Following a breakdown in negotiations to create an independent entity, all 25 employees of Annapurna Interactive’s gaming workforce, responsible for critically acclaimed titles like Outer Wilds, Stray, and Neon White, have allegedly resigned en masse.
According to reports from Bloomberg, corroborating with IGN, Annapurna’s President of Interactive and New Media, Hector Sanchez, has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to honoring existing contracts with partner developers.
Nathan Gary, President of Annapurna Interactive, and his team engaged in discussions with owner Megan Ellison regarding the spin-off of the gaming division into an independent entity, but Ellison ultimately withdrew from these talks. The departure of Gary was met with a mix of reactions from his colleagues.
All 25 employees of Annapurna Interactive simultaneously resigned, according to a joint statement to Bloomberg from Gary and the team. “This was one of the toughest decisions we’ve ever had to make,” they said, “and we didn’t take this action lightly.”
As a result of these recent developments, there is understandably heightened uncertainty and trepidation among the studios and builders currently partnered with Annapurna for future projects. A representative for Annapurna Pictures stated to Bloomberg that individual game titles and projects under development will all be released under the Annapurna banner. According to reports, Sanchez has informed builders that the company intends to replace the former employees who left.
Larry Ellison stated, “Our highest priority remains supporting our developers and publishing partners as they navigate this transition.” “We’re committed to expanding our reach beyond our current portfolio of games, seeking innovative ways to integrate linear and interactive storytelling across film, television, gaming, and theater.”
In a recent announcement, Annapurna Footage revealed that it has partnered with Treatment, the developer behind Alan Wake 2, in a deal that will see the company cover 50% of the production costs for Management 2 and acquire rights to develop movie and TV adaptations utilizing the Management and Alan Wake intellectual properties. According to a tweet by Thomas Puha, Treatment’s Communications Director, the deal appears unlikely to be impacted by the recent developments at Annapurna Interactive.
