In the first episode of the ScreenUK Podcast, host Frankie Ward goes behind the scenes with Supermassive Games - the UK studio redefining the line between cinema and interactive storytelling.
Frankie sits down with Will Doyle (Creative Director) and Hannah Sigston (Senior Producer) to explore the making of DIRECTIVE 8020, the latest entry in THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY and Supermassive's first foray into sci-fi horror. Together, they unpack what it takes to build a branching narrative game with the scale of a blockbuster: casting Lashana Lynch, collaborating with stunt performers and motion capture artists, upgrading to a new game engine mid-development, and designing systems - like the new Destiny and Turning Point mechanics - that put players genuinely in control of life and death.
They also talk about Guildford's thriving games scene, the relationship between cinema and gaming, and what comes next for one of the UK's most exciting studios.
Whether you're a lifelong gamer or a film and TV fan curious about the craft behind interactive storytelling, this one's for you.
Will Doyle, Creative Director, Supermassive Games - A veteran of the UK games industry, Will has designed dozens of games across a wide variety of formats and genres. Narrative games are his speciality, and it’s no surprise he’s a huge fan of horror. He has led the development of Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures narrative horror series, serving as Creative Director on Directive 8020 (2026), Switchback VR (2023), and The Devil in Me (2022), as well as Game Director on House of Ashes (2021). In his spare time, he’s also a keen tabletop gamer and designer, swapping mouse and keyboard for a d20 and character sheet.
Hannah Sigston, Senior Producer at Supermassive Games- Hannah’s a Senior Producer at Supermassive Games with over seven years of experience across video games, VFX, and virtual production. She has contributed to titles including The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes, The Devil in Me, Switchback VR, and most recently Directive 8020, and is passionate about creating standout player experiences with strong teams. Outside of work, she enjoys fantasy, horror, and tabletop games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
Learn more about DIRECTIVE 8020 https://www.supermassivegames.com/
Discover more about UK film, tv, animation and games https://www.screenuk.org/
