Supermassive Games

What Supermassive Games does

Supermassive Games is an independent UK game development studio headquartered in Guildford, founded in 2008 by Pete Samuels and Joe Samuels. The studio specializes in narrative-driven cinematic horror games built around proprietary branching-narrative systems (the Butterfly Effect choice architecture and the newer Turning Points rewind feature), facial-capture pipelines that enable Hollywood-cast performances, and gameplay systems supporting both single-player and co-op modes. Its portfolio centers on the Dark Pictures Anthology franchise (Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, The Devil in Me, Directive 8020), the Until Dawn IP and its VR spin-offs (Rush of Blood, Switchback VR), The Quarry, the Little Nightmares III collaboration with Bandai Namco, and the Dead by Daylight spin-off The Casting of Frank Stone developed with Behaviour Interactive.

The studio operates on a one-time-purchase premium game model at a $49.99 standard price point with deluxe editions and DLC add-ons, distributing globally via Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, physical retail, and PS VR2. Games are primarily published through partner publishers (notably Bandai Namco for Little Nightmares), with the studio retaining direct ownership of its flagship Dark Pictures and Until Dawn IPs. Since March 2021 Supermassive has been owned by Nordisk Games, part of the Nordisk Film/Egmont Nordic media group, initially through a 30.7% minority stake and then as a wholly-owned subsidiary from July 2022.

Supermassive serves a global consumer gaming audience segmented primarily into horror game enthusiasts, co-op gaming groups, interactive fiction fans, and sci-fi horror fans (the last emerging with Directive 8020). The studio is BAFTA-winning (2016 Original Property for Until Dawn) and has accumulated extensive TIGA, Gamescom, and Develop industry recognition, employing 170-300+ developers across its Guildford headquarters and additional office. Its go-to-market combines digital storefront launches with gaming-convention presence (Gamescom) and social media-driven marketing across major platforms.

Name

Supermassive Games

Legal name

Supermassive Games Limited

Website

https://supermassivegames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Supermassive Games is a BAFTA-winning UK game studio developing cinematic narrative horror titles including the Dark Pictures Anthology, Until Dawn, The Quarry, and Little Nightmares III, serving global gaming consumers across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and VR platforms under Nordisk Games ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Games

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Software Publishers (51321)

akta.pro primary industry

AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)

Keywords

• Narrative horror games
• Video game development
• Interactive storytelling
• Cinematic adventure games
• Multiplayer horror games

Headquarters

HQ city

Guildford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: One-time purchase model for video games sold at standard retail price ($49.99 standard pricing for Directive 8020). Games released on multiple platforms with standard and deluxe editions available.
2. DLC and Expansions: Additional downloadable content such as Little Nightmares III DLC - The Backstage
3. Premium Editions: Deluxe and special editions with additional content like Gorefest Movie Mode, Death Rewind system, Horror History Visual Filter Pack, and cosmetic outfits for The Quarry

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Supermassive Games is a BAFTA-winning UK game development studio that designs and publishes narrative-driven interactive horror and adventure video games. Its portfolio centers on The Dark Pictures Anthology (standalone horror games such as Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, The Devil in Me, and Directive 8020), the Until Dawn franchise, The Quarry, Little Nightmares III, Switchback VR, and The Casting of Frank Stone, released across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo platforms with both single-player and multiplayer (online co-op and Movie Night) modes.

Product overview

Supermassive Games is a BAFTA-winning UK game development studio known for narrative-driven interactive horror and adventure games. The portfolio centers on two major franchises: The Dark Pictures Anthology (a series of standalone horror games including Directive 8020, House of Ashes, Little Hope, Man of Medan, and The Devil In Me) and the critically acclaimed Until Dawn. The studio also develops the Little Nightmares series, teen-horror title The Quarry, Dead by Daylight spin-off The Casting of Frank Stone, and VR titles including Switchback VR and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. Games are published primarily through Bandai Namco with support for single-player, online co-op, and couch co-op multiplayer modes across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Dark Pictures Anthology: A series of standalone horror games including Until Dawn, Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, The Devil in Me, and Directive 8020.

