Ex-Annapurna Interactive Staff Take Over Private Division

Executive Summary

Following the collapse of negotiations between Annapurna Interactive staff and Annapurna Pictures CEO Megan Ellison, resulting in a mass exodus in September 2024, former Annapurna Interactive employees have acquired the operational reins of Private Division, formerly under Take-Two Interactive's ownership.

This acquisition, reportedly facilitated by Austin-based Haveli Investments, follows Private Division's November 2024 sale by Take-Two. The deal secures the future of several high-profile titles, including Tales of the Shire (slated for March 2025), the Kerbal Space Program franchise, and an unannounced Game Freak project.

Private Division's Transition Exacerbates Industry Instability

The transition, however, is not without its own personnel challenges. While Haveli's purchase initially retained approximately twenty Private Division employees, further layoffs are anticipated to integrate the incoming Annapurna team. The new entity's name, long-term strategy, and potential for new IP remain undisclosed.

This merger underscores a prevailing trend within the gaming industry: widespread layoffs and studio closures driven by investor hesitancy towards large-scale, high-risk projects. The absorption of one group of displaced employees by another poignantly illustrates the current cutthroat climate.