Supermassive Games, known for its horror titles like Until Dawn and the Dark Pictures Anthology, has announced layoffs affecting up to 36 employees as the studio adapts to a "challenging and ever-evolving environment." This organizational change comes alongside a delay for their highly anticipated sci-fi horror game, Directive 8020, which will now be released in the first half of 2026. The decision to push back the release aims to enhance the game's quality based on positive early feedback from fans. Over the past 18 months, Supermassive has streamlined its workforce significantly, shedding around a third of its staff. The studio expressed gratitude for the community's support while shifting focus to upcoming projects, which include a Little Nightmares 3 title set to launch soon.
What is Directive 8020 about?
Directive 8020 is a standalone entry in Supermassive's Dark Pictures Anthology, initially teased in early 2022. It aims to offer a fresh horror experience, emphasizing improved gameplay and a narrative that diverges from previous series entries while featuring recurring elements like the Curator character.
Samira Khan
Samira Khan is a narrative enthusiast with a keen eye for storytelling in games. Her literary approach to game criticism examines themes, character development, and plot structure, earning her a following among gamers who appreciate the art of narrating.
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Comments
Tough break for Supermassive, but delaying Directive 8020 for polish shows they care more about quality than rushing out another horror hit. Hopefully the team bounces back stronger—and hey, at least we’ve got Little Nightmares 3 to tide us over
Sci-fi horror with the Dark Pictures treatment sounds awesome, but man, waiting till 2026 is gonna test my patience. Fingers crossed the extra dev time makes it worth the hype.