Gaming News
Supermassive Games Cuts 70 Jobs Months After Directive 8020 Launch
Ongoing
Cover: GenZHype original graphic. All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
“I joined in 2010 as the IT department, all of it, and I leave as IT & Facilities Director and a member of the Senior Leadership Team,”
via kotaku.com
Our take
The timing of the cuts, occurring less than six months after the launch of Directive 8020, highlights the financial fragility of mid-sized horror studios. With the Until Dawn sequel farmed out to Firesprite, Supermassive's core identity is shifting as it shrinks to survive.
Background
Supermassive Games is a horror studio known for interactive titles like The Quarry, The Casting of Frank Stone, and The Dark Pictures Anthology. The studio grew from a small team to over 400 people between 2010 and 2026. Its recent release, Directive 8020, launched earlier in 2026 but faced criticism for writing and missing online co-op features.
In August 2026, Supermassive Games warned that job cuts were a necessary step to ensure the company's sustainability. The studio also announced that online multiplayer for Directive 8020 would be patched in October 2026. Additionally, the Until Dawn sequel scheduled for 2027 has been farmed out to PlayStation studio Firesprite.
The timeline
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Frank Tindle confirmed 70 layoffs on LinkedIn
Frank Tindle, the former IT and Facilities Director at Supermassive Games, reportedly posted on LinkedIn that more than 70 people were leaving the studio, including developers, artists, and producers. Tindle noted he had worked at the studio for 16 years and was also laid off.[1]
Our read of the evidence
Mostly unverified. A single timeline event is cited, but it relies solely on a report of a social media post rather than a primary source. The studio has not issued an official statement or provided verifiable documentation to confirm the layoffs. Other information, such as the scheduled patch for the game’s online multiplayer, remains pending and has not been verified.
Our rating counts evidence, not opinions about anyone: events confirmed by a primary source (the person's own post, their official site, a court or government record) weigh most, then how many independent outlets report the story.
What happens next
October 2026: Online multiplayer for Directive 8020 is scheduled to be patched in October, according to Kotaku.
Frequently asked
How many people did Supermassive Games lay off?
More than 70 people were laid off, according to Frank Tindle. The cuts included developers, artists, producers, QA, and operations staff.
When did Supermassive Games warn about the layoffs?
The studio warned about the coming layoffs in August 2026. Supermassive stated the cuts were necessary to ensure the sustainability of the company.
Why is Supermassive Games downsizing?
The studio cited the need to ensure the sustainability of the company. This occurred less than six months after the release of Directive 8020.
Who confirmed the layoffs?
Frank Tindle, the head of IT who was also laid off, confirmed the news on LinkedIn. He stated that he joined in 2010 and left as IT & Facilities Director.
More related drama (4)
Sources (3)
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 1 dated events from 3 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “Supermassive Games Cuts 70 Jobs Months After Directive 8020 Launch.”
GenZHype, 6 October 2026,
https://genzhype.com/gaming/supermassive-games-cuts-70-jobs-months-after-directive-8020-launch/.