Annapurna Games Unaffected by Staff Departures

Annapurna Interactive recently faced a mass exodus of staff, leaving many to question the future of their upcoming projects. However, it seems some of these titles, including Control 2 and Wanderstop, will not be affected by the issue.

Some Annapurna Interactive Games Unaffected by Publisher’s Staff ResignationControl 2, Wanderstop, and More Move Forward

Following recent news of Annapurna Interactive’s mass resignation, several game developers whose projects were being published by the studio have taken to social media to confirm that their projects remain unaffected.

"The exodus has led to chaos as game developers partnered with Annapurna try to figure out what this means for their upcoming projects," Jason Schreier reported in Bloomberg News last week. "Over the past few days, game makers working with Annapurna have scrambled to find new points of contact and figure out whether the company will continue to honor its agreements."

However, not all Annapurna Interactives-affiliated projects are affected. Remedy Entertainment was one of the first to clarify this on Twitter (X). According to their communications director, Thomas Puha, "Many of you are reaching out about the news around Annapurna. Thank you for your care! Remedy’s deal for Control 2, including Alan Wake and Control AV rights, is with Annapurna Pictures." Moreover, given that Remedy is self-publishing Control 2, the recent downfall of the indie publisher won’t affect their game’s development or launch.

In response to concerns about the project’s status, both Davey Wreden (creator of The Stanley Parable) and Team Ivy Road assured fans that development on Wanderstop is progressing smoothly. Wreden even tweeted that, "Nothing’s gonna stop us from getting Wanderstop out the door very soon."

Team Ivy Road echoed this sentiment, stating, "while this is a bump in the road we didn’t anticipate, we did want to make sure to let you all know: the tea is still brewing, and we’re still working hard on Wanderstop"

Matt Newell’s Lushfoil Photography Sim is also seemingly on track, with the development team taking a more conservative stance on its potential impact from the recent issue. Given that "the game itself is mostly complete," it’s likely that Lushfoil Photography Sim will remain unaffected, with Newell assuring the community that he will provide regular updates as the situation develops.

"But this news is definitely a loss," the Lushfoil Photography Sim’s Twitter (X) account said. "The annapurna interactive team were great to work with and gave the project a lot of love."

Beethoven & Dinosaur, the creators of the acclaimed The Artful Escape, have also reassured fans that their upcoming project, Mixtape, is still in development. Announced this summer, Mixtape is one of Annapurna Interactive’s most anticipated titles.

The studio’s statement was simple: "Appreciate all those who reached out," before confirming that "Mixtape continues."

On the other side of the fence, however, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over No Code’s Silent Hill: Downfall, Furcula’s Morsels, Great Ape Games’ The Lost Wild, Dinogod’s Bounty Star, and more, whose developers have yet to comment publicly about the state of their game after Annapurna Interactive’s recent issue.

There is also no news regarding Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth, a game being developed internally by Annapurna Interactive. This ambitious title was poised to mark the company’s debut as a game developer after a successful period as a publisher.

Amidst the turmoil, Annapurna Pictures CEO Megan Ellison reassured Bloomberg that, "Our top priority is continuing to support our developer and publishing partners during this transition." As the dust settles on Annapurna Interactives’ collapse, the fate of the games in development remains uncertain. At least, as of now, most of the developers have expressed optimism about their projects.

Annapurna Interactive’s Entire Team Resigns, Ellison Vows Continued Support for Developers

Annapurna Interactive faced a significant setback this month when its entire 25-person team resigned following failed negotiations for the studio’s independence. This mass departure came shortly after the studio’s former president Nathan Gary left.

In a joint statement, the team explained that their decision was not made lightly, citing disagreements over the studio’s future direction. Despite all of this, Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison remains committed to expanding the company’s presence in the interactive entertainment industry and continuing to develop innovative storytelling experiences across various media.

For more on Annapurna Interactive’s recent controversy, check out our article below!