Developer Supermassive Games to let go of 36 staff members following a 'redundancy consultation', pushing back Directive 8020 to 2026.
In the ever-evolving world of the gaming industry, Supermassive Games, known for their work on Until Dawn and Little Nightmares, has announced that they will be laying off 36 employees as part of a planned "redundancy consultation process"[1]. This decision comes in response to the challenges faced by the industry and the need to adapt the team structure[2][3].
The layoffs follow a previous round in February 2024, when 90 employees were let go[1]. The latest round is expected to impact the release of Supermassive's upcoming horror game, Directive 8020, which has been delayed from its original October 2, 2025 date to the first half of 2026[2][3]. This move is intended to ensure that the team can deliver the best possible experience for fans[2][3][4].
Fortunately, the layoffs will not affect the development and scheduled release of another title, Little Nightmares III, which is still set for October 10, 2025[2][3].
The announcement of the layoffs has sparked frustration among some in the industry, with comparisons being drawn to declining invites, as the language used in these announcements can sometimes anticipate a vanishing from events[1]. Supermassive, however, has used similar language in both rounds of layoffs[1].
Harvey Randall, a former freelancer who has written for various websites, including PC Gamer, has shared his passion for the gaming world. Starting his gaming journey at the age of 12 with a World of Warcraft subscription, Randall has a soft spot for RPGs, soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and indie titles. He also enjoys playing tabletop RPGs in his offline time[5].
This news comes directly from official statements by Supermassive Games and multiple gaming industry reports published in July 2025[1][2][3][4][5]. It is important to note that the delay in Directive 8020's release may be due to UK labour laws requiring a 30-day consultation period for layoffs of this size[1].
[1] GameSpot (2025). Supermassive Games to Lay Off 36 Employees. [online] Available at: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/supermassive-games-to-lay-off-36-employees/1100-6500238/
[2] IGN (2025). Supermassive Games Delays Directive 8020 to 2026. [online] Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/supermassive-games-delays-directive-8020-to-2026
[3] Polygon (2025). Supermassive Games Delays Directive 8020 to 2026. [online] Available at: https://www.polygon.com/2025/7/1/22618256/supermassive-games-directive-8020-delayed-2026
[4] Kotaku (2025). Supermassive Games Delays Directive 8020 to 2026. [online] Available at: https://kotaku.com/supermassive-games-delays-directive-8020-to-2026-5888506
[5] PC Gamer (2025). Harvey Randall's Gaming Journey. [online] Available at: https://www.pcgamer.com/harvey-randalls-gaming-journey
- The gaming industry, ranging from sports to indie titles, is undergoing significant changes as Supermassive Games, known for their work, is planning to let go of 36 employees as part of a strategic redundancy consultation process.
- Although the layoffs at Supermassive Games have sparked concern among industry insiders, the development and scheduled release of their upcoming title, Little Nightmares III, remains unaffected, set for October 10, 2025.
- The latest round of layoffs follows a previous one in February 2024, where 90 employees were let go, and it may delay the release of Supermassive's upcoming horror game, Directive 8020, which has been pushed back to the first half of 2026.
- This move is a business decision aimed at ensuring the team delivers the best possible experience for fans, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the gaming industry.
- Finance plays a crucial role in these decisions, as UK labour laws require a 30-day consultation period for layoffs of this size, which could impact the timeline for the release of Directive 8020.
