Annapurna's Game Division Exits, Future Unclear

A disagreement with Megan Ellison has led to a significant shakeup at Annapurna Interactive, the video game division of Annapurna Pictures, resulting in the mass resignation of its entire staff.

Annapurna Interactive Staff Resign After Failed Negotiations

Fallout at Annapurna Interactive

Annapurna Interactive, renowned for critically acclaimed titles such as Stray and What Remains of Edith Finch, has faced a major upheaval with the resignation of its entire staff. This mass exodus follows failed negotiations between the employees and Annapurna Pictures, their parent company.

While specifics are limited, it's understood that the staff, under the leadership of then-president Nathan Gary, aimed to establish Annapurna Interactive as a separate, independent entity. However, these discussions collapsed, leading to over 20 staff members resigning shortly after Gary.

"All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned," Gary confirmed to Bloomberg. In their joint statement, the team emphasized the difficulty of their decision, stating, "this was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly."

In response, Megan Ellison of Annapurna Pictures has reaffirmed their dedication to ongoing projects and their ambition to expand within the interactive entertainment sector. "We continue to look for opportunities to take a more integrated approach to linear and interactive storytelling across film and TV, gaming, and theater," Ellison told Bloomberg News.

The impact of these resignations extends beyond Annapurna, affecting indie developers who had partnered with the company. These developers are now in a state of uncertainty, seeking new contacts and confirmation that Annapurna will fulfill its existing commitments.

Remedy Entertainment, whose upcoming project Control 2 received partial funding from Annapurna Interactive, has addressed the situation via Thomas Puha, their communications director, on Twitter (X). "Many of you are reaching out about the news around Annapurna," Puha stated. "Thank you for your care! Remedy’s deal for Control 2, including Alan Wake and Control AV rights, is with Annapurna Pictures, and we are self-publishing Control 2."

In the wake of these resignations, Annapurna Interactive has named Hector Sanchez, a co-founder of the company, as its new president. According to anonymous sources cited by Bloomberg, Sanchez has committed to honoring existing contracts and plans to rebuild the team.

Just over a week ago, Annapurna announced a restructuring of its gaming operations. Sanchez will now head the indie gaming department, following the exit of former president Nathan Gary and co-heads Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella.

For more detailed insights into Annapurna's reorganization, please explore our article below!