Subnautica 2 Is Reportedly Earning That Controversial $250 Bonus

Key Points:

• Subnautica 2, developed by Unknown Worlds and published by Krafton, has sold 4 million copies in its first month on Steam Early Access, generating around $85 million in revenue after platform fees.
• Krafton agreed to a contract promising Unknown Worlds' cofounders up to $250 million if monthly revenues exceeded $70 million, with a payout rate of $3.12 for every $1 above that threshold, potentially costing Krafton 35% of its 2025 operating profit.
• Krafton attempted to avoid the payout by delaying Subnautica 2's launch and firing the studio's cofounders, but a court ruled in favor of the cofounders, enforcing the contract despite Krafton's efforts to contest it.
• The initial $50 million acquisition of Unknown Worlds by Krafton in 2021 was part of a competitive post-pandemic studio acquisition trend, possibly leading to the risky revenue-sharing deal Krafton now faces.
• Despite the costly contract, Krafton benefits from having one of 2026’s biggest PC games, with Subnautica 2 also available on Xbox Series X/S through Game Pass, boosting its overall market presence.