Directive 8020 release date and latest news
In space, no one can hear directives.
After being delayed last year, we now finally have a confirmed Directive 8020 release date.
Supermassive Games are returning to the Dark Pictures Anthology, bringing the horror franchise to the cosmos.
Lashana Lynch of No Time to Die and The Day of the Jackal leads the cast as the "groundbreaking astronaut" Brianna Young.
So, if you're curious how her story will unfold as her ship, Cassiopeia, crash lands on Tau Ceti f, here's when Directive 8020 will release and everything you need to know about it.
When is the Directive 8020 release date?
Directive 8020 is scheduled to release on 12th May 2026.
This release date was confirmed after being added to store pages such as Steam and the PlayStation store.
The game had previously been set to release on 2nd October 2025, but was unfortunately delayed in order to ensure that the game was of a high enough quality.
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Can I pre-order Directive 8020?
You cannot currently pre-order Directive 8020, but you can wishlist the game digitally on Steam, the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Store.
We’ll update this page when pre-orders go live, which will happen in June 2025.
Which consoles and platforms can play Directive 8020?
Directive 8020 can be played on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC (via Steam), Supermassive Games has confirmed.
It is not available on PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch, and we doubt it ever will be. Sorry!
Directive 8020 gameplay and story details
Directive 8020 is "an immersive cinematic horror experience that blends intense survival gameplay with meaningful choices and a branching narrative storyline".
The game’s Steam listing tells us that in Directive 8020, you are "hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey" and that "the crew of the Cassiopeia must outwit their pursuers to make it home alive".
Its official plot description is: "Earth is dying and humanity is running out of time. Twelve light years from home, Tau Ceti offers a small sliver of hope. When the colony ship Cassiopeia crash-lands on the planet, its crew soon realise they are far from being alone."
Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that. The crew of the Cassiopeia "are confronted with the hardest choice of all: to save themselves, they must risk the lives of everyone on Earth".
Sounds like we’ll be making some tough decisions in this one, eh?
In terms of gameplay, it’s not just narrative choices. You’ll need to defeat enemies by "using improvised weapons, lightning reflexes and stealth". Sounds stressful.
You'll use tools such as the flashlight, scanner, messenger and wedge tool to survive. The wedge tool can be used as a weapon to temporarily stun enemies and it can open doors.
Is there a Directive 8020 trailer?
Yes, there is a Directive 8020 trailer! Check out the story and release date trailer below to see what horrors are in store in the latest Dark Pictures Anthology title:
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Authors
Toby Saunders is a freelance writer specialising in Video Game journalism. He has a wealth of experience in the field and is published on many different websites including PCGamesN, Nintendo Life and Pocket Tactics. He has a degree in Film Studies (he gets to write about Film and TV occasionally, too).
