adminThe Avalanche Studios Supermassive Games publishing agreement brings the two Nordisk Games subsidiaries together on publishing and operational support. Avalanche Studios Group will handle global publishing, marketing, and distribution for Supermassive Games titles, while both studios retain creative independence and control over their own development plans.
Image credit: Nordisk Games
What the Avalanche Studios Supermassive Games publishing agreement includes
The arrangement covers global publishing, marketing, and distribution of Supermassive Games titles. The first named game is Directive 8020, which the announcement says launched earlier this year.
The studios will also share operational support in finance, people, and IT. The announcement does not describe changes to either studio’s creative leadership, game development plans, or ownership of its individual portfolio. Both companies are described as remaining fully creatively independent.
For players, the practical point is that Avalanche will support the publishing and distribution side of Supermassive’s games. The agreement does not announce specific changes to release dates, platforms, or the development of any individual title, so those details should be checked in separate game announcements.
Why the studios are combining publishing support
Nordisk Film and Nordisk Games CEO Allan Mathson Hansen said the goal is to support the studios’ long-term sustainability in an industry that continues to change. He described shared operational foundations as a way to direct resources toward game creation and new ideas.
Hansen also pointed to complementary strengths: Avalanche’s publishing experience and operational capabilities, alongside Supermassive’s storytelling and game-making expertise. The agreement reflects Nordisk’s stated approach of actively investing in its studios.
Avalanche CEO Stefanía Halldórsdóttir cited the ongoing audience for theHunter: Call of the Wild as evidence of the company’s publishing and live-service capabilities. The game continues to have two million monthly players, nine years after launch, according to her statement. She also highlighted Supermassive’s 18-year history of creating immersive horror games.
Nordisk Games’ investments in both studios
Nordisk Games acquired a 30% stake in Supermassive Games in 2021. Supermassive was the ninth games company to join Nordisk’s portfolio and its first in the UK.
Nordisk acquired Avalanche Studios in 2018, describing it at the time as its largest acquisition. The investment followed a minority shareholding in 2017, when Nordisk invested more than $10 million.
Recent job cuts at Avalanche and Supermassive
The publishing agreement comes after both studios experienced layoffs in recent years. Up to 75 employees were made redundant at Supermassive in August. This was the studio’s third round of job cuts in three years.
Avalanche closed its Liverpool studio in November 2025, resulting in 31 job losses. The company also reduced staff at its Malmö and Stockholm locations. These details provide important context for the announcement, although no further staffing changes are specified as part of the publishing agreement.
What to watch for next
Future announcements can clarify how the new arrangement affects the marketing and distribution of upcoming Supermassive titles. For now, the central terms are global publishing support from Avalanche and shared operational services, alongside each studio’s continued creative independence. The Avalanche Studios Supermassive Games publishing agreement sets out a business partnership, but does not announce changes to individual game plans.
