Directive 8020 represents the fifth installment in Supermassive Games’ Dark Pictures Anthology, but notably, it serves as the opening act for the second season. Consistent with this fresh start, it introduces some novel adjustments that may catch the eye of devoted fans who have closely followed every decision and branching path in previous titles.
According to Will Doyle, creative director at Supermassive Games, Directive 8020 is a narrative survival horror game. This means the story unfolds based on your decisions, with multiple characters to control throughout the game. The game also features real-time threats, such as monsters that are out to hunt and kill you. If they manage to catch you, they will brutally attack you by ripping off your face.
Although it may appear that this is just a small adjustment, the live-action segments fit seamlessly into the game’s existing structure. Initially, these sections might seem out of place in a series renowned for its cinematic cutscenes that adapt according to a player’s dialogue options. However, during our short playtime with Directive 8020, we experienced one such scene ourselves. In this instance, a crew member aboard the colony ship Cassiopeia found himself pursued by a terrifying creature that had an additional disturbing ability – it could shape-shift into his doppelgänger. After barely avoiding certain death and reuniting with our fellow crew members, we were confronted with a pivotal choice: whether to eliminate the man financing the Cassiopeia’s journey, based on suspicions he could be one of those shape-shifting monsters.
After spending around 20 minutes with Directive 8020, there’s still plenty to explore – key aspects like the protagonist, portrayed by Lashana Lynch, and her backstory regarding the Cassiopeia spacecraft piloting role, remain a mystery. However, we managed to extract a bit more information straight from Will Doyle himself.
In the narrative of this upcoming game by Supermassive Games, we find ourselves in a not-so-distant future where Earth is on its last breath. Humanity, in search of a new home, discovers Tau Ceti f as a potential planet for colonization. To test the feasibility of setting up a colony, they send out a ship first to perform all necessary tasks, excluding actual landing and establishment. As part of this crew, you will embark on a journey. However, this game doesn’t shy away from adding drama – your ship encounters a meteorite impact and an alien entity infiltrates the vessel. Your mission is to confront and combat this shape-shifting monster that seeks to sabotage your crew from within.
Aboard the Cassiopeia, there’s no shortage of puzzles to unravel, but fortunately, we won’t have to keep guessing for much longer. Directive 8020 is slated to launch on October 2, 2025, and will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
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2025-06-09 20:10