Supermassive Games is entering another period of change as CEO Robert Henrysson has announced his departure from the studio. Henrysson shared the news publicly, saying his time leading the company had been a rewarding chapter in his career. Along with stepping away from the chief executive role at Supermassive, he is also leaving his position as a partner in parent company Nordisk Film, a relationship that began in 2022.
In his farewell message, Henrysson thanked the team and praised the developer’s creative strengths, especially its reputation for story-driven game design. His exit comes after more than two years guiding one of the best-known studios in interactive horror, a company recognized for cinematic adventures built around player choices, branching outcomes, and life-or-death decisions for its cast of characters.
Supermassive built its name on horror experiences that feel like playable movies. The studio broke through in a major way with 2015’s Until Dawn, a game that helped define its identity. That release won attention for blending slasher movie energy with decision-based gameplay, allowing players to influence relationships, survival, and the overall direction of the story. It established a formula that Supermassive would continue refining in later projects.
Following that success, the developer expanded its approach through The Dark Pictures Anthology, a series of shorter horror games that explored different subgenres and settings. The studio also released The Quarry in 2022, another larger-scale narrative horror title that leaned heavily into ensemble drama and branching storytelling. While these games kept Supermassive firmly associated with cinematic horror, critical reception has varied over time. Some entries have been praised for atmosphere and replay value, while others have been criticized for uneven writing, technical issues, or a lack of meaningful evolution in the formula.
The timing of Henrysson’s departure is notable because it follows a difficult stretch for the company. Earlier in 2024, co-founders Joe Samuels and Pete Samuels left the studio, marking the end of a long era of leadership. Joe Samuels had previously served as CEO for 15 years before Henrysson took over. Not long after those exits, Supermassive faced restructuring that reportedly put around 90 roles at risk. In 2025, the company went through layoffs affecting 36 employees, underscoring the broader pressures facing the games industry and the studio itself.
During that same period, Supermassive’s next major project, Directive 8020, was delayed. The game eventually launched in May as a sci-fi horror experience inspired by classic paranoia-driven films such as The Thing and Alien. The premise and influences generated interest, especially among players who enjoy isolated settings, hidden threats, and tense group dynamics. On paper, it sounded like a strong match for the studio’s strengths.
However, the final response to Directive 8020 was mixed. While some players appreciated its atmosphere, visual presentation, and commitment to cinematic horror, reviews suggested it did not fully capitalize on its promising concept. The game was seen by many as another example of Supermassive delivering familiar thrills without making the leap some fans had hoped for. That reaction has fueled ongoing discussion about whether the studio has struggled to move beyond the shadow of its earliest breakout success.
That comparison continues to follow nearly every project Supermassive touches. The original 2015 hit remains the benchmark against which the studio’s later work is measured. Over the years, that game has continued to grow as a franchise through spinoffs, a remaster, and even a film adaptation. Its staying power has only reinforced the idea that Supermassive captured something special early on, something it has repeatedly tried to revisit or reinterpret in different forms.
The franchise is also moving forward in a major way, though not directly under Supermassive’s development. During Sony’s June 2026 State of Play presentation, an official sequel was announced. The follow-up is being developed by Firesprite Games and is described as a standalone story with a new cast and setting. Rather than revisiting the original mountain lodge setup, the new game centers on a team of ghost hunters exploring an abandoned tropical island. The cast includes Dacre Montgomery, Neil Newbon, Gavin Leatherwood, and Tanner Buchanan, signaling another strong push toward cinematic presentation and recognizable performances.
That announcement adds another layer to Supermassive’s current moment. The studio remains closely associated with the style and legacy of the original game that made it famous, yet the future of that franchise is now being shaped elsewhere. At the same time, Supermassive is dealing with leadership turnover, past layoffs, and the challenge of proving it can still surprise audiences with fresh ideas in interactive horror.
Henrysson’s departure does not answer the larger questions surrounding the company, but it does mark another significant turning point. Supermassive still has a recognizable identity, a respected place in the horror genre, and years of experience crafting choice-driven stories. Even so, the studio now faces the task of stabilizing itself and deciding what comes next after a turbulent period. For fans of narrative horror games, the next chapter for Supermassive may be just as important as any single release.
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