Ethan Crossfield 
Large-scale layoffs remain a persistent problem across the video game industry, affecting studios even after major releases or successful periods for their parent companies. Supermassive Games is now the latest developer facing another round of cuts, with the studio beginning a redundancy consultation that could result in up to 75 employees losing their jobs.
Another Round of Cuts at Supermassive
Supermassive announced the consultation through a social media statement, describing the move as necessary to protect the company’s long-term sustainability. The process is not yet a finalized list of dismissals, but the studio expects it could lead to the loss of as many as 75 positions. Supermassive also said it intends to support employees affected by the process.
The developer is known for Until Dawn, The Quarry, and The Dark Pictures Anthology. The announcement is especially significant because it follows two previous rounds of job losses. In February 2024, roughly 90 positions were cut. In July 2025, the studio announced another consultation that resulted in 36 layoffs while also delaying Directive 8020 into 2026. If the current maximum is reached, Supermassive’s reductions over this period would approach 200 jobs.
Directive 8020 Arrived After a Difficult Development Period
Supermassive’s latest project, Directive 8020, was released in May. Its path to launch included a delay from its original October target, followed by the earlier round of layoffs announced in 2025.
The game was not the only recent Supermassive release to receive a mixed critical response. Directive 8020 holds a 72 Metacritic score, while Little Nightmares 3 sits at 71 and The Casting of Frank Stone at 68. Those figures do not determine a game’s commercial performance, but they show that the studio’s latest projects have not produced a major critical breakout.
What Happens Next for the Studio
Supermassive has not announced a final number of layoffs or identified specific teams and projects that could be affected. The consultation must conclude before the full impact becomes clear, so it is too early to say how development plans will change.
The broader franchise picture is also complicated by the fact that Until Dawn 2 is being developed by a different studio. That means the possible cuts at Supermassive should not automatically be interpreted as a direct change to that sequel’s development.
Key points
- Supermassive Games has started a redundancy consultation.
- Up to 75 employees could lose their jobs.
- The studio previously cut roughly 90 positions in 2024 and 36 in 2025.
- Directive 8020, released in May, is Supermassive’s most recent game.
Recent Supermassive releases
| Game | Metacritic score |
|---|---|
| Directive 8020 | 72 |
| Little Nightmares 3 | 71 |
| The Casting of Frank Stone | 68 |
Expert View
The announcement highlights how fragile studio employment remains, even for developers with recognizable franchises and a steady release history. Repeated cuts can reduce a team’s capacity, disrupt production continuity, and make it harder to build momentum around future projects. For Supermassive, the immediate priority is completing the consultation while maintaining support for affected staff. For the wider market, the story reinforces that releasing games is no guarantee of financial stability, particularly when recent titles deliver only moderate critical results.
