Annapurna's Entire Game Division Quits, Leaving Future Uncertain

The entire video game division of Annapurna Pictures, Annapurna Interactive, has resigned following a disagreement with Megan Ellison.

Annapurna Interactive Staff Resign After Failed Negotiations

Fallout at Annapurna Interactive

Annapurna Interactive, publisher of acclaimed games like Stray and What Remains of Edith Finch, has experienced a mass resignation encompassing its entire staff. This follows failed negotiations between employees and parent company, Annapurna Pictures.

Details are limited, but reports suggest the staff, led by then-president Nathan Gary, proposed forming an independent entity. Negotiations reportedly collapsed, leading over 20 employees to resign following Gary's departure a few days prior.

According to Bloomberg, Gary stated, "All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned," adding that "this was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly."

Annapurna Pictures' Ellison assured partners of continued support for existing projects and a commitment to interactive entertainment. "We continue to look for opportunities to take a more integrated approach to linear and interactive storytelling across film and TV, gaming, and theater," she told Bloomberg News.

The ramifications are significant. Indie developers partnered with Annapurna now face uncertainty, scrambling to understand the future of their agreements, according to Bloomberg.

Remedy Entertainment, whose Control 2 received partial funding from Annapurna Interactive, addressed the situation via communications director Thomas Puha on Twitter (X): "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."

Annapurna Interactive has appointed Hector Sanchez, a co-founder, as its new president. Anonymous sources cited by Bloomberg report Sanchez assuring partners of contract fulfillment and staff replacement.

Over a week prior, Annapurna announced a restructuring of its gaming operations, appointing Sanchez to lead the indie gaming department following the departure of Gary, and co-heads Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella.

For further details on Annapurna's reorganization, see our related article.