Supermassive Games, the studio behind Until Dawn and the Dark Pictures Anthology, has announced it will cut up to 36 positions in a new round of layoffs.
In a statement shared on the studio's social media channels this afternoon, Supermassive also confirmed a delay for its highly anticipated sci-fi horror title Directive 8020, which is now scheduled for release in the first half of 2026.
Addressing the job cuts, Supermassive explained it needed to restructure its teams to better adapt to a challenging and rapidly changing games industry. This follows a previous round of layoffs in March 2024, when the studio let go of approximately 90 employees using similar language.
With around 350 staff members reported in 2023, Supermassive has now reduced its workforce by roughly one-third over the past year and a half.
"We remain committed to our upcoming projects and have decided to move Directive 8020's launch to the first half of 2026," Supermassive stated. "The initial reception has been incredibly positive, and this extended development period will ensure we deliver the highest quality experience for our players. We sincerely appreciate our community's continued patience and support."
Directive 8020, a standalone installment in the Dark Pictures Anthology, was first hinted at among several potential series entries in early 2022. The game was officially revealed later that year in a teaser trailer concluding The Dark Pictures: The Devil In Me. Despite the announcement, fans have yet to get their hands on the title three years later.
A statement from Supermassive Games. pic.twitter.com/Vom1CSGYGs
— Supermassive Games (@SuperMGames) July 22, 2025
The Dark Pictures Anthology launched in 2019 with the nautical mystery Man of Medan, followed by the historical horror Little Hope in 2020 and the Iraq-war themed House of Ashes in 2021. The series continued with the murder hotel-inspired The Devil in Me in 2022, and a virtual reality spin-off titled Switchback VR the following year.
Development on new series installments appears to have slowed since then, with Directive 8020 now scheduled to arrive at least three years after the previous main entry. Positioned as a more independent story, Supermassive has stated it's using the extra development time to enhance gameplay mechanics. Connections to previous games, including the recurring Curator character, will reportedly be less prominent.
Meanwhile, Supermassive continues development on the postponed Little Nightmares 3, currently slated for an October 10 release. The studio has confirmed today's layoffs do not affect this project's development timeline.
