According to a report by Jason Schreier from Bloomberg News, Annapurna Interactive, the video-game publishing division of Annapurna Pictures, recently experienced a significant shakeup as its entire staff resigned following a dispute with its owner. President Nathan Gary and his team had been negotiating with Megan Ellison, the head of Annapurna. Their goal was to spin off the video-game division as an independent entity. When Ellison pulled out of the negotiations, Gary and other key executives resigned, prompting nearly two dozen other staff members to follow.
Annapurna confirmed the discussions but stated that no agreement was reached, leading to the resignations. In a statement to Bloomberg News, Ellison emphasized that the company remains committed to supporting its partners during this transition. She also affirmed their ongoing focus on existing projects and expanding Annapurna’s presence in the interactive space.
SCOOP: The entire staff of Annapurna Interactive has resigned, leaving dev partners scrambling to figure out what's next.
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 12, 2024
The video game publisher had been negotiating with Annapurna owner Megan Ellison (Larry's daughter) to spin out. Deal fell through. https://t.co/aDUxW2oK8g
The departure of key staff members has caused uncertainty among developers working with Annapurna Interactive. The publisher manages services such as funding, localization, and marketing. Despite the crisis, a spokesperson for Annapurna reassured that all existing projects would continue under the company’s oversight.
Hector Sanchez, a co-founder of Annapurna Interactive, was brought back last month as the new president. He has assured developers that the company will honor all existing contracts and replace the departed staff.
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