Supermassive Games has announced a difficult round of layoffs affecting 36 employees and will delay the release of their upcoming game, Directive 8020, to 2026. This update matters because it impacts fans who have been closely following the developer’s projects, especially after previous setbacks, such as the cancellation of their Blade Runner title.
In a statement shared on X, Supermassive Games explained that the gaming industry’s constant changes have necessitated a restructuring of their team. The layoffs are part of this adjustment, and the company expressed how tough the decision was. They expect up to 36 colleagues to be affected.
The company stressed that it remains committed to its upcoming projects despite this setback. Directive 8020, originally scheduled for an October 2025 release, will now be launched in the first half of 2026. This extra time will allow them to improve the game and deliver a better experience for fans. Interestingly, the development of Little Nightmares III stays untouched by these layoffs.
A statement from Supermassive Games. pic.twitter.com/Vom1CSGYGs
— Supermassive Games (@SuperMGames) July 22, 2025
Supermassive Games’ Full Statement On Layoffs:
- The games industry remains a challenging and ever-evolving environment.
- To adjust, the studio has decided to start a redundancy consultation process affecting up to 36 staff members.
- The decision was difficult and the company will offer full support to those impacted.
- The launch of Directive 8020 will move to the first half of 2026 to deliver the best possible experience.
- Development of Little Nightmares III is not affected.
You may wonder how this will impact the studio’s future. Will the delay help them deliver a polished game, or will more challenges arise? It’s always tough to see layoffs happen, especially when a studio is juggling multiple projects. I hope those affected find new opportunities soon.
For context, Supermassive had already laid off a major portion of its staff earlier last year and canceled an unannounced Blade Runner game. It appears that the company is still reeling from the effects of a complex industry environment.
