Following the launch of Directive 8020, Supermassive Games CEO Robert Henrysson has announced he’s stepping down. He assumed the role in January 2024, though he first joined Nordisk Games, Supermassive’s parent company, in August 2022.
Henrysson revealed the news on LinkedIn, stating he had a “fantastic time” and that his time at the studio saw “revenue and profit triple.” “As the CEO of Supermassive Games, I was honoured to guide the studio through intense industry change, broadening its client base and establishing a culture of consistent quality across all aspects of the game development process.
“Leading a studio is never a one-man job — it is the entire team’s effort. Our commitment to continuous improvement was, and continues to be, central to everything we do.” He expressed his gratefulness to the developer, calling it the “greatest storytelling game studio on Earth” and revealed plans to take a vacation (and manage his “own small portfolio of investments”).
While there’s no correlation between Directive 8020’s sales performance and Henrysson stepping down, his tenure has seen its share of ups and downs. He was appointed in the aftermath of co-founders Pete and Joe Samuels departing from Supermassive. A few weeks later, significant layoffs were announced, with about 90 employees reportedly affected. Supermassive would also allegedly cancel an unannounced Blade Runner title called Time to Live. Directive 8020 was also hit by a significant delay months after, coupled with more layoffs.
It’s unknown who will take over for Henrysson, but the studio is forging ahead with its next game. Teased in Directive 8020 if you followed these exact steps, it showcases a heavy dose of the supernatural and may be The Craven Man or Intercession – two other IPs trademarked alongside the sci-fi horror back in 2022. Supermassive has yet to confirm which, much less a release date, so stay tuned for updates in the future.
