Supermassive Games Faces Layoffs and Delays “Directive 8020” to 2026

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Supermassive Games, the studio behind "The Dark Pictures Anthology" and "Little Nightmares III," has announced significant staff reductions and a delay for its upcoming horror title, "Directive 8020." The company confirmed that up to 36 employees will be laid off as it adapts to the challenging gaming industry landscape. This marks another round of job cuts for the UK-based developer, following a larger layoff in February 2024.

Layoffs Amidst Industry Challenges

Supermassive Games has entered into a redundancy consultation process, which is expected to result in the departure of approximately 36 employees. The studio cited the "challenging and ever-evolving environment" of the games industry as the primary reason for these difficult decisions. This move follows a previous layoff in February 2024, where around 90 employees, approximately 26% of the studio’s workforce at the time, were let go. Supermassive has stated that its priority is to provide full support to all affected employees.

"Directive 8020" Delayed to 2026

In addition to the workforce reduction, Supermassive Games has officially delayed the release of its science-fiction horror game, "Directive 8020." Originally slated for an October 2025 release, the game is now scheduled to launch in the first half of 2026. The studio explained that this additional development time is intended to allow them to "deliver the very best experience for our fans," citing positive initial responses to the game.

New Release Window: First half of 2026.
Original Release Date: October 2, 2025.
Reason for Delay: To further refine and polish the game.

"Little Nightmares III" Development Unaffected

Despite the layoffs and the delay of "Directive 8020," Supermassive Games has assured its community that the development of "Little Nightmares III" remains on track. The highly anticipated sequel is still scheduled for release on October 9, 2025. The studio emphasized that the recent changes will not impact the progress or release of "Little Nightmares III," which is being developed in parallel with "Directive 8020."

A History of Restructuring

This latest round of layoffs and delays is not the first time Supermassive Games has undergone significant restructuring. In February 2024, the company saw the departure of co-founders Joe and Pete Samuels. Shortly thereafter, reports indicated a restructuring program that put a substantial number of roles at risk, with an internal email suggesting up to 150 positions could be affected, ultimately leading to around 90 job losses. The studio’s commitment to adapting its structure reflects the broader economic pressures currently facing the video game industry.