Subnautica 2 publisher Krafton now forced to pay $250m earnout to Unknown Worlds developers after more than 4m units sold

Subnautica 2 has become a massive commercial success for publisher Krafton, selling over 4 million copies since its early access launch on May 14, 2026. The underwater adventure achieved 2 million sales within its first 12 hours on Steam and Xbox, maintaining strong engagement with peak concurrent player counts exceeding 467,000 on Steam.

This success has triggered a significant financial obligation for Krafton: the publisher is now required to pay a $250 million earnout bonus to Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the game’s developer. The bonus was contractually tied to achieving specific revenue targets and has become payable following the game’s blockbuster performance.

The earnout payment carries particular significance given the turbulent history between Krafton and Unknown Worlds leadership. Last summer, Krafton fired Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and other senior team members, citing delays in the game’s launch. However, a subsequent legal dispute resulted in a ruling that forced Krafton to reinstate the senior leadership and honor the promised $250 million bonus.

The financial impact on Krafton is substantial—the $250 million payment represents more than one-third of the publisher’s $736 million annual profit for 2025. The earnout structure was set at $3.12 per dollar of revenue generated, reflecting the high performance thresholds that Subnautica 2 ultimately exceeded. The resolution demonstrates both the game’s extraordinary commercial performance and the ultimately successful legal challenge mounted by the ousted developers.

Subnautica 2 publisher Krafton now forced to pay $250m earnout to Unknown Worlds developers after more than 4m units sold

Sources