AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - OCT. 29, 2021 - KRAFTON, Inc., known for its global hit title PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS and the upcoming AAA title, The Callisto Protocol, today announced its decision to acquire the creators of Subnautica, Unknown Worlds. This latest decision continues KRAFTON’s expansion strategy of securing and investing in top-tier talent that aspires to evolve, innovate, and create new experiences. Unknown Worlds becomes KRAFTON’s sixth independent studio, joining a stable of other seasoned developers that include PUBG Studios, Striking Distance Studios, Bluehole Studio, RisingWings and Dreamotion.
Unknown Worlds will come to KRAFTON with a vast amount of experience steeped in a rich history of creating community-driven gameplay experiences. Founded by Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire in 2001, the studio created the highly popular Half-Life mod, Natural Selection, which went on to see a commercial sequel. Continuing with its community-focused roots, the studio went on to release critical and commercial PC and console successes, Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, in early access, before official launches. With Unknown Worlds’ proven ability to create immersive experiences that resonate with gamers around the world, the latest acquisition plan will help KRAFTON expand its IP and diversify the company’s portfolio of groundbreaking games.
“Unknown Worlds are incredibly skilled and passionate developers with an unparalleled gift for creativity and a proven track record of building successful player-driven worlds.” said CH Kim, CEO of KRAFTON, Inc. “KRAFTON will spare no effort in helping them. Not only do they enhance our development capabilities, but we share a goal of creating unique experiences for global audiences.”
“It was immediately apparent how closely Unknown Worlds and KRAFTON are aligned in the way we think about games and game development,” said Charlie Cleveland, CEO of Unknown Worlds. “Subnautica and PUBG both started humbly and evolved successfully through constant iteration and feedback. We want to bring new games to the world stage – and with KRAFTON, we’re a big step closer. We’re truly looking forward to our future together.”
Unknown Worlds will function as an independent game development studio wholly owned by KRAFTON and will continue to operate globally with talent seated throughout the world. Unknown Worlds’ structure and leadership will remain in place to retain its unique creative identity. In addition to ongoing updates for Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, Unknown Worlds is currently working on a new genre-defining game, which is slated to launch into early access in 2022.
Aream & Co. acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Unknown Worlds throughout the transaction, alongside Fenwick & West, who served as legal advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Kim & Chang acted as legal advisors to KRAFTON.
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About KRAFTON, Inc.
KRAFTON, Inc. is a collective of independent game development studios brought together to create innovative and engaging entertainment experiences for gamers across the world. The company consists of PUBG Studios, Bluehole Studio, Striking Distance Studios, RisingWings, Dreamotion, and Unknown Worlds, each with its own unique expertise.
KRAFTON is responsible for premier entertainment properties including PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG: NEW STATE, The Callisto Protocol, TERA, and ELYON. As a technology-driven company that boasts world-class capabilities, KRAFTON seeks to expand its areas of business beyond games to multimedia entertainment and deep learning. For more information about KRAFTON, please visit https://krafton.com/en/.
About Unknown Worlds
Founded by Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire in 2001, Unknown Worlds is a game development studio committed to community-focused experiences that unite the world through play. After finding success with a popular Half-Life mod, Natural Selection, the team went on to build a sequel before its next global successes, Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero. Unknown Worlds is currently operating in 11 countries across four continents. For more information about Unknown Worlds, please visit https://unknownworlds.com/ or follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube @UnknownWorlds.