Overview
- Subnautica 2, which launched on May 14, sold more than four million copies within its first week and generated roughly $100 million in early revenue, pushing the studio past the contract’s monthly threshold.
- The acquisition earnout requires Krafton to pay $3.12 for every $1 of Unknown Worlds revenue above $69.8 million in a month, up to a $250 million cap.
- Delaware court rulings earlier this year reinstated Unknown Worlds’ leadership and preserved the studio’s right to meet the earnout, a decision that cleared the way for the payout to be triggered by the recent sales.
- Krafton has told reporters it is reviewing the specific payment criteria and amount, while multiple industry outlets cite Korean Economic Daily sources saying the company will be required to pay toward the $250 million cap.
- The payout would be a material hit to Krafton’s finances and reputation because trial records showed the publisher’s CEO sought AI guidance on the deal, and the full bonus would consume roughly one-third of Krafton’s reported 2025 operating profit.