Directive 8020: What We Know So Far

06/16/2025

Directive 8020 is the upcoming entry in Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures anthology, and the first episode of the new season, scheduled for release on October 2, 2025. The game is being developed for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, using Unreal Engine 5.

About the Developers

Directive 8020 is being created by Supermassive Games, a British developer known for cinematic interactive horror games with branching narratives. The studio gained fame with Until Dawn (2015), and later with the The Dark Pictures Anthology series and The Quarry (2022). Their games are notable for their atmospheric storytelling, moral choices, and high-quality visuals.

Setting and Story

The story of Directive 8020 takes place in space aboard the spaceship Cassiopeia, heading to the habitable planet Tau Ceti f. However, the crew soon faces a mysterious threat: one of the members is literally an alien. Players must survive by making difficult decisions amid growing distrust and horror. The lead role is played by Lashana Lynch, an actress known for her roles in Marvel films.

New Mechanic: Turning Points

One of the key new features is the Turning Points system, which allows players to rewind critical story decisions. This gives a chance to save characters or alter the course of events after irreversible consequences. For hardcore players, there is a Survivor Mode without the rewind option.

Gameplay

Directive 8020 maintains the cinematic style of controlling characters during key scenes, making quick decisions, and performing QTEs. The game emphasizes stealth, trust between crew members is part of the gameplay, and players can explore the ship while avoiding the alien hunting them. The inclusion of a scanner showing the position of entities inside rooms adds tension and strategic choices.

Trailers

On June 7, at the Future Games Show, a trailer was released showcasing real gameplay scenes for the first time: exploring the ship, using the scanner, and the Turning Points mechanic. The trailer also highlighted the game’s atmosphere, horror elements, and crew interactions.

On June 8, another trailer was released detailing key mechanics and the game’s atmosphere. It explains Turning Points, Survivor Mode, enhanced stealth, and the trust system between characters. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, the game features improved lighting, animations, and detailed environments that make the visuals more realistic and frightening.

Release Date

Directive 8020 will launch on October 2, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will be the first episode of the second season of The Dark Pictures.

Expectations and Outlook

Directive 8020 promises to be one of the most ambitious and technologically advanced horror games in the series. The shift to a sci-fi setting, new mechanics, and a darker tone make it highly anticipated among Supermassive fans and horror enthusiasts alike.