this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2026
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Pretty wild!

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[–] MoogleMaestro@lemmy.zip 15 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

This has been one of the craziest stories in gaming in a long while.

So does this mean that the old Unknown Worlds founders are back in as well?

[–] Maestro@fedia.io 10 points 11 hours ago

The court leaves that up to the reinstated CEO

[–] WagnasT@piefed.world 65 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Wow so allegedly Krafton wanted to avoid paying a $250 million bonus by firing the CEOs and delaying the release. Quite scummy.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 22 points 15 hours ago (6 children)

As much as I like Subnautica, I'm not buying Subnautica 2 if Krafton stands a chance at seeing any of the revenue. I might be the only human capable of voting with my wallet, and I'm going to use this power.

I'm American, I strongly believe in collateral damage, I will willingly make the children of the Unknown Worlds Entertainment staff go hungry. That's the choice Unknown Worlds' higher-ups made going into business with shifty Asian shit-for-fucks promising executive bonuses bigger than the gross revenue of anything their studio has made.

Subnautica was Unknown Worlds Entertainment's biggest seller. I don't have exact sales figures but Wikipedia says "over 5 million copies." Assuming every copy sold at the full retail price of $30, that's a gross revenue of $150 million. Below Zero sold for the same price and probably fewer copies, so the entire Subnautica franchise has grossed an estimated $300 million total. They have other games which are small potatoes compared to Subnautica. So, you're the CEO of Unknown Worlds, you know your games pull about $150 million gross each. What kind of smoke do the Koreans blow up your ass to convince you your next game is going to do so well they'll be able to cover $250 million in bonuses while still covering rent, bills and normal wages?

[–] Mossheart@lemmy.ca 12 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I'm American, I strongly believe in collateral damage

Damn dude.

21st century satire is a pissy little bitch, ain't it?

[–] Zedd_Prophecy@lemmy.world 8 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Amen brother. I'm not buying it either if that's the case. Didn't say I wouldn't play it.

[–] deacon@lemmy.world 6 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago

Hola 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

[–] Scubus@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 hours ago

I am ok with making their children go hungry

But that not what you're doing. They work for the company, company makes decisions. By choosing to work for that company you are standing by their decisions. When the company makes a bad decision, that's on you. They are ok with their children starving because otherwise they wouldn't be working for a company that pulls this bullshit.

And yeah, there's always the chance that the company started good, and people didn't realize what it had become until it became an issue. But when it becomes an issue, either deal with it, or leave. They're top tier game developers, any team would be lucky to have them. If no other team will have them, they can start their own team. By choosing to stick with the company making shitty decisions you are making those shitty decisions. They made their bed, you aren't the one sleeping in it.

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 4 points 13 hours ago

My son and I are on board, that's 2 more licenses/fans lost.

[–] Bane_Killgrind@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

It's a sales bonus, so the 250m is probably a cap not the floor, or a projected amount based on prior sales. I never read anywhere that it was literally a flat value owed based only on release date, but if somebody has some more specific reference to that I'd like to read.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 6 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

My understanding was it was for getting the game out on early access by a certain date, which they were going to hit, which is why they were unceremoniously and illegally fired.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

Yes but it was a little more complicated than that

[–] Bane_Killgrind@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah I'm imagining there's more criteria to the payout than just that. The release date might have been the only milestone they could frustrate in a deniable way

Never assume reasonableness when businessman will suffice.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

Did you not read the article...?

[–] Doc_Crankenstein@slrpnk.net 2 points 13 hours ago

I have already decided I am pirating it. Not a chance in hell Krafton is getting a single cent from me.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 24 points 14 hours ago

It’s not yet been decided what monetary damages, if any, will result from the ruling, nor is it clear if Subnautica 2’s release will be affected.

Sounds to me like fair damages would start with removing Unknown Worlds from Krafton's ownership.

[–] a4ng3l@lemmy.world 52 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Zero chance this end well. Once you overstay your welcome you leave or you take down the product in large orgs. Too much opportunity for fuckery at that level.

[–] TemplaerDude@sh.itjust.works 24 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

What would help is everyone involved with that decision got the fucking boot, got fined and/or jail time, but as usual the ramifications of these things don’t have any real punishment for the people who broke the law.

[–] Ashtear@piefed.social 9 points 15 hours ago

Rampant, sociopathic, infinite growth corporate leadership is one thing, but I always assumed someone was being served by these CEOs. What this brief says about Kim is incredible, and that he didn't settle this case is just icing on the cake of incompetence here.

I'm old enough to remember when CEOs got held to account for this sort of thing, but I guess the big boys are all kings of their castles now. I'd be pissed if I was a Krafton shareholder.

[–] a4ng3l@lemmy.world 14 points 17 hours ago

They were the shareholders weren’t they? The IP literally belongs to them. At this stage the community can write it off. I agree with you that there should be some form of deterrent so that others companies are not pulling the same crap.

[–] femtek@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I think they can come in, release a decent game and maybe make their bonus. Then everyone leaves and makes a new company and it's poisoned by investors.

[–] a4ng3l@lemmy.world 9 points 17 hours ago

I’m not familiar enough with the gaming industry but ego is a bitch at c-level pretty much everywhere. To what extent will EVERYONE with enough influence want their bonus ? Or will they chose fuckery…

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 8 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

I don't care what they do ... I just really hope that a decent Subnautica sequel comes out of it.

[–] a4ng3l@lemmy.world 7 points 16 hours ago

I’m definitively hoping with you. But this ain’t a good news :-/

[–] Zedd_Prophecy@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago

Yeah me too. With all this creative tomfoolery though I can't imagine it's helpful to to guys in the trenches coding the thing.