Krafton, the South Korean video game publisher, has delayed the release of 'Subnautica 2' to 2026 following a leadership shakeup at the game's developer, Unknown Worlds. This delay comes shortly before Krafton was due to pay a $250 million bonus to Unknown Worlds if the game met its 2025 revenue targets. The publisher has denied that the delay was financially motivated, stating the decision was unrelated to money and citing insufficient content in the game. However, the ousted founders of Unknown Worlds—Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill—have filed a lawsuit against Krafton alleging breach of contract. They claim Krafton fired them to avoid paying the $250 million earnout and engaged in a months-long campaign to delay the game’s release. The lawsuit also disputes Krafton's assertion that Cleveland was distracted by a personal film project, asserting he remained transparent about his workload. Unknown Worlds' founders accuse Krafton of undermining the game's release and holding the project hostage for financial reasons. Krafton has expressed disappointment in the lawsuit and intends to defend itself in court. Meanwhile, Krafton has extended the bonus period for employees who worked on 'Subnautica 2' following the delay. The dispute has drawn attention to the complex relationship between the developer and publisher amid the high stakes of the game's commercial performance.