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According to Pcgamer, Robert Henrysson is officially stepping down from his leadership positions at both Supermassive Games and Nordisk Games. The announcement follows a period of significant transition for the studio, which saw Henrysson navigate complex operational challenges and major project milestones during his tenure.
A tenure defined by restructuring and releases
Henrysson took over the helm of Supermassive Games with a specific mandate: to oversee the successful delivery of Directive 8020. During his time in the role, he was tasked with rebuilding the studio's leadership team and sharpening its overall corporate strategy. His tenure was marked by several high-stakes maneuvers, including navigating the company through two distinct rounds of layoffs in February 2024 and July 2025.
Despite the difficult nature of workforce reductions, Henrysson is credited with maintaining a focus on quality. Nordisk Games highlighted his contributions by noting that he also served as Chairman and Interim CEO of Avalanche Studios Group during this period of industry-wide instability. Key achievements during his leadership include:
Mixed reception and future outlook
While Directive 8020 received what Nordisk described as "the strongest critical reception in the series to date," its user ratings on Steam remain mixed with a relatively low volume of reviews compared to previous titles. Henrysson expressed gratitude for his time with the team, describing them as the "greatest storytelling game studio on earth" in a farewell message shared via LinkedIn.
The departure highlights the volatile nature of modern game development, where executives must balance creative output with harsh economic realities. Although he is taking a break to focus on his family this summer, Henrysson indicated that he remains passionate about the sector. He stated that he would be open to exploring new opportunities and potentially taking on selected advisory roles in the future.