Supermassive Games, the UK-based studio best known for Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology, has announced a new wave of layoffs and a delay for its upcoming sci-fi horror title, Directive 8020. Originally slated for release in October 2025, the game is now targeting a launch in the first half of 2026.
In a statement released earlier this week, Supermassive confirmed it had entered into a redundancy consultation process, with up to 36 staff potentially affected. While not as severe as the studio’s February 2024 cuts which saw around 90 employees laid off this marks the second major restructuring at the company in less than two years.
“We are now in a position where we need to make some difficult decisions in order to adapt to the challenges ahead,” the studio said in a public update. “This has led to the incredibly tough proposal to reduce our workforce. These decisions are not taken lightly, and our focus is on supporting our employees throughout the process.”
A Game Delayed, But Not Forgotten
News of the layoffs comes alongside a significant delay for Directive 8020, the next installment in Supermassive’s anthology series. Initially expected to be a Halloween season highlight, the title will now arrive sometime in early 2026.
According to the studio, the delay stems from an internal decision to prioritize quality over schedule. While frustrating for fans, the move isn’t entirely surprising given the evolving scope of the game and the studio’s ambitions to expand beyond the relatively compact experiences of previous entries like Man of Medan or House of Ashes.
“We’ve listened closely to feedback from the community and want to ensure that Directive 8020 delivers the cinematic, choice-driven horror experience our players expect,” said a development lead who spoke under condition of anonymity. “Pushing back the release allows us to fine-tune gameplay mechanics, optimize performance, and elevate storytelling in meaningful ways.”
The State of Supermassive
The layoffs come at a challenging time for the wider industry. A wave of restructuring has swept through several studios across the globe over the past 18 months, with some shuttering entirely and others scaling back operations dramatically. Supermassive, which reportedly employed over 350 people prior to this latest round of cuts, is not immune to these pressures.
Insiders suggest that development of multiple projects in parallel including Little Nightmares III, which the studio is co-developing with Bandai Namco has contributed to operational strain. However, Little Nightmares III remains on track for its October 2025 release and is reportedly unaffected by the restructuring.
While the news is undeniably sobering, the delay of Directive 8020 may ultimately prove beneficial if it allows Supermassive to refine its formula. Early previews of the game have hinted at larger environments, more varied decision-making mechanics, and even light survival elements an evolution from the studio’s previous works.
Fans eager for another dose of interactive horror will need to wait a bit longer, but if Supermassive can deliver on its promises, Directive 8020 could represent a pivotal step forward not just for the anthology, but for narrative-driven horror gaming as a whole.
In the meantime, the studio’s message is clear: they’re regrouping, refocusing, and trying to weather a storm that many others in the industry are also battling.
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