Annapurna Interactive staff resign en masse amid spinoff failure

Annapurna Interactive, a video game company founded by Megan Ellison, has faced a significant crisis as its entire 25-member staff, including top executives Deborah Mars and Nathan Vella, resigned. This mass resignation occurred after unsuccessful discussions regarding the studio's potential independence from its parent company. Despite the studio's success with critically acclaimed games like 'Outer Wilds' and 'Stray,' internal tensions have been a persistent issue. Former president Nathan Gary described the decision to leave as extremely difficult, emphasizing that it was not made lightly. The resignation highlights the challenges faced by the company, which has struggled to maintain a cohesive work environment despite its achievements in the gaming industry. The departure of the entire staff raises questions about the future direction of Annapurna Interactive. In the wake of this turmoil, Hector Sanchez, previously the head of content at Epic Games, has been appointed to lead the interactive divisions. Megan Ellison has stated that the company's primary focus is to support its developer and publishing partners during this transitional phase. This leadership change aims to stabilize the company and address the internal issues that led to the mass resignation. The timing of this event coincides with a period of growth for Oracle, the parent company of Annapurna Interactive, particularly in the cloud and AI sectors. As Larry Ellison's wealth continues to rise, the situation at Annapurna serves as a stark contrast to the successes of Oracle, highlighting the complexities within the gaming division.