Leanne Loombe: The Future of Gaming and Cross-media Storytelling
Leanne Loombe, Executive VP & Head of Games at Annapurna Interactive, is helping shape the next era of interactive storytelling
I recently attended the GamesBeat Next conference in San Francisco and one of the highlights of the event for me was a panel discussion on the future of cross-media storytelling featuring Leanne Loombe, the Executive Vice President and Head of Games at Annapurna Interactive.
Over the past 20 years, Leanne has worked for some of the gaming industry’s most influential companies, including Electronic Arts (EA), Riot Games, Netflix Games, and now Annapurna Interactive, establishing herself as one of the industry's most experienced executives.
Leanne's resume is impeccable, but her leadership style is what sets her apart — throughout the gaming industry, she's known as an executive who empowers developers, champions artistic vision, and fosters sustainable workplace cultures.
The Making of a Gaming Visionary
Leanne began her career in the gaming industry over twenty years ago at Electronic Arts (EA), one of the industry’s biggest studios. While there, she learned the inner workings of game development, gaining an invaluable understanding of both the creative and operational sides of the business.
At EA, Leanne led multiple titles in the hugely popular Need for Speed franchise,gaining a deeper understanding of player communities and the rapidly evolving landscape of online gaming.
In 2017, Leanne left EA to take up a position as a Senior Producer on the League of Legends franchise at Riot Games.
Colleagues who worked with her at Riot Games described Leanne as a leader with a "strong vision and clear strategy," someone who “builds teams that deliver not just successful products, but experiences that resonate with players.”
The Netflix Experiment: Gaming Meets Streaming
In 2021, Leanne joined Netflix as the streaming giant was launching its gaming division. As Head of External Games, she managed a portfolio of over 150 games and worked with developers worldwide to bring titles to a platform that had never done gaming before.
She learned how to build relationships quickly, how to evaluate projects at scale, and how to communicate what makes games work to executives who came from entirely different entertainment backgrounds.
More importantly, she learned what happens when platform strategy conflicts with creative vision. Netflix approached games primarily as a retention tool for its streaming service — a way to keep subscribers engaged between show seasons.
This view often clashed with what developers and gamers actually wanted: games that stood on their own merit, not just as marketing extensions of TV properties.
At Netflix, the gaming division was always fighting for resources and attention in a company primarily focused on its film and television content; Leanne learned how to advocate for games, how to translate their value to non-gaming executives, and how to set boundaries that protect creative teams from unrealistic demands.
Annapurna: Where Art Meets Interactive
In January 2025, Leanne was named Executive Vice President and Head of Games at Annapurna Interactive, the gaming division of the acclaimed film and TV studio Annapurna Pictures.
Annapurna Interactive, with its track record of artistic excellence and commitment to unique voices, seems like the perfect fit for the next chapter of Leanne’s career.
As an “indie” gaming studio, Annapurna Interactive has built a reputation for supporting developers and producing critically acclaimed titles, like What Remains of Edith Finch, Outer Wilds, and Stray.
What unites these releases is Annapurna Interactive’s willingness to take creative risks, to publish games that don’t fit established genres, and to trust developers with unconventional visions.
They’ve proven that the market exists for artistically ambitious games and that indie games can be both critically acclaimed and commercially viable.
Leanne’s Vision for Annapurna Interactive
Since stepping into her new role, Leanne has been clear about her vision: build on the studio’s legacy while creating something sustainable for the future.
What does this look like in practice? Here are a few of her core principles:
Preserve creative independence — Leanne understands that Annapurna’s reputation was built on giving developers creative freedom. Her track record at Riot Games and Netflix Games demonstrates she knows how to support independent creators while providing the resources and guidance they need.
Curate with intention — One lesson Leanne took away from her time at Netflix Games is that volume doesn't equal value. At Annapurna Interactive, Leanne is focused on “selective curation” — quality over quantity, impact over market saturation.
Bridge entertainment worlds — Being part of a larger media company (Annapurna Pictures) gives Annapurna Interactive a unique advantage in cross-media storytelling. Leanne sees this as a huge opportunity, but her vision isn't simply about adapting films into games but rather building a unified creative identity where games, films, and television explore complementary themes and elevate one another.
What Sets Leanne Apart
Leanne understands that great games come from empowered teams, not micromanaged ones. She knows that building a great workplace culture matters as much as building great products, and she recognizes that the future of gaming is about diverse voices, innovative storytelling, and experiences that couldn’t exist in any other medium.
Leanne is someone who has spent over two decades learning what it takes to make great interactive experiences across genres, platforms, and business models.
More importantly, she’s someone who genuinely believes in the power of games as a storytelling medium.
Additional Sources:
Leanne Loombe to Head Games at Annapurna | The Hollywood Reporter
Annapurna taps Netflix exec for its gaming label | The Verge
Annapurna appoints ex-Netflix exec Leanne Loombe as head of games | Games Industry