Annapurna Interactive Staff Resign After Dispute with Megan Ellison

Fallout at Annapurna Interactive

Annapurna Interactive, the acclaimed video game publisher behind titles such as Stray and What Remains of Edith Finch, has faced a significant upheaval. The entire staff of the division resigned following a disagreement with Megan Ellison, the head of their parent company, Annapurna Pictures.

The mass exodus was triggered by failed negotiations led by Annapurna Interactive's then-president, Nathan Gary. The staff sought to establish the video game division as an independent entity, but these efforts fell through, resulting in the resignation of over 20 employees shortly after Gary stepped down.

"All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned," Gary stated, as reported by Bloomberg. In a joint statement, the team emphasized the difficulty of their decision, noting, "This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly."

Despite the resignations, Megan Ellison of Annapurna Pictures has assured partners of their continued commitment to supporting ongoing projects and expanding their footprint in the interactive entertainment industry. "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 this mass resignation extends to indie developers who have partnered with Annapurna. These developers are now navigating uncertainty, with Bloomberg reporting that "game makers working with Annapurna" are "scrambling to find new points of contact and figure out whether the company will continue to honor its agreements."

Remedy Entertainment, whose upcoming game Control 2 was partially funded by Annapurna Interactive, addressed the situation via their communications director, Thomas Puha, on Twitter (X). Puha reassured fans, stating, "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, a co-founder, as the new president. According to Bloomberg's sources, who requested anonymity, Sanchez has assured partners that the company will uphold existing contracts and work on replacing the departed staff.

Over a week ago, Annapurna announced a restructuring of its gaming operations. Sanchez has been tasked with leading the indie gaming department following the departure of former president Nathan Gary and co-heads of the indie division, Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella.

For more detailed insights into Annapurna’s reorganization, please refer to our in-depth article below!