The Dark Pictures Anthology is back in full swing. After almost a four-year hiatus, Directive 8020 has come into the picture with a body horror charged sci-fi tale. Directive 8020 marks the start of the Dark Pictures Anthology‘s second season, and there are some intriguing changes being made this time around, at least for it. Developer Supermassive Games is added stealth gameplay to the equation and introduced a rewind mechanic that allows players to experience the story’s branching outcomes in one playthrough. Another big change is that the Curator has taken a step back and is lurking in the shadows instead of being a constant presence, at least for Directive 8020.
The changes made in Directive 8020 might be divisive for longtime fans who have been looking forward to a more familiar-feeling game, but the spine-chilling cosmic horror adventure still features many of the staple features that Dark Pictures Anthology games have become so well known for. One expected feature is a teaser for the next series chapter, and Directive 8020 boasts one of the franchise’s creepiest teaser trailers yet. It’s really mysterious, but theories have led some fans to believe that the next game is The Craven Man. If that’s the case, then this in-game teaser is the biggest clue so far as to what the story could entail.
Directive 8020: How Long to Beat
Directive 8020 is longer than previous Dark Pictures games and introduces a full replay system that makes 100 percent completion far more flexible.
Directive 8020’s Possible Craven Man Teaser Hints at Analog Horror and Dark Rituals
It’s important to mention that The Craven Man is just one of five titles that Supermassive Games trademarked before jumping into Season 2’s production. Dark Pictures Anthology fans have debated which game is next in line after Directive 8020, but a lot of the community believe that The Craven Man is going to be Season 2’s second chapter. The Dark Pictures Anthology‘s Easter eggs are a big part of the series, and Directive 8020’s raises a lot more questions than it offers answers.
In Directive 8020, players must collect all “O Death” objects. Once they’re all found, a teaser trailer will become available in Directive 8020’s Bonus Content menu.
The trailer doesn’t explicitly state that it’s for The Craven Man. What it does confirm, though, is that whatever story is on the horizon is going to be really spooky. The teaser shows a series of four scenes on a VHS tape that are accompanied by a clinical, professional-sounding voice over. The voice isn’t the Dark Pictures Anthology’s Curator, either, which is even more interesting. While the teaser is only about one minute long, the four segments feature compelling imagery and dialogue:
- An anxious deer in the forest – “It begins with noises. Footsteps, knocking.”
- A group of hypnotized people slowly walking in a circle – “Stage two. Objects, moving on their own accord.”
- A levitating woman and an occult symbol – “At stage three, the phenomenon becomes destructive. The presence wishes to be heard.”
- Sliding doors opening to a dark room with a thin pale hand reaching out from the shadows – “Which leads us to stage four. Communication.”
It’s a deeply creepy montage, and it seems to be pointing to a story centered around some kind of possession ritual. These four stages all sound like a haunting that leads to full-blown possession, but it’s not entirely clear yet. The Dark Pictures Anthology hasn’t tackled a horror game about possession yet, so it would be fascinating to see how the developer handled the concept.
This Teaser Throws a Small Wrench in Past Craven Man Theories
The Craven Man‘s title has led many fans to theorize that it’s a story inspired by The Wicker Man. For those who aren’t aware, The Wicker Man is a fantastic folk horror movie from the 70s that revolves around a pagan cult on a remote Scottish island. Even though there aren’t really any folk horror elements present in this teaser trailer, there are still plenty of hints towards the occult, especially with the strange symbol that briefly flashes on the screen. The Craven Man being a folk horror game would be incredibly compelling, but the trailer simply doesn’t have that vibe.
If anything, it feels closer to movies like The Conjuring and The Ring. There is a heavy sense of analog horror that adds to the creepiness. An analog horror game that also incorporates folk elements sounds really cool, but only time will tell. Of course, there is always the possibility that the scared deer in the trailer’s first clip could be a small hint at folk horror. It’s also possible that this teaser might not even be for The Craven Man at all.
The Craven Man’s Teaser Trailer Might Actually Hint Towards Another Dark Pictures Game
The belief that Directive 8020‘s Curator secrets unlock a trailer about The Craven Man is purely speculation at this point. Supermassive Games has yet to confirm or deny if fans’ instincts are correct or not, and it’s likely to stay that way until the next game is fully revealed.
Every Title That Supermassive Games Has Copyrighted Ahead of Season 2
- Directive 8020
- The Craven Man
- Intercession
- Winterfold
- O Death
Intercession and O Death are just as mysterious as The Craven Man, but the Dark Pictures Anthology Season 1 actually teased Winterfold a little bit. Instead of being hinted at through an in-game teaser, Winterfold is mentioned as deeper lore in House of Ashes. The end of House of Ashes shows two government agents in hazmat suits cleaning the aftermath, and one remarks that the situation is like “Winterfold all over again.” So, Winterfold will almost certainly be centered around some kind of outbreak or mass tragedy similar to House of Ashes‘ alien vampires. Winterfold would also be a prequel to House of Ashes, which takes place in 2003. This is a good time to mention the four dates that Directive 8020‘s hidden teaser reveals: 1988, 2019, 2028, and 2029.
Since Winterfold would have to take place before 2003, that leaves 1988 as the most likely year it’s set. If the Dark Pictures Anthology‘s second season follows these dates in order, then that would leave Winterfold next in line instead of The Craven Man. There’s no way to know for sure which game by Supermassive Games is on the way next, but it definitely looks like it’s shaping up to be terrifying.
- Released
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May 12, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
