Supermassive Games Announces Third Wave of Layoffs, Up to 75 Jobs at Risk

Supermassive Games, the UK studio behind *Until Dawn*, *The Quarry* and the *Dark Pictures Anthology*, confirmed today that it has begun a redundancy consultation process that could affect as many as 75 employees. The announcement marks the company’s third round of job cuts within three years.

Until Dawn and Little Nightmares 3 studio Supermassive announces further layoffs, with as many as 75 people expected to lose their jobs

Since its 2008 founding, Supermassive has built a reputation for cinematic horror titles. In February 2024 the studio entered a consultation phase that impacted roughly 90 staff members, citing “significant challenges” in the gaming industry. A later reduction in July 2025 saw 36 roles eliminated after the company postponed the horror title *Directive 8020* from an October 2025 launch to May 2026. The latest layoffs follow the mixed reception of *Directive 8020*, which launched on May 12, 2026 and received a mixed rating on Steam.

Supermassive Games announces layoffs, up to 75 workers may be affected

• February 2024 – Redundancy consultation affecting about 90 employees.

Supermassive Games Conducts Another Round of Layoffs

• July 2025 – 36 positions cut; *Directive 8020* delayed.

Supermassive Games begins third round of layoffs in three years

• May 12, 2026 – *Directive 8020* released; mixed Steam reviews.

Supermassive Games begins third round of layoffs in three years

• Today (August 2026) – Redundancy consultation launched; up to 75 jobs may be lost.

Supermassive Games Conducts Another Round of Layoffs

• *Directive 8020* sold approximately 447,000 units across Steam, PlayStation and Xbox (Video Game Insight).

Supermassive Games announces layoffs, up to 75 workers may be affected

• Staff levels have fallen from roughly 350 employees in 2023 to about 200 according to the studio’s LinkedIn profile, representing a reduction of nearly half.

Supermassive Games Conducts Another Round of Layoffs

• Over the past two-and-a-half years, more than 200 employees have been affected by layoffs across the three rounds.

Supermassive Games Conducts Another Round of Layoffs

No specific details about the form of support were provided.

Supermassive Games begins third round of layoffs in three years

• Bloomberg reported that 150 employees were told their jobs were at risk and that 90 redundancies were expected, whereas the studio’s own communications cite a maximum of 75 positions.

Supermassive Games Conducts Another Round of Layoffs

• IGN noted that the company’s workforce was halved from 350 to roughly 175, while Wnhub’s LinkedIn-based estimate places current staff at around 200. The exact headcount after the latest cuts remains unconfirmed.

IGN Entertainment

• The precise nature of the support promised to departing staff has not been detailed.

Supermassive Games announces layoffs, up to 75 workers may be affected

• “We understand this will be an extremely difficult period for everyone. Supporting those affected by the layoffs will remain our priority throughout the process,” — Supermassive Games

Nearly a hundred employees will be leaving Supermassive Games

The layoffs underscore the volatility of the mid-tier game development sector, where even studios with a strong portfolio of narrative-driven titles can face severe staffing reductions after mixed commercial performance. The reduction in workforce may affect Supermassive’s ability to sustain its existing franchises and develop new projects, potentially reshaping the landscape of narrative horror games in the UK and beyond.

Supermassive Games Conducts Another Round of Layoffs