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Supermassive Lays Off 70 People Less Than Six Months After Releasing Its New Sci-Fi Horror Game
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- Supermassive Games has laid off over 70 employees, including its head of IT and Facilities Director Frank Tindle, as part of a downsizing effort following the release of Directive 8020 earlier this year.
- Frank Tindle, who joined the company in 2010 and witnessed its growth to over 400 employees, highlighted the departure of many talented developers, artists, producers, and QA staff in his LinkedIn post.
- The studio is known for interactive horror games like The Quarry (2022), The Casting of Frank Stone (2024), and The Dark Pictures Anthology, which have attracted a niche audience despite mixed reviews and modest commercial success.
- Directive 8020 featured some of Supermassive's best horror moments but was criticized for poor writing and the absence of online co-op at launch; the studio announced a patch to add online multiplayer will arrive in October, nearly five months post-release.
