Former Annapurna Interactive Team Takes Helm at Private Division
In a significant shift within the gaming industry, former employees of Annapurna Interactive, renowned for indie hits like “Stray,” have formed a new company to manage Private Division, the publishing label previously owned by Take-Two Interactive.
The transition comes after Take-Two Interactive sold Private Division to Haveli Investments, a Texas-based private equity firm, last year. This sale set the stage for a series of changes that have reshaped the landscape of indie game publishing.
Annapurna Interactive, known for its curated selection of high-quality indie titles, experienced a mass resignation of staff in the previous year. Sources close to the matter indicate that these departures followed unsuccessful negotiations to spin off Annapurna Interactive as an independent entity.
In a surprising turn of events, these former Annapurna Interactive employees have now partnered with Haveli Investments to establish a new, unnamed company. This new entity will take charge of Private Division’s existing games portfolio, marking a significant change in leadership and potentially in publishing strategy.
The impact of this transition on current Private Division employees remains unclear, with industry insiders speculating about potential layoffs. However, the new management team faces the immediate task of overseeing several high-profile projects.
Among the titles now under the new company’s purview are “Tales of the Shire,” an eagerly anticipated game blending elements of “Lord of the Rings” and “Animal Crossing,” scheduled for release in March. Additionally, the mysterious Project Bloom from Game Freak, known for the Pokémon series, will fall under their management.
As the gaming community watches closely, the industry awaits further announcements regarding the new company’s name, structure, and long-term plans for Private Division’s diverse portfolio of indie games.
