SuperMassive Games has announced that Directive 8020: A Dark Pictures Game will be released on May 12, 2026 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Preorders are now available and include the chance to upgrade to the Digital Deluxe Edition free of charge.
Directive 8020 opens as humanity is running out of time as Earth is dying, with a small beacon of hope shining in the form of Tau Ceti f, located 12 light years away. The colony ship Cassiopeia makes the journey to the planet, only to crash land upon arriving; and it’s clear soon after that the crew are not alone. An alien organism capable of mimicking its prey stalks the crew, forcing them to outwit their enemy to make it back home.
Players will be put in control of five crew members during the expedition, but distrust quickly builds among the survivors as paranoid and fear build; your decisions will determine their fate, and the fate of humanity as a whole. You’ll need to keep your wits about you and use stealth mechanics to evade the deadly alien threat, which can take the form of any member of the crew.
Among the new mechanics that Directive 8020 introduces is the scanner, which is used to detect electronics and remotely activating systems that can be utilised to distract foes and circumvent obstacles. The messenger meanwhile allows you to communicate with crewmates to form key strategies on how to survive, while the wedge tool is ideal for opening doors and a last-resort weapon.
Directive 8020: A Dark Pictures Game is out on May 12 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.