Supermassive Games has confirmed a significant restructuring, letting go of 36 employees to adapt to the evolving demands of the gaming industry. The studio released an official statement detailing these layoffs, citing the need to “better align” its team structure with the ongoing changes and challenges in the industry. 
In addition, Supermassive also announced a delay for their highly anticipated game, Directive 8020, which was initially slated for release in October 2025 but will now be pushed to sometime in the first half of 2026.
The statement, shared via the studio’s official X account, expressed deep regret over the layoffs: “This decision was not taken lightly, and we know this will be an incredibly difficult time for everyone. Our absolute priority will be to offer full support to all those affected.”
Directive 8020 was first revealed at Gamescom 2024, and fans had eagerly anticipated its October 2025 launch. Supermassive assured their community that despite the delay, the response to the game so far had been overwhelmingly positive. The studio emphasized that the extra time would ensure the game delivers the best experience for players, thanking their supporters for their patience.
Alongside Directive 8020, Supermassive had planned to release another highly anticipated title, Little Nightmares III, in October 2025. However, the statement noted that these layoffs would not impact the development of Little Nightmares III in any way.
These layoffs follow an earlier round of staff reductions in February 2024, when Supermassive cut a third of its workforce, again citing the challenges posed by the ever-changing video game industry.