Space becomes the next playground for horror as Supermassive Games readies Directive 8020 for an October 2, 2025 release. The game puts you in a situation both frightening and isolating – trapped on a broken-down spaceship where the alien organism can transform into any crew member.
The story starts simple enough. Earth can’t support us anymore, so we need a new home. Your ship, the Cassiopeia, is sent to check out a possible planet. But things go wrong fast – you wake up from a four-year sleep to find the ship damaged, someone dead, and an alien organism that can take the form of your fellow crew members.
“Earth is dying, and humankind is seeking a new home in the stars,” says Creative Director Will Doyle, setting up what happens when this simple scouting mission goes terribly wrong. The game creates tension by combining the isolation of space with the fear of not knowing which crew members remain human.
The game equips you with essential tools for survival. There’s a wrist strap that controls your flashlight – though using it requires caution as the aliens can spot the beam. You’ve got a scanner that helps you detect electronics and activate systems remotely. When things get dangerous, you can use the wedge tool, designed for opening doors, as a temporary defense to stun aliens and escape.
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What makes this game different is how it handles survival. Sometimes you’re using stealth to avoid aliens in dark corridors, other times you’re trying to figure out if your crewmate is really who they say they are. The game features actors Lashana Lynch and Danny Sapani, bringing life to these characters you’ll need to work with – or possibly avoid.
The ship itself becomes part of the story after it crashes. You’ll navigate through broken rooms and vents, exploring a desolate environment where threats can emerge from anywhere. The game also takes you outside onto a planet that wasn’t meant for human exploration yet.
Supermassive Games knows what made their previous games work. They’ve kept the parts where your choices matter and quick reactions can save lives. But they’ve added more ways to explore and stay alive, making the game feel both familiar and fresh. As Doyle explains, they want to bring The Dark Pictures to a wider audience while keeping their current fans engaged.
The game brings together core elements of horror – isolation, uncertainty, and facing unknown threats. It’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, giving players multiple ways to experience this new kind of space horror.