Krafton CEO Sought ChatGPT Ideas to Avoid Paying Subnautica 2 Team Bonus

by Ahmed Hassan November 18, 2025

written by Ahmed Hassan November 18, 2025

Key Takeaways

Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark

Krafton CEO Kim Changhan allegedly used ChatGPT to explore methods for avoiding paying a substantial bonus to Subnautica 2 developers, Unknown Worlds, as per an earnout clause in their 2021 agreement.
Tensions between Krafton and Unknown Worlds escalated, with the former removing Unknown Worlds leaders over allegations of poor performance, while the latter claims Krafton deliberately delayed Subnautica 2s early access release to avoid the bonus payment.
The use of AI in corporate decision-making, as demonstrated by this case, raises ethical questions and could potentially establish a troubling precedent within the industry.
The dispute between Krafton and Unknown Worlds has introduced uncertainty regarding the future of Subnautica 2, due to previous delays and leadership changes.

Krafton CEO’s Alleged Attempt to Rework Subnautica 2 Bonus via ChatGPT and Internal Initiatives

Krafton CEO Kim Changhan reportedly used ChatGPT to explore options for avoiding a substantial bonus payment to the developers of Subnautica 2. According to court documents, Changhan sought ways to circumvent an earnout clause in the 2021 agreement with Unknown Worlds, which stipulated a bonus payment of up to $250 million if the game met specific sales targets. Changhan believed Krafton had overpaid for Unknown Worlds and was concerned about the optics of issuing the bonus without contest. Although ChatGPT advised that evading the contract would be challenging, Changhan allegedly initiated internal efforts to modify the agreement. These efforts included a “Project X” initiative aimed at pressuring Unknown Worlds founders to revise the agreement. If that revision failed, Krafton was purportedly prepared to assume control of Unknown Worlds rather than pay the full bonus.

Alleged Krafton Actions Disrupt Studio Culture Over Subnautica 2 Bonus & Ethical Concerns of AI in Decision-Making

Tensions escalated after Krafton removed Unknown Worlds’ leaders—Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill. The ousted executives allege that Krafton deliberately delayed Subnautica 2’s early access release to avoid triggering the $250 million bonus. They further claim that Krafton’s actions disrupted the studio’s culture and unsettled its employees. Krafton has refuted these allegations, asserting that the former leaders are misrepresenting the situation. Krafton has stated that they took necessary actions for Subnautica 2’s benefit, implying the former leaders were not performing adequately. Krafton’s alleged actions raise ethical questions regarding the increasing use of AI in corporate decision-making. The possibility of a CEO leveraging AI to potentially avoid contractual obligations, as alleged in this case, presents a significant ethical concern and could establish a troubling precedent within the industry. Moreover, this dispute introduces further uncertainty surrounding the future of Subnautica 2, particularly given its previous delays and leadership changes.