Last year, Unknown Worlds executives Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire were fired by Krafton for “lack of leadership”. The three quickly filed a lawsuit against the publisher, accusing it of orchestrating their departure and delaying Subnautica 2 to avoid paying a $250 million bonus to the teams.
The three men sought reinstatement at the studio, and a judge has just ruled in Ted Gill’s favor. He “is hereby reinstated as CEO of Unknown Worlds”. The judge ruled that Krafton “violated the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) by firing key employees without just cause and by improperly taking operational control of Unknown Worlds”.
Gill will regain access to the Steam platform, and Krafton is no longer permitted to “impede Gill’s authority over the early access launch of Subnautica 2”. Regarding the aforementioned bonus, its validity period has been extended until September 15, 2026, and the co-founders even have a “contractual right to extend it” until March 15, 2027.
