After months of legal issues around Subnautica 2, the latest update finally brings some good news for the developers working on the game. The fight between Krafton, Unknown Worlds, and the studio’s former leaders is over, and all current Unknown Worlds employees are now set to receive bonus payouts. For a sequel that has been dragged through boardroom drama while players waited for the next big update, that is the cleanest outcome the team could have hoped for.
The settlement does not fix everything around the game, but it does change the ending. Instead of the dispute staying locked on former executives and acquisition money, the current developers are being included in the reward.
The biggest part of the settlement is the bonus plan for Unknown Worlds staff. Payments are expected to go out over three years, with all current employees included.
That is important because Subnautica 2 has already been a huge Early Access success. The people fixing bugs, building new content, improving systems, and keeping the sequel moving now have a clear share in that success.
It also gives the studio a better morale boost than another legal statement ever could. Players care about updates, but they also want to know the team behind the game is being treated fairly.
The deal also brings another leadership change. Ted Gill, who had returned to the CEO role during the dispute, is stepping down again.
That is important because the developers still need to keep the game moving in the right direction. Early Access is not a quiet period for a survival game. It needs clear updates, strong communication, and a team that knows who is making the big calls.
Gill leaving does not automatically create a problem, but it does mean Unknown Worlds needs to settle quickly into its next chapter. The lawsuit may be over, but the game still needs calm leadership.
The fight became a major story because it arrived at the worst possible time. Subnautica 2 was trying to build momentum, but headlines kept turning back to leadership removals, bonus claims, and arguments over the studio’s future.
That left many fans feeling frustrated. They wanted new biomes, creatures, features, fixes, and roadmap details, not another round of corporate trouble.
The settlement gives the team a chance to focus on the game again. It lets Unknown Worlds move the conversation back toward what players actually came for: exploring a dangerous alien ocean with friends.
The bonus news is a good step, but there is still more work to do. Subnautica 2 is still in Early Access, and that means players will judge it by updates, not court filings.
The sequel needs stable performance, better systems, new areas, clear communication, and enough surprises to keep the ocean scary and exciting. That work is what will decide how players remember this launch period.
The good news is that the team now has one less problem to deal with. That should help everyone focus on the game instead of the dispute around it.
The legal battle could have ended with only a few people walking away happy. Instead, the current Unknown Worlds team is now set to share in the payout.
That is why this outcome is important beyond the business side. Subnautica 2 has been one of the year’s biggest survival game stories, and the developers carrying it forward are part of that success.
Now the game has a chance to move forward. The ocean is back at the center of the story, and this time the people making it are not being left behind.
