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Freedom251 › Blog › Directive 8020

Supermassive Games Layoffs: Employees Report More Than 70 Departures

By Freedom251 Team · · 2 min read

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Supermassive Games has carried out the redundancy process it announced in August 2026, according to reports published October 5–6. Departing employees reported that more than 70 people were leaving; the studio has not been reported as confirming that final figure.

What happened at Supermassive Games?

Reports from October 5–6, 2026 say the studio’s redundancy process has concluded. Frank Tindle, identified by PC Gamer as Supermassive’s IT and facilities director, wrote on LinkedIn that “More than 70 brilliant people are leaving Supermassive.” He listed developers, artists, producers, QA, operations and other roles. The figure is an employee-reported count quoted by outlets, not an independently confirmed company tally.

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VGC also reported employee posts about the completed cuts. The available reporting does not establish how many employees remain at the studio after the departures.

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How does that compare with the August announcement?

On August 11, Supermassive announced that it had begun a redundancy consultation and anticipated that it could result in the loss of up to 75 colleagues. That was a projected maximum during consultation, not a confirmed final number. The company said the move was “a necessary step to help ensure the sustainability of the company” and that it would support those affected; the statement was reproduced by Game Informer.

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Timing Figure What it represents Source
August 2026 Up to 75 colleagues Supermassive’s anticipated maximum in its consultation announcement Game Informer, reproducing the company statement
October 2026 More than 70 people Departures reported by employee Frank Tindle in a LinkedIn post PC Gamer; also reported by VGC

The two figures are not contradictory: the first described what the consultation might lead to, while the later figure describes departures reported by an employee after the process.

Which teams were affected?

Tindle’s post, as quoted by PC Gamer, named developers, artists, producers, quality assurance (QA) and operations, as well as other roles. The reports do not provide a complete role-by-role breakdown or a final company-confirmed tally.

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Did Directive 8020 cause the layoffs?

The timing alone does not show that it did. Supermassive’s official About page lists Directive 8020 as released on May 12, 2026, several months before the August consultation. The available statements and reports do not link the game’s launch, sales or reception to the redundancies.

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Supermassive is known for Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures Anthology and The Quarry, according to the same studio page. That context identifies the developer, but does not explain the business decision behind the cuts beyond the sustainability rationale in its August statement.

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