We’re following reports that Supermassive Games has begun a fresh round of cuts that, if true, could see a large chunk of the studio’s staff leave. Take this with a pinch of salt, but according to Push Square these departures have already started and a now-public LinkedIn post has drawn the most attention.
What Was Reported
Per Push Square, reporting on details surfaced by Insider Gaming, a LinkedIn message from Frank Tindle — identified as formerly the IT and Facilities Director at Supermassive Games and someone who had been with the developer for 16 years — claims that "More than 70 brilliant people are leaving Supermassive: developers, artists, producers, QA, operations and more". The studio had previously warned that cuts were necessary to "ensure the sustainability of the company."
Push Square also notes contemporaneous reporting that Hellblade studio Ninja Theory has begun cutting staff, suggesting today’s round of moves sits within a broader stream of troubling headlines about studio staffing.
The Source & Credibility
We’re basing this on what Push Square relayed from Insider Gaming and the LinkedIn statement from Frank Tindle. The claim is specific — a named former employee making a clear, public statement on LinkedIn — which gives the report weight, but there are limits to what’s been confirmed publicly so far. We do not have direct confirmation from Supermassive Games in the material cited by Push Square beyond the studio’s earlier warning about necessary cuts.
So: the situation is being reported via a chain of sources (Push Square → Insider Gaming → LinkedIn post). That chain includes a firsthand post from a former employee, which is meaningful, but it’s still prudent to treat the numbers and full scope as alleged until we see formal confirmation from the studio or additional reporting.
What It Could Mean
- Staffing And Projects: If more than 70 people have indeed left, that could materially change capacity at Supermassive Games. The LinkedIn post explicitly mentions a range of roles — developers, artists, producers, QA and operations — suggesting cuts would span multiple disciplines.
- Studio Stability: The studio’s own prior statement that cuts were needed to "ensure the sustainability of the company" implies leadership views this as a strategic contraction rather than isolated departures. If that framing is accurate, it may impact the studio’s slate and timelines, though the cited material does not list any specific projects.
- Industry Patterns: Push Square highlighted that similar moves are being reported elsewhere today, including at Ninja Theory. We’ve documented layoffs and funding struggles before — see our coverage of Heart Machine — and this would fit into a broader narrative of volatility in studio staffing.
All of the above remains speculative to a degree. The most concrete element is the LinkedIn statement quoted by Push Square; everything beyond that should be treated as a plausible consequence, not a confirmed outcome.
Why This Matters
Beyond the immediate human impact — losing a job is devastating — this story matters because changes at Supermassive Games affect a studio known for interactive horror experiences such as Until Dawn and the Dark Pictures anthology. If the workforce has been reduced significantly, creative output and ongoing or planned projects could be at risk, or at least reshaped.
We’re flagging this as an item to watch. We will continue tracking any further statements from Supermassive Games, additional firsthand accounts, or follow-up reporting. In the meantime, treat the figure of “more than 70” as an important but currently unverified claim that is backed by a named LinkedIn post and reported by multiple outlets — worth taking seriously, but still worth verifying.
For context on how leaks and insider claims can unfold into confirmed stories, see our earlier coverage of the Left 4 Dead 2 trailer incident — it’s a reminder that early reports can change as more details arrive.
