The entire staff of 25 employees at popular game publisher Annapurna Interactive has resigned from the company following a dispute with company boss Megan Ellison. Annapurna Interactive’s chairman Nathan Gary, along with his executive team, were in talks with Ellison to spin off the video-game division and form a separate company. However, when Ellison abruptly pulled out of the talks, Gary and several top executives resigned in protest, followed by about 20 additional employees doing the same, leading to a dramatic wave of departures from the company. Annapurna Interactive is behind some popular games like Stray, Solar Ash and Neon White.

“All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team have resigned en masse,” Gary said in a statement, according to Bloomberg. “This was one of the most difficult decisions we have ever made and we did not take this step lightly.” As initially reported by The Hollywood Reporter, former Annapurna Interactive president Nathan Gary resigned on September 6. At that time, the alleged large exodus of employees had not yet occurred.

Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, the company’s boss also responded, saying: “Our top priority is to continue to support our developer and publishing partners during this transition. We remain committed not only to our existing games, but also to expanding our presence in the interactive space as we continue to look for opportunities to take a more integrated approach to linear and interactive storytelling across film and TV, gaming, and theater.”

The sudden departure of key employees at Annapurna Interactive has thrown the company into turmoil, leaving game developers in a quandary as they struggle to determine the fate of their projects. Developers are looking for new contacts and clarity on whether the publisher will honor their existing agreements. However, according to a report by Variety, a spokesperson for the company has assured that all existing games and projects will remain under the supervision of Annapurna.

Newly appointed chairman Hector Sanchez, who returned to the company last month, has reportedly assured developers that contracts will be retained and new hires will replace departing staff.

Founded in 2016, Annapurna Interactive has earned a stellar reputation for publishing award-winning indie titles such as Outer Wilds, Stray and Cocoon. Just last month, the company announced a groundbreaking partnership with Remedy Entertainment to adapt popular franchises Control and Alan Wake into film and television projects. Despite the turmoil, Annapurna’s legacy in the gaming world remains strong, although its future is now under scrutiny.