Annapurna Pictures branches out into games

The company behind hit films Her and Zero Dark Thirty has announced the formation of a new games division.

Annapurna Interactive will, according to the company, focus on developing personal, emotional, and original games that push the boundaries of interactive content and encourage artists to bring new visions to the medium”.

Partnerships have already been struck with Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi and Monument Valley’s Ken Wong.

Furthermore, the announcement comes with confirmation of its first two games – Jason Roberts’ Gorogoa and Giant Sparrow’s What Remains of Edith Finch.

Gorogoa is a hand illustrated story puzzle game where players solve panel puzzles hanging in picture frames. What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of playable short stories using an assortment of art styles.

I’ve had a great passion for video games for as long as I can remember,” Annapurna’s founder and CEO Megan Ellison said. Growing up, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was one of my all-time favorites. My brother and I ran up quite a bill calling the 1-900 numbers for tips on those games, before the internet provided game-guides.

The artistry and diversity of interactive storytelling is exciting and we look forward to exploring the limitless possibilities in gaming. We want to empower artists across this medium to make Annapurna Interactive their home and I believe we’ve assembled the perfect team to make that happen."