Back in October of last year, Ballistic Moon attempted to revitalize the horror classic Until Dawn with a PS5 remake that, on paper, promised enhanced graphics and gameplay. Unfortunately, the reality did not match the ambition, as the revamped version struggled to capture the charm of Supermassive’s original PS4 hit. Fast forward to today, and it seems the studio has found itself in dire straits, with fresh reports indicating it may be "effectively closed."
A recent article on Insider Gaming has shed light on the grim situation at Ballistic Moon. It seems the studio laid off about 40 employees in September 2024, followed by an additional 20 in December. The skeleton crew left behind mainly consists of the company’s founders and a few crucial support staff. As things stand, departments such as PR, marketing, and development are ominously empty.
One former employee shared with Insider Gaming, “People are spotting glitches and reporting them, hoping for fixes, but there’s no one left to address these issues with updates.” The sobering truth is that the studio, in practical terms, isn’t operational anymore.
Sources also revealed that the company’s leadership tried extensively to secure both funding and new projects but met with little success. Despite these setbacks, many employees reportedly viewed Ballistic Moon as a generally positive work environment. Nonetheless, whispers of unpaid overtime have surfaced, with one insider alleging they went “weeks” without pay.
There’s currently no definitive word on whether Ballistic Moon will close its doors for good or if there’s a plan for future projects.
On a related note, the hype train is rolling for Until Dawn in a different arena. A film adaptation by Sony Pictures Entertainment has just had its first trailer go public as of January. Helmed by director David F. Sandberg and featuring stars like Ella Rubin, Odessa A’zion, and Michael Cimino, the movie seems to be a standalone piece rather than a direct retelling of the 2015 game’s plot. Fans can catch this cinematic take exclusively in theaters starting April 25.
