Key Takeaways
1. Krafton faces criticism for allegedly leaking the early access launch date of Subnautica 2, set for May, intentionally and against a court order.
2. Ted Gill, the newly reinstated CEO of Unknown Worlds, claims Krafton lacked the authority to make the launch announcement.
3. Judge Lori Will confirmed that only Ted Gill had the power to decide the game’s release schedule, making Krafton’s actions questionable.
4. Unknown Worlds’ legal team argues that announcing a game’s release requires careful planning and should be managed by the CEO, which Krafton violated.
5. Krafton responded, stating that the memo was merely a recognition of the development team’s efforts and did not breach any court orders.
Krafton, the company behind the underwater survival game Subnautica 2, is facing criticism after new claims surfaced suggesting that it intentionally leaked the game’s anticipated early access launch date set for May. Following Ted Gill’s return as the CEO of Unknown Worlds, it appears that Krafton may not have had the power to make such an announcement. What was thought to be the resolution of a leadership conflict between Krafton and Unknown Worlds is now flaring up again.
Allegations of Intentional Leak
Ted Gill, who has just been reinstated as the CEO of Unknown Worlds, argues that Krafton leaked the game’s May early access date intentionally, out of malice, which he claims goes against a court order.
On March 19, GameFile reported that Unknown Worlds’ legal team had communicated with Judge Will soon after IGN released an internal memo from Krafton executive and former Unknown Worlds CEO Steve Papoutsis. This memo was directed at the Subnautica 2 team and announced a launch window for May.
Authority in Question
Krafton later verified the release window for Subnautica 2 through several gaming news platforms. However, Ted Gill’s letter indicated that Krafton did not have the authority to disclose that information.
Judge Lori Will mentioned on March 16 that only Ted Gill, as the CEO of Unknown Worlds, had the power to decide the game’s launch schedule. Thus, Papoutsis’s memo was sent at a time when he was no longer legally recognized as CEO of Unknown Worlds.
In a communication to the judge, Ted Gill wrote, “Krafton selfishly announced the launch without considering its effects on the game, the team, the community, or the court’s view.”
Legal Response
The lawyers for Unknown Worlds added, “Announcing a game’s release is a major event, typically requiring thorough marketing, fan interaction, and community planning. It is meticulously arranged to heighten excitement for the game.
This undertaking was meant to be managed by Mr. Gill. Yet, in contravention of the court’s ruling, Krafton has taken over that responsibility, which further damages the game and causes confusion within the Subnautica community.”
The next day, Krafton sent a letter to Judge Will claiming that it had not breached the court order.
The letter asserted, “Papoutsis’s communication was merely a recognition of the efforts of Unknown Worlds team regarding a past milestone: Krafton’s earlier decision that Subnautica 2 was prepared for early access. There was nothing wrong with sharing the results of the milestone review or expressing gratitude to the development team for their hard work and talent.”
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