Since the report, Krafton has released a testy statement on the Subnautica 2 ordeal. “We are deeply disappointed by the former leadership’s conduct, and above all, we feel a profound sense of betrayal by their failure to honor the trust placed in them by our fans,” a Krafton representative told Polygon.

Reports indicate that Krafton, the South Korean parent of PUBG, recently restructured the management of Subnautica 2's dev team to avoid a hefty payout.

Krafton accuses former Unknown Worlds leadership of abandoning Subnautica 2, escalating a bitter dispute over bonuses, delays, and trust.

The saga continues with a lawsuit now in play, adding pressure to Krafton as questions mount over Subnautica 2’s leadership and development delays.

Per Krafton, the three removed executives allegedly would have been eligible for 90% of the $250 million bonus promised to staff.

Subnautica 2 maker Unknown Worlds was set for a massive $250 million payout this year if it hit certain revenue targets, Bloomberg reported yesterday. But a fresh delay of one of the most wish-listed games on Steam makes that almost impossible.

It's troubling waters for Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment, as publisher Krafton goes nuclear.