Supermassive Games Confirms Layoffs and Pushes Directive 8020 to 2026

Directive 8020 by Supermassive Games delayed to 2026. (Image Credit: Supermassive Games)

Supermassive Games has confirmed a fresh round of layoffs affecting 36 employees and announced that its upcoming title Directive 8020 has been delayed to 2026.

In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the UK-based studio explained that the decision comes amid ongoing challenges within the gaming industry. The developer referred to the current climate as “a challenging and ever-evolving environment” and said the layoffs are part of a wider effort to restructure and adapt.

The company clarified that while this decision was “not taken lightly,” it was necessary to align internal resources with the reality of modern game development. Those affected will be supported through the redundancy process.

This marks the second major wave of layoffs at Supermassive, following reports from early 2024 when the studio let go of up to 30% of its staff. Earlier this year, they canceled an unannounced Blade Runner project.

As for their game roadmap, the most notable shift is the delay of Directive 8020, the studio’s upcoming sci-fi horror title and part of The Dark Pictures Anthology. Originally slated for an October 2025 launch, the game will now arrive in the first half of 2026. The studio emphasized that the extra time will help them fine-tune the experience and ensure it meets the high expectations of fans. According to the team, the response to Directive 8020 so far has been “fantastic,” and they want to deliver “the very best experience.”

Interestingly, the statement also confirmed that development on Little Nightmares III, which Supermassive is co-developing with Bandai Namco, remains unaffected by these changes.