Directive 8020 Finally Secures Its Release Date

Players biding time for the next installment in Supermassive Games’ The Dark Anthology series won’t have to wait much longer, as Directive 8020 now officially has a release date for May 12, 2026. Players will be dragged out of the typical haunted mansions and into the cold abyss of deep space with Directive 8020: A Dark Pictures Game. After a delayed launch, the next chapter in the anthology appears to offer a fresh setting alongside some familiar trappings fans will recognize.

A subtle name change for The Dark Pictures isn’t the only first for the series. Unlike previous entries rooted in folklore or historical dread, Directive 8020 catapults terror straight into unexplored sci-fi territory. Players will follow the shattered crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia after a catastrophic crash on the alien world Tau Ceti f. There, 12 light-years from Earth, a deadly organic terror lurks that can mimic crew members perfectly.

Directive 8020 Needs to Subvert its Obvious Inspiration’s Expectations

Upcoming Supermassive game Directive 8020 is clearly inspired by The Thing, but it should find ways to put its own spin on the overlapping concepts.

Directive 8020 Sets May Release for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S

Unveiled in its newest cinematic trailer, Directive 8020 is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on May 12. That should ease some fan anticipation after its earlier 2025 window shifted into 2026. The new trailer doesn’t give much about the frantic multiplayer Directive 8020 promises, but it leans into the frantic tone of uncertainty enveloping the title. Emphasizing paranoia, betrayal, and the unforgiving nature of space, the teaser is filled with shots of desolate corridors, frantic decisions between crewmates, and split-second glimpses of the threat. It’s clear Directive 8020 is embracing the terror of the unknown almost as much as the threat itself.

As far as gameplay is concerned, Directive 8020 doubles down on the signature Dark Pictures mechanics: every choice affects who lives, who dies, and how the overall story unfolds. What sets this entry apart is a brand-new feature called Turning Points. The trailer teases that the system lets players rewind to pivotal moments to try alternate decisions without starting the whole game over. Expanded stealth and survival mechanics were also showcased, hinting at more than dialogue trees and quick-time events.

If the trailer is any indication, Supermassive isn’t just transplanting its horror formula into space — it’s reinventing it for the new setting. Instead of spooky ghost ships or cursed towns, Directive 8020 thrusts you into a frontier where isolation itself feels like the enemy. The claustrophobic corridors of Cassiopeia look every bit as foreboding as any derelict hotel from earlier The Dark Pictures outings — and with good reason. When stranded light-years from help and the threat can wear any friend’s face, every shadow becomes suspect. The dread of not knowing what’s real, gives the game a palpable The Thing energy that’s 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 impactful evolution for the series. This addition allows completionists and those most interested in the narrative 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 modern narratives demand.

For fans of narrative horror, especially those who enjoy the slow drip of suspense that Until Dawn and previous The Dark Pictures titles perfected, Directive 8020 appears to be shaping up as one of Supermassive Games’ most ambitious releases for the series. Pre-orders are live now for all consoles, with early buyers scoring a free upgrade to the Digital Deluxe Edition. That adds several goodies, like a digital art book and soundtrack, an outfit pack featuring cosmetics from previous The Dark Pictures games, a special mission that also ties into previous entries, and a visual filter pack.