Laughing Hyena
  • Home
  • Hyena Games
  • Esports
  • NFT Gaming
  • Crypto Trends
  • Game Reviews
  • Game Updates
  • GameFi Guides
  • Shop
Tag:

Krafton

Krafton files new papers as it fights to convince the court to compel a forensic examination of former Unknown Worlds' founders' devices
Esports

Krafton files new papers as it fights to convince the court to compel a forensic examination of former Unknown Worlds’ founders’ devices

by admin September 25, 2025


Krafton has filed two further legal documents after the founders and former leadership team of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds successfully blocked Krafton’s request for a court-ordered protective order to force the founders to turn over their devices for a forensic inspection.

New court papers sent to GamesIndustry.biz show that following the hearing on September 12, Krafton filed a combined motion seeking relief and opposition to the founders’ motion to compel. The company also shared an affidavit from the MD of Alvarez & Marsal’s Forensic Technology Services practice who was retained by Krafton to “identify, collect, and analyze electronically stored information (ESI) and perform forensic analysis in connection with the case.”

Details of the legal complaint against Krafton, Inc. by the former leadership of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds became public in July. The complaint concerns a $250 million bonus payout tied to revenue targets for the 2025 Early Access release of Subnautica 2, which the former shareholders of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, represented by Fortis Advisors LLC, allege owners Krafton, Inc. sought to avoid paying out by delaying the game using “pressure tactics.”

In its defense, Krafton accused the three former leaders of then threatening to self-publish Subnautica 2, “releasing it without Krafton’s backing, marketing, promotion, or distribution.” This, Krafton claims, left it with “no choice but to terminate their employment,” along with allegations that Max McGuire, Ted Gill, and Charlie Cleveland downloaded tens of thousands of “company files” and emails in the lead up to these terminations. The founders strenuously deny this, and claim the publisher “chang[ed] its story mid-litigation about why it fired the founders and seized control over Unknown Worlds.”

Now, the affidavit from A&M said it “observed numerous downloads within a short period of time occurring in June and July 2025,” indicative of a “mass download of complete folders and their contents from Google Drive.”

However, in its most recent filing, the founders’ deny wrongdoing, claiming they had an “absolute right” to “copy” the files as directors of the company.

In these latest papers, Krafton also stressed it “even offered to extend the earnout period if the Key Employees would come back to work. The Key Employees refused, threatened to self-publish Subnautica 2, and – anticipating their termination – stole hundreds of thousands of Unknown Worlds and Krafton confidential documents before they were fired, presumably in furtherance of their plan to unilaterally self-publish Subnautica 2 and capitalize on the earnout.”

In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, a Krafton spokesperson said: “Krafton’s latest filings continue to highlight the former executives’ misconduct. Despite offering to extend the former executives’ earnout period if they returned to their positions, the former leaders refused to return to work, threatened to prematurely self-publish Subnautica 2, and stole hundreds of thousands of Unknown Worlds and Krafton confidential documents on their way out the door.

“Krafton will continue to present the evidence showing how the former executives violated their obligations and misused company resources, as the legal proceedings move forward. As Krafton has continued to make clear, at the heart of every decision Krafton makes are the fans, who deserve the best possible experience. Through this process, Krafton remains focused on what matters: delivering the best possible game to Subnautica’s fans.”

Read our timeline of the former Subnautica 2 leads versus Krafton here.



Source link

September 25, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Founders of Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds accuse parent company Krafton of "changing story mid-litigation"
Esports

Founders of Subnautica 2 studio Unknown Worlds accuse parent company Krafton of “changing story mid-litigation”

by admin September 18, 2025


The founders and former leadership team of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds have successfully blocked Krafton’s request for a court-ordered protective order, claiming the publisher “chang[ed] its story mid-litigation about why it fired the founders and seized control over Unknown Worlds.”

New court papers from September 12 and seen by GamesIndustry.biz confirm the court dismissed Krafton’s forensic inspection request, without prejudice, and also denied Krafton’s order compelling preservation, calling the request “unnecessary.” Both parties are now expected to meet and confer.

Details of the legal complaint against Krafton, Inc. by the former leadership of Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds became public in July. The complaint concerns a $250 million bonus payout tied to revenue targets for the 2025 Early Access release of Subnautica 2, which the former shareholders of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, represented by Fortis Advisors LLC, allege owners Krafton, Inc. sought to avoid paying out by delaying the game using “pressure tactics.”

In its defense, Krafton accused the three former leaders of then threatening to self-publish Subnautica 2, “releasing it without Krafton’s backing, marketing, promotion, or distribution.” This, Krafton claims, left it with “no choice but to terminate their employment.”

The company also alleged that Max McGuire, Ted Gill, and Charlie Cleveland downloaded tens of thousands of “company files” and emails in the lead up to these terminations and claimed the former leadership “refused” to return “or at the very least confirm” what devices and confidential information remained in their possession.

Now, the founders claim that while Krafton initially alleged it fired them because of the founders’ “supposed intention to proceed with a premature release of Subnautica 2,” and “withdrawn game readiness as a grounds to justify its actions,” it has now “pivoted to a new theory that it admittedly came up with only after the fact: that it terminated the Founders and seized control because the Founders backed up files they were entitled to access in their work for Unknown Worlds.”

“Krafton’s disorganized retreat raises more questions than answers,” the court filing stated. “To say Krafton’s new theory is a Hail Mary would be an understatement – both because the downloads were not wrongful and because Krafton claims not to have learned of them until after it had fired the Founders. The downloads cannot have been the actual motivation for termination.”

Consequently, lawyers for former CEO Ted Gill, co-founder and creative director Charlie Cleveland, and co-founder and CTO Max McGuire requested that the court deny Krafton’s request for a forensic inspection, as well as dismiss a motion for a protective order on the grounds of its “shift in theories.”

Read our timeline of the former Subnautica 2 leads versus Krafton here.



Source link

September 18, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Categories

  • Crypto Trends (1,098)
  • Esports (800)
  • Game Reviews (761)
  • Game Updates (906)
  • GameFi Guides (1,058)
  • Gaming Gear (960)
  • NFT Gaming (1,079)
  • Product Reviews (960)

Recent Posts

  • Arc Raiders Wants To Make Progression Wipes Less Unfair
  • Battlefield 6 Review – Good Company
  • BF6 Review: The first Battlefield game I can recommend without reservations
  • Battlefield 6 review | Rock Paper Shotgun
  • Battlefield 6 Review – Battle Ready

Recent Posts

  • Arc Raiders Wants To Make Progression Wipes Less Unfair

    October 9, 2025
  • Battlefield 6 Review – Good Company

    October 9, 2025
  • BF6 Review: The first Battlefield game I can recommend without reservations

    October 9, 2025
  • Battlefield 6 review | Rock Paper Shotgun

    October 9, 2025
  • Battlefield 6 Review – Battle Ready

    October 9, 2025

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

About me

Welcome to Laughinghyena.io, your ultimate destination for the latest in blockchain gaming and gaming products. We’re passionate about the future of gaming, where decentralized technology empowers players to own, trade, and thrive in virtual worlds.

Recent Posts

  • Arc Raiders Wants To Make Progression Wipes Less Unfair

    October 9, 2025
  • Battlefield 6 Review – Good Company

    October 9, 2025

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

@2025 laughinghyena- All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Pro


Back To Top
Laughing Hyena
  • Home
  • Hyena Games
  • Esports
  • NFT Gaming
  • Crypto Trends
  • Game Reviews
  • Game Updates
  • GameFi Guides
  • Shop

Shopping Cart

Close

No products in the cart.

Close