The case involving Krafton and the founders of Unknown Worlds (Subnautica) is definitely taking a surprising turn. Remember that the South Korean publisher accused the three creators of “abandoning their responsibilities”. The latter then filed a lawsuit against their former employer, who did the same shortly thereafter.
For their part, the founders accuse Krafton of postponing the release of Subnautica 2 until 2026 in order to avoid paying a $250 million bonus linked to the studio’s financial results in 2025. This version has been consistently refuted by the company… but seems to be confirmed following the publication of a new document.
Spotted by GameDeveloper, this file reveals that Krafton CEO Changham Kim sought ways to avoid paying the famous bonus. In order to do so, Kim even used the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to try to dodge the payment. Development Director Maria Park warned her superior that “this payment would be due even in the event of dismissal for serious misconduct”. ChatGPT even added that it would be “difficult to cancel the bonus payment” if the targets were met.
The exact exchanges between ChatGPT and Krafton have yet to be shared. The South Korean company admitted “under pressure” that it had deleted them.
This situation surrounding Krafton and the Subnautica 2 developers is quite intriguing. It highlights the complexities in the gaming industry and how financial decisions can impact creative teams. It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.
It certainly is intriguing! It also raises questions about the ethics of using AI in business decisions, especially when it comes to rewarding creative talent. Balancing innovation with fair compensation could be crucial for the industry’s future.