Subnautica 2 Sales Lead to $250 Million Earnout Payment by Krafton

Subnautica 2 has sold so well that publisher Krafton has reportedly agreed to pay a $250 million earnout to the developers — a bonus that was at the heart of its high-profile legal dispute with the fired Unknown Worlds leadership.

The underwater adventure has sold 4 million copies since its early access launch on May 14, with over 467,000 peak concurrent players on Steam. Despite its success, the game's development faced turmoil when Krafton dismissed Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and other senior members last year, leading to a legal battle over the $250 million bonus. After a court ruling in March ordered Krafton to reinstate Gill and pay the bonus, reports now confirm that Krafton has agreed to fulfill this payment.

Subnautica 2, estimated to have generated $100 million in a week, is the fastest-selling Steam game of 2026. Krafton will pay $3.12 for every $1 earned by the studio, up to $250 million, following the acquisition of Unknown Worlds in 2021. This payment represents about 35% of Krafton's operating profit from the previous year.

The legal dispute also revealed internal struggles within Krafton, with CEO Changhan Kim expressing concerns about the earnout triggering. Despite attempts to negotiate or take over Unknown Worlds, Krafton ultimately agreed to pay the $250 million earnout to the developers.