Players await the next installment of Supermassive Games' A dark anthology the series won't have to wait long Directive 8020 now officially has a release date of May 12, 2026. Players will be pulled out of typical haunted mansions and into the cold abyss of deep space with Policy 8020: Game with dark images. After a delayed launch, the next chapter of the anthology appears to offer a new setting along with some familiar trappings that fans will recognize.
Subtle name change for Dark pictures is not the only original of the series. Unlike previous entries rooted in folklore or historical horror, Directive 8020 catapults terror straight into uncharted sci-fi territory. Players will follow the shattered crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia after a catastrophic crash on the alien world of Tau Ceti f. There, 12 light-years from Earth, lurks a deadly organic terror that can perfectly mimic the crew members.
Directive 8020 needs to subvert the expectations of its apparent inspiration
The upcoming super-massive game Directive 8020 is clearly inspired by The Thing, but should find ways to put its own spin on the overlapping concepts.
Directive 8020 sets a May release for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
Revealed in its latest movie trailer, Directive 8020 is ready to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on May 12. This should ease fan expectations after its earlier window of 2025 moved to 2026. The new trailer doesn't reveal much about frenetic multiplayer. Directive 8020 promises, but rests on the frenzied tone of uncertainty surrounding the title. Focusing on paranoia, betrayal and the unforgiving nature of space, the trailer is filled with shots of desolate corridors, frantic decisions between crew members and split-second glimpses of menace. It's clear Directive 8020 he embraces the terror of the unknown almost as much as the threat itself.
In terms of gameplay, Directive 8020 duplicates the signature Dark pictures mechanics: every choice affects who lives, who dies and how the whole story unfolds. What sets this entry apart is a brand new feature called Turning Points. The trailer states that the system allows players to rewind to key moments to try alternative decisions without restarting the entire game. Expanded stealth and survival mechanics were also showcased, hinting at more than just dialogue and quick events.
If the trailer is any indication, Supermassive isn't just taking its horror formula to space, it's reinventing it for a new setting. Instead of haunted ghost ships or cursed cities, Directive 8020 it throws you to the edge where isolation itself feels like an enemy. The claustrophobic corridors of Cassiopeia look as menacing as any abandoned hotel from before Dark pictures walks — and for good reason. When he's stuck light years away from the help and threats any friend's face can wear, every shadow becomes suspect. The fear of not knowing what is real gives the game a palpable atmosphere Thing an energy rarely captured in horror games. Hopefully it can subvert the inevitable comparisons to that film without sacrificing what works.
The Turning Points feature is also a subtle but impressive evolution of the series. This addition allows finalists and those most interested in storytelling to revisit key beats without sacrificing their all-important time. It's almost like a compromise between the permadeath of classic interactive horror and the more forgiving player-centric design that modern stories require.
For fans of narrative horror, especially those who enjoy a slow drip of suspense Until dawn and the previous one Dark pictures titles to excellence, Directive 8020 It seems to be shaping up to be one of Supermassive Games' most ambitious releases for the series. Pre-orders are now live for all consoles, with the first buyer scoring a free upgrade to the Digital Deluxe Edition. This adds a few goodies such as a digital art book and soundtrack, a clothing pack containing cosmetics from the previous one Dark pictures games, a special mission that also builds on previous entries, and a pack of visual filters.
- Released
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2026
- ESRB
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The evaluation is pending
