Krafton is facing serious allegations after abruptly terminating the entire leadership team behind Subnautica 2, with industry insiders suggesting the move was designed to circumvent a $250 million earnout payment. The controversy erupted on July 2 when Krafton confirmed the departure of Unknown Worlds' founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with CEO Ted Gill. Simultaneously, the South Korean publisher announced the early-access release of Subnautica 2 would be postponed until 2026, citing quality concerns. However, emerging reports indicate there may be more troubling motives behind these decisions.

On July 4, co-founder Charlie Cleveland broke his silence with a public statement contradicting Krafton's claims. Cleveland asserted that Subnautica 2 was actually ready for its scheduled early access launch, expressing bewilderment at the publisher's actions. While not directly addressing Krafton's motivations, subsequent investigative reporting has potentially uncovered the truth behind the controversial moves.

A Bloomberg investigation revealed that Krafton's acquisition agreement included a $250 million performance bonus contingent on Unknown Worlds achieving certain 2025 revenue targets. By delaying Subnautica 2's release beyond the contractual deadline, Krafton would legally avoid this substantial payout. This revelation has led many to interpret the leadership purge and delay as calculated financial maneuvers rather than creative decisions.

The gaming community has responded with outrage, with Reddit threads amassing thousands of upvotes calling for a boycott of Subnautica 2. Many fans are removing the title from their Steam wishlists in protest, despite it being the platform's second most-anticipated game behind Hollow Knight: Silksong. The backlash reflects growing frustration with corporate practices in the gaming industry.

Krafton has denied these allegations, telling PC Gamer that the delay was unrelated to any contractual obligations. In what appears to be damage control, the studio released new gameplay footage showcasing development progress. However, the controversy continues to overshadow one of the most anticipated games of the decade.