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, has resigned following failed negotiations with parent company Annapurna Pictures.
The Resignation and its Aftermath
The mass exodus, spearheaded by former president Nathan Gary, stemmed from an attempt to establish Annapurna Interactive as an independent entity. When these negotiations faltered, the entire team followed Gary's lead in resigning.
Gary confirmed the collective resignation in a statement to Bloomberg, emphasizing the difficult nature of the decision. The team's joint statement highlighted the seriousness of their action.
Annapurna Pictures' Megan Ellison, however, assured partners of their continued commitment to existing projects and growth within interactive entertainment. She emphasized their focus on integrating storytelling across various media.
The Impact on Partners
This mass resignation leaves Annapurna Interactive's partners, many independent developers, in a precarious position. Bloomberg reports that these developers are actively seeking new points of contact and clarification regarding existing agreements.
Remedy Entertainment, involved with Annapurna on Control 2, addressed the situation via its communications director, Thomas Puha, on X (formerly Twitter). Puha clarified that their agreement for Control 2 is with Annapurna Pictures, and they are self-publishing the title.
Annapurna's Response
In response, Annapurna Interactive appointed Hector Sanchez, a co-founder, as its new president. Anonymous sources within the company, speaking to Bloomberg, indicated Sanchez has pledged to uphold existing contracts and fill the vacant positions. This follows a previous announcement of a restructuring, which also saw the departure of Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella.
The future of Annapurna Interactive remains uncertain, but the appointment of Sanchez and the assurances to partners offer a degree of stability amidst this significant upheaval. Further developments are anticipated in the coming weeks.
