Supermassive Games, the UK-based studio known for narrative horror titles like Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology, has laid off more than 70 employees. This follows an earlier announcement in August where the company signaled that job reductions were imminent, citing a need to "ensure the sustainability of the company."
These layoffs have now been confirmed, with former IT and facilities director Frank Tindle stating on LinkedIn that his last day was marked after 16 years with the studio. Tindle noted that over 70 individuals across various departments, including development, art, production, QA, and operations, were affected. He expressed pride in the people who have worked at Supermassive and offered to facilitate introductions for hiring studios.
Tim Browning, who joined Supermassive in September 2022 as a talent acquisition leader, also posted about his departure. He reflected on the significant hiring efforts undertaken during his tenure, which saw the studio grow and launch several titles.
The recent layoffs occur a few months after the release of Directive 8020, the latest entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology. The game launched in May to mixed reviews. Supermassive recently announced plans to add online multiplayer to Directive 8020 later this month.
This news comes after a period of growth for Supermassive, which at one point employed over 400 people. The studio continues to be recognized for its contributions to the interactive horror genre. Solidarity is extended to all Supermassive staff affected by these redundancies.