REPORT: Supermassive Games to Lay Off 90 Staff

Supermassive Games, renowned for its horror titles like Until Dawn and The Quarry, is preparing for significant layoffs that could affect up to 90 staff members. Amid the ongoing challenges in the gaming industry, the British developer, once tied with Sony and Take-Two Interactive, is restructuring its team, risking the redundancy of 150 of its approximately 300 employees. The news reveals Supermassive's intention to focus on its strengths and secure upcoming projects, which include entries in the Dark Pictures Anthology, the Little Nightmares series, and a Dead by Daylight spin-off, The Casting of Frank Stone.

The layoffs at Supermassive Games are a sign of internal restructuring, aiming to refocus on the company's core strengths. Despite the staff reductions, the studio is progressing with its forthcoming titles, including their next Dark Pictures entry, Little Nightmares' sequel, and the anticipated The Casting of Frank Stone.

Supermassive Games has a track record of delivering engaging horror experiences. Starting off with LittleBigPlanet DLCs, they made a significant impact with Until Dawn, a choice-driven horror narrative released in 2015 for PlayStation 4. This was followed by a series of related titles under The Dark Pictures Anthology banner, each exploring different horror themes and mechanics. Supermassive's success continued with The Quarry in 2022, another narratively rich horror game that emphasized player choice and cinematic gameplay. The consistency in the studio's genre focus has established them as a staple name in horror gaming despite the challenges they face.