Annapurna's Game Division Exits, Future Unclear

Annapurna Interactive Staff Resign After Failed Negotiations

Fallout at Annapurna Interactive

Annapurna Interactive, renowned for acclaimed titles such as Stray and What Remains of Edith Finch, has experienced a significant upheaval with the mass resignation of its entire staff. This unexpected exit follows a breakdown in negotiations between the employees and their parent company, Annapurna Pictures.

The staff, under the leadership of then president Nathan Gary, aimed to establish Annapurna Interactive as an independent entity. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, leading to Gary's resignation and the subsequent departure of over 20 staff members.

"All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned," Gary confirmed to Bloomberg. In a joint statement, the team expressed 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."

Despite the turmoil, Megan Ellison, head of Annapurna Pictures, has reassured partners of their continued commitment to ongoing projects and their intent to expand in 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 to indie developers who had been working with Annapurna. These developers are now navigating uncertainty, seeking new contacts and clarification on whether Annapurna will uphold its agreements.

Remedy Entertainment, whose upcoming game Control 2 received partial funding from Annapurna Interactive, has addressed the situation. Thomas Puha, the company's communications director, took to Twitter (X) to clarify, "Many of you are reaching out about the news around Annapurna. 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 response to the resignations, Annapurna Interactive has appointed Hector Sanchez, one of its co-founders, as the new president. Sanchez has reportedly assured partners that the company will honor existing contracts and is actively working to replace the departed staff.

This restructuring follows an announcement made over a week ago by Annapurna regarding changes to its gaming operations. Sanchez will now lead the indie gaming department, stepping in after the exit of former president Nathan Gary and co-heads Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella.

For more details on Annapurna’s reorganization, please refer to our related article.