A disagreement with Megan Ellison led to the mass resignation of Annapurna Interactive's entire video game division staff.

Annapurna Interactive Staff Resign Following Failed Negotiations

Fallout at Annapurna Interactive

Annapurna Interactive, the video game publisher behind acclaimed titles like Stray and What Remains of Edith Finch, faces a significant upheaval. The entire staff has resigned following unsuccessful negotiations with its parent company, Annapurna Pictures.

Details remain limited, but reports suggest the staff, led by then-president Nathan Gary, proposed establishing Annapurna Interactive as an independent entity. These negotiations ultimately failed, resulting in over 20 employees following Gary's resignation a few days prior.

According to Bloomberg, Gary stated, "All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned." The team issued a joint statement emphasizing the difficult nature of their decision and asserting it wasn't taken lightly.

Annapurna Pictures' Megan Ellison assured partners of their continued commitment to existing projects and expansion within interactive entertainment. In a statement to Bloomberg News, Ellison affirmed, "We continue to look for opportunities to take a more integrated approach to linear and interactive storytelling across film and TV, gaming, and theater."

The consequences of this mass exodus are substantial. Indie developers partnered with Annapurna now face uncertainty, scrambling to establish new contacts and confirm the continuation of their agreements, according to Bloomberg.

Remedy Entertainment, whose upcoming Control 2 received partial funding from Annapurna Interactive, addressed the situation via its communications director, Thomas Puha, on Twitter (X). Puha stated, "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, Annapurna Interactive appointed Hector Sanchez, a co-founder, as its new president. Anonymous sources cited by Bloomberg reported that Sanchez has reassured partners of the company's commitment to honoring existing contracts and replacing departed staff.

Over a week prior, Annapurna announced a restructuring of its gaming operations. Sanchez's appointment follows the departure of former president Nathan Gary and the co-heads of the indie division, Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella.

For further details on Annapurna's reorganization, please see our related article below!