# Supermassive Lays Off 70 People Less Than Six Months After Releasing Its New Sci-Fi Horror Game

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-06 06:00 UTC · Category: Technology

## Executive Summary
Supermassive Games reduces its workforce by over 70 positions, following earlier warnings issued by the studio.

## Intelligence Brief
Reports indicate that the studio has laid off more than 70 developers. This development follows previous warnings given by the company regarding staff numbers. The timing of these reductions occurs less than half a year after the studio released its new sci-fi horror game. Media organizations covering the event emphasize different aspects of the studio's output and history.


Outlets such as PlayStation Universe and Push Square identify the organization as the studio behind The Dark Pictures Anthology. Rock Paper Shotgun and Eurogamer note that the company developed Until Dawn and Directive 8020. Furthermore, reports from shattered.io and tech-insider.org place these workforce reductions within a broader context of 2026 gaming industry layoffs, mentioning other studios such as Warhorse, The Coalition, and Ninja Theory. Context provided across the reporting highlights that these staff reductions arrived after the developer followed through on earlier warnings.


The studio is widely recognized in industry coverage for its narrative-driven horror titles. The recent cuts affect a substantial portion of the personnel working at the developer, occurring shortly after the launch of their recent sci-fi horror project. As the situation develops, coverage does not yet specify the full long-term impact of these cuts on unannounced projects or the studio's remaining operational structure. Observers will likely monitor how the studio manages its ongoing game releases and whether additional changes will occur within the company or across the wider sector as tracked by industry outlets.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Universe | The Dark Pictures Studio Supermassive Games Reportedly Lays Off 70 Staffers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxOY2YwU1VjRmFlRkRKTnk4ejU2Sm1CTVBTZWhIdWhQaFBtdEVHb0U1WTBaM3p3bTN3ZXVjM254N18xTGdBTEcyd3pLcGJtOVRwUzU1TmZNdEw0eGh2ZTY2R1FlcGd0ZVhOS3loS1hFdklvT0l2VHpVTWZSc1pFNHpqdlZNNzRnb2lwU3BJOUNNdWVFZkVubjNFb05ZbUhqS3Mza2VB?oc=5) |
| Rock Paper Shotgun | Following through on their warning, Until Dawn and Directive 8020 devs Supermassive lay off "more than 70" staff | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2gFBVV95cUxOWHdfaThOYWtNSTZUNUdWeU9QQ3ZtNEo5ZFUtaGZkOVdvMlItdWNhRWpGTE5FZC1oQnR2YS0wWGg1ZUxTQkU2V0djR0JzNy1yOU9oWmlrSl9CckRFU010QWlhcXJMRzZJemZYbWF2ZHhPSVREVkZUZG1kVXJ5Qm5vWEg4cnBHUDY3MkY0Y2VSamRINk10VFBEUVA2SlhFQUxQRTRDUmtVVlJGcndSMUh3S09LT05ibzBzNWpubm0zRExoRUIxY0hFVzF1cDdNRGc1RkktLVZSQVR2dw?oc=5) |
| Eurogamer.net | Supermassive Games suffers layoffs as more than 70 developers seem to have left the company this week | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZkFVX3lxTE1Qd2dYR2h0dFVrb2pyZzZBTGFMOXJDaTlEWHA0dFU0bDVMMk95VW50czJGczFoUk52VmlrakkwWVFUZ0pRSjZaMFJhWnZKejhtZHhDci1ESThwTV9PNEFRUUlYVktEQQ?oc=5) |
| shattered.io | Game Studio Layoffs 2026: Supermassive, Warhorse Warning | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMie0FVX3lxTE44aFJHcGZFM0lnaFlMYkxRelJwRjNieUR0WUc0RTh5bS1ESWtWVUtzalBrM0RZS0xRdXdGclo3eHVXMkExRGMwNlBra2pPVVZGWW95djFFbFg1QkZ2VDREVGkwYktFaWtXMXRCT0NtWmo3VGpxWVNmUlR0aw?oc=5) |
| WN Hub | Supermassive Games has laid off over 70 employees | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiS0FVX3lxTE9lX05HRjlpRXdsMjFpc0JMNVN5NGRLMzNUZkhOc2xYYjVydUNDZkVaSWxhdjQ3Q0F2akEtem5xMmxxb0FPdy0wdURfaw?oc=5) |
| Push Square | Dark Pictures Dev's Layoffs Have Begun, Over 70 Staff Reportedly Let Go | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxOWFkwdXhrdjNtRThTWUctdmhoUjEzWS0tRXp3VmNPODI5c0prT1lmR2JfRHFRcllWT2oySHUzUG9NbnI2eVBKLUhUSkFNUWQ1czdJQkhJLTY1M19rRjNRTWJJdmlqdTJiT0wzZWlIYVlaRXhOQUZlYkdZSmg4RkJfY25DRjZoM0xiTlVHTWhwbmFjVjhnSzdISmVKMERDZTlvNVNEOU1DWkgtNURDUEE?oc=5) |
| tech-insider.org | Supermassive, Coalition Layoffs: Warhorse Warns [2026] | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxNZjRlRE5mYjhRemFvS0FaZnVvTU8zWVhBU1pPVG5Rb2ViVzZGWnRPd2xZR1FremFSYmZVTUF1QktSc0h1SERONEZ5U1QwN2tzZ1l0VHd1SHBRMXltbGZNWUk0WlZBM3hEQW14OER6RjNVSUdkYnVCbFRQSzhwVGNWSEFuU2w?oc=5) |
| shattered.io | Gaming Layoffs 2026: Supermassive, Ninja Theory Cuts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxNQm12R3hOdzYyT0tRY3IyZDgxVGkwa0NqZXJjclhGNzhPcHh0YUZzUURZcXM0QVpuUmg1YWc3d2J2WGtvSmZwV0RrT09mWkRVZ1c3Rk9KWmg5OGNhWEVsLUVlbVZtWnd0VGZwUXc4M1JUclNiLWlMWk5TWW95QjhNVmFCdw?oc=5) |
| Kotaku | Supermassive Lays Off 70 People Less Than Six Months After Releasing Its New Sci-Fi Horror Game | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwwFBVV95cUxPdjZ2ZVVubjkwZmE3UE1NWE52VVUxUFE0amFxcmJVemlNSXNXMXZXd1VidUdneWp5TE91RDFIMzRxYUw2ekZydXJRaXdXRjRMczBNZTBYU3J5bzdsMWs0ZXdtVjlxb1U1akRUU3FqRDBUeTB0cFNwZDdYNFRYSVZJX1kxc0hyTXVfazRZcnpwY0JLbzBpYmhtRUJzWlRyX3huNFUtMWJiYkowZlREMU5FeF9xZGhLNDJCbzJIUVNWNWNfeVU?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-06/supermassive-lays-off-70-people-less-than-six-months-after-releasing-its-new*