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Krafton CEO Accused of ChatGPT Scheme to Avoid $250M Payout

11/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A pre-trial brief alleges Krafton CEO Changham Kim sought to avoid paying a $250 million bonus to ousted Unknown Worlds founders, creators of Subnautica 2.
The brief says Kim consulted ChatGPT to evade payout, though the AI indicated it would be difficult.
Krafton denies the allegations, saying the leadership changes stemmed from the founders' focus on other projects.
As a result, Subnautica 2's early access launch is delayed to 2026.

History

Historical Context

In 2021, Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds, known for the Subnautica series, which led to significant leadership changes by July 2025. The dismissal of co-founders Cleveland and McGuire sparked a lawsuit over a $250 million bonus, echoing past corporate governance issues like the 2001 Enron scandal. This situation raises concerns about investor confidence and executive compensation practices in the gaming industry.

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Story summary

A pre-trial brief alleges Krafton CEO Changham Kim sought to avoid paying a $250 million bonus to ousted Unknown Worlds founders, creators of Subnautica 2.
The brief says Kim consulted ChatGPT to evade payout, though the AI indicated it would be difficult.
Krafton denies the allegations, saying the leadership changes stemmed from the founders' focus on other projects.
As a result, Subnautica 2's early access launch is delayed to 2026.

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