A disagreement with Megan Ellison led to the mass resignation of the entire Annapurna Interactive staff, the video game division of Annapurna Pictures.
Annapurna Interactive Staff Resign After Failed Negotiations
Fallout at Annapurna Interactive
Annapurna Interactive, renowned for publishing innovative games such as Stray and What Remains of Edith Finch, has faced a significant upheaval with the resignation of its entire staff. This mass exodus follows unsuccessful negotiations with its parent company, Annapurna Pictures.
Though specifics are limited, it's understood that the team, under the guidance of then-president Nathan Gary, aimed to establish Annapurna Interactive as an independent entity. The breakdown of these talks led to over 20 employees resigning shortly after Gary.
"All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned," Gary announced, as reported by Bloomberg. The team's joint statement emphasized the difficulty of their decision: "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 reassured their partners of continued support for ongoing projects and a commitment to expanding their role 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 ripple effects of this mass resignation are significant. Indie developers who had been working with Annapurna are now uncertain, with many seeking new contacts and wondering if Annapurna will uphold its existing agreements.
Remedy Entertainment, whose upcoming title 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 their position: "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 the wake of the 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 replacing the departed staff.
Just over a week ago, Annapurna announced a restructuring of its gaming operations. Sanchez will now lead the indie gaming department, stepping in after the exit of former president Nathan Gary and co-heads of the indie division, Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella.
For a deeper dive into Annapurna’s reorganization, please visit our detailed article below!
