Annapurna Games: Two

Annapurna Interactive recently experienced a significant staff departure, prompting concerns about its future projects. However, it appears some titles, including Control 2 and Wanderstop, remain unaffected.

Some Annapurna Interactive Games Unaffected by Publisher’s Staff DeparturesControl 2, Wanderstop, and More Progress

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

"The exodus has caused turmoil as game developers partnered with Annapurna try to understand its implications 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 contacts and determine whether the company will continue to fulfill its agreements."

However, not all Annapurna Interactive-affiliated projects are affected. Remedy Entertainment was among 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 concern! 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 setbacks at 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 reassured fans that development on Wanderstop is progressing smoothly. Wreden even tweeted that, "Nothing’s gonna stop us from releasing Wanderstop very soon."

Team Ivy Road echoed this sentiment, stating, "while this is an unexpected setback, we did want to assure you all: development continues, and we’re still working hard on Wanderstop"

Matt Newell’s Lushfoil Photography Sim is also seemingly on schedule, with the development team adopting a more cautious approach to 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 unfolds.

"But this news is definitely disappointing," 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 support."

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 creators have yet to comment publicly about their games' status 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 Interactive's collapse, the fate of the games in development remains uncertain. At least, as of now, most of the creators have expressed optimism about their projects.

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

Annapurna Interactive suffered a major setback this month when its entire 25-person team quit after negotiations for the studio’s autonomy failed. This mass exodus followed the departure of the studio’s former president Nathan Gary.

In a collective statement, the team clarified that their decision wasn't impulsive, citing differences regarding the studio’s future trajectory. Despite this, Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison remains dedicated to growing the company’s footprint in interactive entertainment and continuing to create groundbreaking storytelling across diverse platforms.

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