Supermassive Games, the studio behind the hit horror games Until Dawn and the Dark Pictures Anthology, is facing tough times as it announces significant layoffs and delays to its upcoming project, Directive 8020. The developer revealed it will part ways with up to 36 employees, marking the second round of redundancies in just over a year. This comes after a previous wave of cuts in March 2024, which saw around 90 jobs lost. 
With a workforce of around 350 last year, Supermassive has now seen almost a third of its staff let go.
The company explained that the restructuring was necessary to better align with the ever-changing and challenging landscape of the gaming industry. Despite the setbacks, the studio remains focused on its projects, including the sci-fi horror Directive 8020, which has now been pushed back to the first half of 2026. In their announcement, Supermassive expressed gratitude for their fans’ continued support, citing the positive reception the game has already garnered.
Directive 8020 is part of the Dark Pictures Anthology, a series known for its gripping narratives and interactive horror experiences. However, while the franchise has been consistently releasing titles since 2019, progress has slowed, and fans are still eagerly awaiting this new entry. The game was originally teased in 2022, but after several years, it has been delayed further. This additional time is being used to refine the gameplay, and although there are connections to previous games in the series, the studio is aiming for a more standalone experience with Directive 8020.
Meanwhile, Supermassive’s other major project, Little Nightmares 3, remains on track for an October 10 release, unaffected by today’s layoffs. The studio has assured fans that its development continues as planned.