Supermassive Games, the studio responsible for Until Dawn, recently announced workforce reductions. Specializing in impactful choice-driven horror games, the company now finds itself amidst a concerning industry-wide trend.

Established in 2008, Supermassive Games initially partnered with Sony as a second-party developer, contributing to titles like LittleBigPlanet, Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves, and Killzone HD. Their breakthrough came in 2015 with Until Dawn, a choice-centric horror game. Subsequently, the studio continued its success with the Dark Pictures Anthology series and the recent release of The Quarry.

Following a period of evaluation, Supermassive Games regretfully confirmed the layoff of an unspecified number of employees. Despite attempts to avert this outcome, the company couldn't escape the industry's wave of downsizing that commenced last year. Although the exact count of affected staff remains undisclosed by the studio, reports from Bloomberg suggest that approximately 150 employees were put on notice, with an estimated 90 facing layoffs post-consultation.

This development arrives amidst heightened anticipation among Supermassive Games fans, as Until Dawn is set for release on PC and PS5. While the launch date is pending, improvements in graphics and gameplay enhancements are already anticipated. Alongside this venture, the studio is actively engaged in Little Nightmares 3 and potential projects within the Dark Pictures universe, the impact of which is uncertain in light of the recent layoffs.

Impact on Supermassive Games' Workforce

• The exact number of layoffs remains unofficial. Reports suggest around 90 employees are being affected.

This recent announcement adds to a distressing pattern that emerged in 2023 and intensified in 2024. The prior year witnessed over 10,000 job losses within game development studios. Notably, in January 2024 alone, more than 6,000 individuals were laid off, with major companies like Microsoft shedding around 1,900 roles. Similarly, Unity downsized by 25%, impacting 1,800 employees, and Riot Games released approximately 530 staff members. Smaller entities like Bossa Studios, Lost Boys Interactive, and Pixelberry Studios also had to reduce their workforce.