Recent legal filings from Krafton escalate tensions with Unknown Worlds’ co-founders, asserting that Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire allegedly “accessed and retained vast quantities of confidential materials” from both companies before their termination. These claims, outlined in court documents, suggest the duo sought to launch Subnautica 2 independently to secure financial benefits tied to the game’s release.

Krafton’s motions specifically highlight the alleged theft of “numerous proprietary Maya (.ma) 3D animation files,” described as containing critical intellectual property that could serve as a “foundational roadmap for game development.” The company further accuses the former executives of abandoning their roles and orchestrating a scheme to bypass contractual obligations, leading to their dismissal for cause.

Included in the filings is an affidavit from digital forensics specialist Kevin Negangard, who states his analysis supports claims of unauthorized data transfers. Krafton has concurrently requested court approval to conduct forensic reviews of the defendants’ devices, while opposing efforts by the co-founders to obtain sensitive corporate records.

The publisher asserts that despite offering to extend contractual earnout periods contingent on the trio’s return to active development roles, they allegedly refused and instead threatened to self-publish the game. Krafton’s statement emphasizes its “commitment to safeguarding fan expectations” amidst the dispute, framing the conflict as necessitated by the defendants’ purported misconduct.

These developments follow earlier court rulings denying two Krafton motions, including a notable reversal regarding the stated reasons for the co-founders’ termination. Both sides continue to trade dramatic accusations—from allegations of corporate sabotage to claims of deliberate delays to avoid payout obligations—though conclusive evidence remains pending judicial review.

For context, below is a summary of key events preceding the current filings:

• July 2:Unknown Worlds’ founders (Gill, Cleveland, McGuire) are abruptly dismissed and replaced by Steve Papoutsis. Krafton cites no specific rationale initially.
• July 3:An official studio statement attempts to reassure fans about leadership changes.
• July 4:Cleveland contests his termination on Reddit, asserting Subnautica 2 was prepared for early access.
• July 9:Bloomberg reports Krafton delayed the game to avoid a $250M milestone payment. Hours later, Krafton confirms the delay, attributing it to development shortcomings.
• July 10:Krafton alleges the co-founders neglected duties and intended to pocket 90% of the bonus. The trio files a lawsuit disputing these claims.
• July 11:Leaked internal documents surface, purportedly validating Krafton’s readiness concerns.
• July 17:The founders’ lawsuit goes public, alleging Krafton sabotaged the game to prevent payout obligations.
• August 12:Krafton reiterates claims of absentee leadership in legal rebuttals.
• August 20:Unknown Worlds sues its founders, citing data theft and self-interest motives.
• September 19:Court denies portions of Krafton’s motions, prompting shifts in its legal strategy.