The entire workforce of Annapurna Interactive, the video game publishing division of Annapurna studio, has resigned.
As first reported by Bloomberg, Annapurna Interactive president Nathan Gary and his team resigned following a dispute with the group’s owner, Megan Ellison.
Following discussions to spin the video game publishing arm out into an independent entity, of which Ellison pulled out, two dozen members of staff resigned from the company.
“All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned,’’ Gary said in a joint statement. “This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly.”
Annapurna Interactive is known for critically acclaimed games from small teams such as Outer Wilds, Stray, and Cocoon.
As reported byGI.biz, Annapurna has been looking to more closely integrate games with its TV and film divisions, and has rehired co-founder Hector Sanchez from Epic Games as president of interactive and new media.
“Our top priority is continuing to support our developer and publishing partners during this transition,” Ellison said in a statement to Bloomberg News.
“We’re committed to not only our existing slate of games but also expanding our presence in the interactive space as we continue to look for opportunities to take a more integrated approach to linear and interactive storytelling across film and TV, gaming, and theater.”
A spokesperson told Bloomberg that all existing Annapurna projects will continue under the brand.
Remedy recently announced that Annapurna Pictures will be co-financing Control 2, and bringing Remedy IP to TV and movies.
Explaining the deal, communications director Thomas Puha said: “Above all it means Remedy is able to make Control 2 exactly the game we want it to be, while we now also have an incredible partner to extend our IPs to other mediums.”
Puha also announced that Remedy will still be publishing Control 2 itself, despite Annapurna’s game publishing arm.
Epic Games
Remedy Entertainment
Hector Sanchez
Annapurna Interactive
Nathan Gary