Products and services

• Directive 8020 A cinematic sci-fi survival horror game and the latest entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology series, set aboard the crashed colony ship Cassiopeia 12 light-years from Earth, featuring Turning Points branching narrative and up to 5-player co-op.
• Little Nightmares III Third installment in the Little Nightmares franchise, following Low and Alone as they escape the Spiral, with first-ever online co-op support via Friend's Pass.
• The Casting of Frank Stone Narrative horror game set in the Dead by Daylight universe, featuring the origin story of killer Frank Stone, where every decision shapes the outcome.
• Switchback VR VR horror rollercoaster game for PlayStation VR2, set inside the Dark Pictures franchise universe.
• The Devil In Me Fourth Dark Pictures Anthology entry featuring a murder hotel inspired by HH Holmes, with inventory system and new exploration mechanics including push/pull, run/jump/climb.
• The Quarry Teen-horror game where nine summer camp counselors must survive a night of terror, featuring a Hollywood ensemble cast and branching narrative with online multiplayer up to 7 players.
• House of Ashes Third Dark Pictures Anthology entry set in ancient Sumerian ruins beneath the Iraqi desert, featuring vampire creatures and multiplayer Shared Story/Movie Night modes.
• Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition Next-generation version of Little Nightmares II with enhanced graphics including ray tracing, volumetric shadows, and 4K/60fps options.
• Little Hope Second Dark Pictures Anthology entry featuring four college students trapped in a fog-shrouded abandoned town with supernatural apparitions.
• Man of Medan First Dark Pictures Anthology entry set on a haunted WWII ghost ship in the South Pacific, featuring multiplayer Shared Story and Movie Night modes.
• Shattered State Interactive cinematic VR thriller for Google Daydream where players direct national crisis response as Intelligence Agency Director.
• Bravo Team First-person VR cover shooter for PlayStation VR featuring co-op gameplay and PlayStation Aim controller support.
• The Inpatient VR horror game set in the Until Dawn universe, taking place 60 years before the original at Blackwood Sanatorium in the 1950s.
• Hidden Agenda PS4 crime thriller from the PlayLink range where players use mobile devices to make decisions affecting a branching storyline.
• Until Dawn: Rush of Blood VR rail shooter rollercoaster game for PlayStation VR, featuring seven levels of horror with multiple paths.
• Tumble VR VR puzzle game for PlayStation VR rebuilt from the original PS3 game with new levels, visual style, and competitive modes.
• Until Dawn Horror game featuring eight friends on a remote mountain with butterfly effect decision system and Hollywood cast performances.
• Little Nightmares III - The Backstage DLC Additional downloadable content (The Backstage) for Little Nightmares III.

Quantifiable outcome

• OpenCritic score of 76/100 with 8/10 rating and 65% critic recommendation for Directive 8020
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• Behaviour InteractiveflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2024Supermassive Games developed The Casting of Frank Stone, a narrative horror game set in the Dead by Daylight universe created by Behaviour Interactive. This collaboration allowed Supermassive to expand the Dead by Daylight franchise with an original story featuring the killer Frank Stone. The game received its own Chapter adaptation in Dead by Daylight in early 2027.
• BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment EuropeflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBANDAI NAMCO is the publisher for Little Nightmares series. Supermassive Games developed Little Nightmares III (released October 2025) and previously developed Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition for the publisher.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupermassive Games partnered with Google to develop Shattered State, an interactive cinematic thriller for Google Daydream VR platform, bringing their storytelling expertise to mobile VR gaming.
• University of BristolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupermassive Games partnered with the University of Bristol Digital Futures Institute to launch a PhD Studentship exclusively for Black students to research inclusion in the gaming industry. The partnership includes annual stipend funding of £15,609 plus fees and research funds.
• Out Making GamesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupermassive Games is a Gold Sponsor of Out Making Games, an organization empowering the LGBTQIA+ community in the games industry.
• Safe in our WorldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupermassive Games partners with Safe in our World, a charity focused on mental health awareness in the gaming industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Behaviour Interactive: Developer of Dead by Daylight, Behaviour is a direct horror IP peer and Supermassive's co-development partner on The Casting of Frank Stone, sharing the asymmetric horror narrative audience.
• Bloober Team: Polish studio behind Layers of Fear, Observer, The Medium, and the Silent Hill 2 remake — a premium horror specialist competing for the same cinematic-horror player and overlapping publisher relationships.
• Quantic Dream: Developer of Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human — a direct narrative-choice-driven peer with cinematic Hollywood-cast productions on the same premium console audience.
• Remedy Entertainment: Finnish studio behind Alan Wake, Control, and Max Payne — a peer in cinematic narrative action/horror with strong critical brand and multi-platform release cadence.
• Frictional Games: Swedish creator of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, SOMA, and Amnesia: Rebirth — a comparable indie/AA horror specialist focused on atmospheric, narrative-driven horror experiences.
• Red Barrels: Montreal-based developer of the Outlast series — a similarly sized premium horror studio with a strong franchise and recurring release cadence on console/PC.
• Dontnod Entertainment: French developer of Life is Strange, Vampyr, and Tell Me Why — a narrative choice-driven peer targeting a similar cinematic, character-focused audience, now under Focus Entertainment.
• Tarsier Studios: Swedish developer of Little Nightmares 1 and the original Little Nightmares II; directly comparable as the originator of a franchise Supermassive now continues with Little Nightmares III.
• Asobo Studio: French developer of A Plague Tale: Innocence / Requiem — a premium narrative adventure peer with cinematic storytelling and similar studio scale and platform footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Naughty Dog: PlayStation-owned AAA developer of The Last of Us and Uncharted — sets the upper benchmark for cinematic narrative games with Hollywood talent and is a broad incumbent in Supermassive's premium narrative niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SuperMGames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SupermassiveGamesOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/SupermassiveGames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/supermassive-games-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/supermassivegames
• TikToktiktok.com/@supermassivegames

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Supermassive Games