Supermassive Games has confirmed that more than 70 staff members have left the company this week as part of a layoff process. The studio, known for Until Dawn and Directive 8020, had previously announced the cuts were coming in August.
IT and facilities director Frank Tindle announced his departure on LinkedIn with a farewell message to other Supermassive staff in the same position. He noted that developers, artists, producers, QA, operations and others were among those leaving.
“More than 70 brilliant people are leaving Supermassive: developers, artists, producers, QA, operations and more. Any studio would be lucky to have them. If you’re hiring, DM me and I’ll make the introduction,” he wrote.
The Layoff Announcement
Supermassive Games first warned of the cuts in August. In a statement posted to social media, the developer wrote: “We have made the difficult decision to begin a redundancy consultation process, which we anticipate will result in the loss of up to 75 of our colleagues. This is a necessary step to ensure the sustainability of our company.”
The company now appears to have completed that process.
What Happened in July 2025
This is not the first time Supermassive has cut jobs recently. Back in July 2025, the studio announced up to 36 employees would be laid off. The studio claimed these cuts would allow them to “adapt our team structure to better align with recent industry changes.”
That earlier round of layoffs led to the delay of Directive 8020. The game eventually released this May.
The Reaction to Directive 8020
Directive 8020 remains divisive among fans. The studio’s first dive into sci-fi horror drew praise for its cast of characters but criticism for its stealth gameplay.
Still, the studio continues to release unique narrative titles for an audience of passionate fans.
The Hard Numbers
- Over 70 staff have left this week
- Up to 75 colleagues anticipated to lose their jobs in August
- 36 employees laid off in July 2025
- Directive 8020 released this May
A Timeline of the Cuts
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| August | Redundancy consultation process announced, up to 75 colleagues anticipated to lose jobs |
| July 2025 | Up to 36 employees laid off |
| This week | Over 70 staff leave the company |
The Sustainability Claim
Supermassive framed the cuts as necessary for the company’s sustainability. The studio’s statement in August described the redundancy consultation as a step toward ensuring the company could keep operating.
What Comes Next
Tindle’s post suggests some of those leaving may find new roles elsewhere. He offered to make introductions for anyone hiring.
Our View
Over 70 staff leaving a studio that once defined interactive storytelling is a heavy blow. The list includes developers, artists, producers, QA and operations.
Supermassive’s games have earned a loyal audience. That audience deserves a studio that can sustain itself without sacrificing the quality that brought them there.
We hope the hard times are over for Supermassive. Those impacted by these recent layoffs deserve to land on their feet.
Source material: “Supermassive Games suffers layoffs as more than 70 developers seem to have left the company this week,” Eurogamer.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.