Judge Reinstates Subnautica 2 CEO and Restores Early Access Control

A judge in the Delaware Chancery Court ordered Krafton to reinstate Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and restore his control over Subnautica 2’s Early Access launch. Vice Chancellor Lori W. Will entered judgment in favor of Fortis on Phase One claims, finding Krafton breached the EPA by terminating key employees without valid cause and improperly seizing operational control.

The July 1, 2025 board resolution that fired Gill and others was declared ineffective to the extent it infringed on Gill’s operational control right, and the court ordered Krafton to restore his access to the Steam platform. The court rejected Krafton’s explanations that the cofounders were fired for failing to ready Subnautica 2 or for allegedly taking unauthorized materials.

The decision called those justifications “pretextual,” noting Cleveland and McGuire’s reduced roles were known and accepted, and that the data downloads were efforts to protect the studio’s work product; the materials were kept confidential and promptly returned.

United States, Delaware

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