Supermassive Games is cutting up to 75 jobs in its third round of layoffs in under three years. This restructuring comes just weeks after the studio released its new title, Directive 8020. The move signals ongoing financial pressure for the developer as it attempts to stabilize its operations. This situation underscores the vulnerability of mid-sized studios that depend heavily on individual game releases.
Studio reduces workforce as sci-fi horror title fails to meet revenue targets
Directive 8020 is a sci-fi horror game set aboard the colony ship Cassiopeia. The project draws heavy inspiration from John Carpenter's The Thing. Supermassive Games launched the title on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X on May 12, 2026. The studio positioned this release as a significant milestone for the company.
The game has struggled to find a large audience since launch. It peaked at 3,072 concurrent players on Steam on its first day. Steam user sentiment is approximately 63% positive, a figure that falls below typical expectations for a major launch. These metrics suggest the title has not generated the revenue needed to sustain current staff levels.
Leadership changes have compounded the uncertainty at the studio. CEO Pete Samuels stepped down in June 2026, only six weeks after the game launched. This departure follows previous redundancy processes in February 2024 and July 2025. The current consultation aims to reduce costs to ensure the company's long-term sustainability.
We've been tracking Directive 8020 closely — see our earlier coverage on Supermassive Games CEO Steps Down Amid. The studio stated that supporting impacted colleagues is its current priority. These layoffs mark a substantial reduction in staff for the developer amid a difficult market landscape.
Discussion
0 comments
Log in to join the thread with a thoughtful take, question, or correction.