Annapurna Interactive Faces Staff Exodus Amid Ownership Dispute
Annapurna Interactive, known for releasing popular games like Outer Wilds, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Cocoon, has recently experienced a mass departure of employees following a disagreement with the company’s owner. This situation has sparked turmoil within developer partners associated with the publisher.
Reports from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier indicate that approximately two dozen employees, including Annapurna Interactive president Nathan Gary and other executives, have resigned after failed negotiations with owner Megan Ellison. The discussions were centered around spinning off Annapurna Interactive as an independent entity, but an agreement could not be reached.
The departures have created uncertainty among Annapurna Interactive’s game developer partners who rely on the publisher for funding, quality assurance, and marketing support. However, a spokesperson for Annapurna assured Bloomberg that existing games and projects will remain with the company. New president Hector Sanchez has also committed to honoring all contracts and replacing the outgoing staff.
Supporting Developer and Publishing Partners
In a statement to Bloomberg, Ellison emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting its partners during this period of transition. Annapurna Interactive aims to not only uphold its current lineup of games but also expand its presence in the interactive space by exploring new opportunities for integrated storytelling across various media.
Annapurna has already unveiled an exciting lineup of upcoming titles, including No Code’s Silent Hill: Townfall, Lushfoil Photography Sim by Matt Newell, Mixtape from Beethoven & Dinosaur, Ghost Bike by Messhof, and Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth, the company’s first internally developed game.