The company's early staff was composed of existing Annapurna executives, producer Neale Hemrajani and Technology Head James Masi along with several video game veterans, including Nathan Gary, Deborah Mars, Hector Sanchez, and Jeff Legaspi, who had worked in Sony Interactive Entertainment's Santa Monica Studio and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

[11][12][13] According to sources speaking to IGN, Gary's management put more resources into the gaming division, as well as promoting Masi to chief administration officer for Annapurna Pictures.

As a result, there was a matter of distrust between Ellison and Annapurna Interactive, leading to a hands-off approach for the publisher to continue to group.

In all three cases, employees reportedly reached out to Annapurna Interactive, addressing concerns regarding abuse and a toxic work environment being created by the studio founders.

According to one former studio employee, representatives of Annapurna Interactive had been quoted responding that "without strong personalities, games don't get made."

[14][15] Two limited edition box sets containing the games Donut County, Kentucky Route Zero, Outer Wilds, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Wattam, What Remains of Edith Finch, Telling Lies, and Gorogoa, celebrating the first five years of the publisher, were released in collaboration with iam8bit for the PlayStation 4 in late 2020.

[16] In June 2022, Annapurna announced the formation of an internal game development studio headed by Chelsea Hash.

[18] A limited edition box set containing the games Donut County, Gorogoa, Hindsight, I Am Dead, If Found..., Kentucky Route Zero, Neon White, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Solar Ash, The Artful Escape, The Pathless, What Remains of Edith Finch, was released in collaboration with iam8bit for the Nintendo Switch in late 2023.

[22] The following week, Bloomberg News's Jason Schreier reported Annapurna Interactive's entire staff of 25 had resigned.