed; the former leaders deny criminal intent and claim to be seeking the payments due.

Context of the dispute

The controversy revolves around the expected payouts following the acquisition of Unknown Worlds: the founders claim to have reached revenue milestones that would trigger the earnout; Krafton disputes the extent of the former managers' involvement in development and claims that they neglected duties while pursuing personal gains.

The case takes place while Subnautica 2 is still scheduled for 2026, causing apprehension among players and fans. There were fears of boycotts of the game after the resignations, but Krafton says that its priority is to deliver a good experience to players and that the change in leadership was due to disagreements over commitment to the project.

Main details at a glance

• Former founders of Unknown Worlds ask US$ 250 million by earnout targets linked to the 2021 acquisition.

• Request includes AI search history (ChatGPT) which the former executives believe contains evidence against the CEO of Krafton.

• Krafton claims not to have located these transcripts and says the request is a final attempt to find evidence.

• The publisher accuses the former leaders of instructing them to review and remove content from the company's accounts on the day of their dismissal.

• The dispute takes place while Subnautica 2 remains scheduled for release in 2026, and fans show concern.

Summary: the legal dispute is not just about money; it can affect the development and reception of Subnautica 2a title the community has been waiting for.

Conclusion

The dispute between the former leaders of the Unknown Worlds and Krafton turned into a legal confrontation with serious allegations US$ 250 million at stake, claims over the use of the ChatGPT and accusations of data removal after the dismissal. On the one hand, the former founders claim that the earnout milestones have been reached; on the other, the publisher questions involvement and responsibility.

The scenario remains tense and uncertain, and the future of Subnautica 2 (scheduled for 2026) depends on both contractual decisions and trust between the parties. To follow the next developments and original sources on the case, see also: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/ousted-subnautica-2-founders-fight-krafton-over-chatgpt-records-as-the-publisher-accuses-them-of-deleting-and-stealing-data-make-sure-theres-nothing-incriminating/

In short, the case will still have new chapters for analysis and updates, see also specialized publications and reports linked to the case.