Major Shake-Up at Annapurna Interactive 25 Employees Resign After Dispute

In September, 25 employees of Annapurna Interactive, the video game publishing branch of Annapurna Pictures, resigned following a disagreement with Megan Ellison, the founder of Annapurna Pictures. This dramatic exit includes Nathan Gary, the former president of Annapurna Interactive, who was negotiating to separate the gaming division from the main company.

Details of the Dispute Remain Unclear

Nathan Gary and two other top leaders left earlier in the month, and soon after, the rest of the team followed. They issued a joint statement explaining that their decision to leave was extremely difficult and not made lightly. The exact reasons behind the conflict have not been publicly disclosed.

Impact on Ongoing Projects

Annapurna Interactive has stated that all current and future projects, including contracted games, will remain with the company. However, the departure of the entire team raises concerns about how Annapurna Interactive will manage its operations, particularly with its newly released and upcoming games.

Partnerships and Future Plans

Questions have also arisen about the future of Annapurna Interactive’s partnerships. For instance, a recent partnership with Remedy Entertainment for the game Control 2 and adaptations of Remedy’s Alan Wake and Control series is still in place. Remedy’s communications director confirmed that this deal is unaffected, as it is with Annapurna Pictures, not Annapurna Interactive. Remedy is handling the self-publishing of Control 2.

Other Studios Unaffected

Other game studios working with Annapurna Interactive have confirmed their projects remain unchanged. This includes games from Team Ivy Road, such as Wanderstop, Matt Newell’s Lushfoil Photography Sim, and The Lost Wilds by Great Ape Games.

Overall, while the resignation has raised several questions, especially regarding project management and partnerships, ongoing collaborations and game releases are expected to proceed as planned.