Directive 8020’s release date takes the The Dark Pictures Anthology to space for the very first time, putting the fates of a colony ship’s crew in our hands. The fifth entry in Supermassive Games’ series of stand-alone cinematic horror titles draws inspiration from classic horror movies such as The Thing, introducing a new cast of characters who encounter a deadly alien threat as their ship crash lands on the planet of Tau Ceti f.
Suffering no shortage of tense moments and gruesome deaths, Directive 8020 is developed using Unreal Engine 5, shaking up the series’ gameplay formula with new stealth mechanics. Branching storylines and meaningful choices continue to be present, promising a blend of fresh and familiar elements that should appeal to both newcomers and fans of the series.
Directive 8020 Release Date
Directive 8020 has locked in its release date to October 2, 2025, when it arrives on both PC and current-gen consoles.
- Directive 8020 release date: October 2, 2025
Directive 8020 Story
Directive 8020’s story focuses on the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia, who leave a dying planet Earth in search of a new home for humanity.
The planet of Tau Ceti f could provide hope for both the spacefarers and those back home, but when the ship crash lands on it, the crew find themselves in a bit of a pickle.
An alien organism capable of transforming into any member of the crew makes its way on board, quickly sowing distrust among the survivors.
And, if fighting for their lives while constantly looking over their shoulders wasn’t enough, they might just have to choose between saving themselves or risking the lives of the people back on Earth.
Directive 8020 Gameplay
Even with the jump to Unreal Engine 5, Directive 8020’s gameplay is built on the same pillars as its predecessors, delivering a cinematic horror experience that revolves around meaningful choices, often made while under pressure, and their consequences.
The branching narrative encourages replayability while also challenging us with keeping all crew members alive (or doing our best to kill them as quickly as possible).
The constant threat of an invading alien that’s capable of shapeshifting into those we trust adds an interesting dynamic to interactions, while improvised weapons, lightning reflexes, and stealth all come into play when attempting to dispatch this foe.
As far as the tools at our disposal go, Directive 8020 gives us a flashlight to help us navigate dark spaces alongside a scanner that detects electronics and remotely activates systems, allowing us to both distract enemies and overcome obstacles.
The Messenger enables communicating with crewmates while staying under the radar, while the wedge tool comes in handy when needing to open doors or temporarily stun foes before running for our dear lives.
Directive 8020 Price and Platforms
When its release date comes around, Directive 8020 is headed to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Its price has yet to be revealed, but pre-orders start in June.
Directive 8020 Trailer
***For the latest gaming news, follow [GameWatcher on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/gamewatcher.com), check out our videos on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@GameWatcher-Strategy/videos), or give us a like on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/GameWatcher). We sometimes include affiliate links in our posts, which grants us a small commission, thank you.*** 
