The long wait is finally over for The Dark Pictures Anthology fans. The latest entry in the series, Directive 8020, is out today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Steam. Accompanying the launch is the customary launch trailer, which gives players a taste of the sci-fi horror action to come.
“With Directive 8020, we’ve taken our signature horror narrative and everything we love about cinematic storytelling, pushing it all into new territory,” says Will Doyle, Creative Director at Supermassive Games. “We’re incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished, and bringing our storytelling into a sci-fi setting for the first time has been a hugely exciting step. The team has worked hard to refine every part of the experience, so we can’t wait for players to finally get their hands on it.”
Earth is dying and humanity is running out of time. 12 light-years from home, Tau Ceti f offers a small sliver of hope. When the colony ship Cassiopeia crash lands on the planet, its crew soon realize they are far from being alone.
Hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey, the crew of the Cassiopeia must outwit their pursuers to make it home alive. As they battle to survive, they are confronted with the hardest choice of all: to save themselves, they must risk the lives of everyone on Earth.
A bold first for Supermassive Games, this “The Thing… in space” sci-fi survival horror journey evolves The Dark Pictures formula with real-time threats, survival gameplay and enhanced tools like Turning Points. Players must navigate impossible moral dilemmas amid rising paranoia, where no one on the crew can be trusted and every choice matters, shaping the fate of the crew at every turn. Choose wisely, as all characters can live and all can die. And what of The Curator? Well, you’ll just have to play to find out!
Starring Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die, Bob Marley: One Love, The Woman King) as pilot Brianna Young, Directive 8020 aims to deliver a gripping cinematic experience that can be played solo or shared with up to five players in couch co-op movie night mode (with online multiplayer coming in a post-launch update).
Check out Aaron’s thoughts on the game. And check out Harrison’s interview with Will Doyle.