As reported earlier today by Bloomberg, the entire staff at Annapurna Interactive has resigned this month following failed negotiations to spin off the video game publisher from Annapurna into an independent company. The team at Annapurna Interactive had been negotiating with owner Megan Ellison before she pulled out of negotiations, prompting Annapurna Interactive President Nathan Gary, his executives, and all other staffers to resign.
Annapurna Interactive has published a number of notable titles over the past few years, including Neon White, Stray, What Remains of Edith Finch, and more. Additionally, a number of titles yet to be released were also subject to the news today. In a statement to Bloomberg, Ellison talked about the impact to their partners:
“Our top priority is continuing to support our developer and publishing partners during this transition. 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.”
Additionally, a joint statement to Bloomberg was also provided by Gary and his team:
“All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned. This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly.”
It remains to be seen the full impact of the resignation, but we wish all those affected the best going forward.
