Annapurna Interactive Faces Uncertain Future After Mass Staff Resignation
A significant shakeup has hit Annapurna Interactive, the video game publishing arm of Annapurna Pictures. The entire staff, reportedly over 20 employees, resigned following failed negotiations with parent company Annapurna Pictures.
The Fallout
The mass resignation, led by former president Nathan Gary, stemmed from an attempt to establish Annapurna Interactive as an independent entity. These efforts ultimately failed, resulting in the collective departure.
According to Bloomberg, Gary confirmed the resignation of all 25 team members, stating it was a difficult but necessary decision. The team released a joint statement emphasizing the gravity of their choice.
Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison assured partners of continued support for existing projects and a commitment to interactive entertainment. She highlighted their pursuit of integrating storytelling across various media.
The impact of this mass exodus is considerable, leaving indie developers who partnered with Annapurna in a precarious position. Many are reportedly seeking clarification on the future of their agreements.
Remedy Entertainment, whose Control 2 project received partial funding from Annapurna Interactive, addressed the situation via Twitter (X). Communications director Thomas Puha confirmed that their agreement is with Annapurna Pictures, and they are self-publishing Control 2.
Moving Forward
Annapurna Interactive has appointed Hector Sanchez, a co-founder, as its new president. Anonymous sources suggest Sanchez intends to honor existing contracts and replace departing staff. This follows a recent company restructuring that also saw the departure of Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella. The company previously announced a reorganization of its gaming operations over a week ago.
For further details on Annapurna's restructuring, please refer to our related article.
