Supermassive Games
Supermassive Games business and news from across the web.- Just Add Water Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Industry Veteran Gareth Betts as Senior ProducerJust Add Water Development has appointed Gareth Betts as Senior Producer, bringing over three decades of industry experience to the UK-based studio. Betts previously held roles at Bandai Namco Entertainment and Sony, working on titles like The Dark Pictures Anthology and Wipeout HD. His appointment is part of the studio's strategy to enhance production capabilities as it moves towards 'AA' development.
Games Inbox: What Nintendo Switch 2 games will be announced in June?Readers speculate on upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game announcements, potential price increases, and the possibility of a FromSoftware pirate game. Discussions also touch on game review scores, saving for next-generation consoles like the PlayStation 6, and the potential for director's cuts of games like Resident Evil Requiem.
Directive 8020, The Latest Dark Pictures Anthology Title, is Out NowDirective 8020, the latest installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology, is now available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. This sci-fi horror title marks a departure from the series' previous format, focusing on the crew of a colony ship facing an alien threat that can shapeshift and mimic them. The game introduces new mechanics like the Turning Points system for revisiting decisions and bases failure states on crew bonds.
Directive 8020 Interview – Sci-Fi Horror, Couch Co-Op, Turning Points, and MoreSupermassive Games' creative director Will Doyle discusses the studio's latest title, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020, highlighting its shift to sci-fi horror, new gameplay mechanics like 'Turning Points' for replayability, and the return of couch co-op. Doyle explains how the team drew inspiration from classic sci-fi horror films and aimed to balance intense action with narrative drama, while also addressing the importance of visual fidelity for the horror genre on platforms like the PlayStation 5.
New PS5 Sci-Fi Game Gets Strong Reviews Ahead of This Week’s ReleaseSupermassive Games' upcoming PlayStation 5 sci-fi horror title, Directive 8020, has received strong reviews ahead of its May 12, 2026 release. Critics have praised the game's setting, atmosphere, and story, with IGN calling it a "step forward" for the studio and its Dark Pictures Anthology series.
Directive 8020 Review — Scared Space | Console CreaturesDirective 8020 marks a bold shift for Supermassive Games' Dark Pictures Anthology, moving from familiar horror settings to a space-faring narrative. While the game features a compelling premise, strong performances, and significant replayability through its branching paths, it is hampered by tedious stealth sections and an uneven pacing. Despite these drawbacks, the game successfully delivers tension and a fresh experience within the anthology.
Review: Directive 8020 (PS5) - Dull Sci-Fi Thriller Is a Supermassive LetdownDirective 8020, a sci-fi horror interactive drama from Supermassive Games, fails to live up to its potential despite a compelling premise inspired by Alien and The Thing. While the game offers numerous choices and branching narrative paths on the PlayStation 5, it suffers from a dull setting, uninteresting characters, and simplistic gameplay segments, ultimately leaving the reviewer underwhelmed.- Directive 8020 ReviewsReviews for Supermassive Games' upcoming horror action-adventure title, Directive 8020, are being released today ahead of its launch tomorrow. The game is described as a sci-fi horror experience.
- Recension – Directive 8020Directive 8020 is an interactive drama from Supermassive Games that blends science fiction horror with player choice. While it features impressive visuals and sound design, the story is predictable and lacks genuine scares, with characters feeling anonymous. The game offers significant replayability due to its branching narrative, but ultimately leaves little lasting impression after its roughly eight-hour runtime.
Directive 8020 Review | TheXboxHubDirective 8020 is a significant evolution for Supermassive Games' narrative horror series, offering a compelling sci-fi story set on a spaceship threatened by an alien organism. While the core gameplay loop of exploration, puzzles, and Quick Time Events remains, the introduction of a 'turning point' system allowing players to rewind decisions adds a fresh layer of replayability. Despite some repetitive stealth sections, the game's strong narrative, impressive visuals, and solid voice acting make it a standout entry.
Directive 8020 review: One giant leap for sci-fi body horrorDirective 8020 is a sci-fi horror game that delivers body horror and a sense of cosmic insignificance, featuring a unique 'Turning Point' system that allows players to undo decisions. The game, developed and published by Supermassive Games, is available on PC and is expected to release on May 12, 2026, for $50. The review highlights the game's branching narrative, complex characters, and gruesome death scenes, noting its improvements over previous Supermassive titles.
Directive 8020 ReviewDirective 8020 is a standalone horror experience from Supermassive Games that evolves their Dark Pictures Anthology formula. The game features a tense sci-fi narrative aboard a spaceship, drawing heavy inspiration from films like Alien and The Thing. It offers engaging characters, a new Fate system for branching narratives, and improved stealth mechanics, with a full playthrough taking around 8 hours.- Directive 8020 review – A beacon of potential, frozen in stasisDirective 8020 offers a compelling sci-fi narrative with strong characters and a unique 'Turning Points' mechanic for replayability, but is ultimately hampered by repetitive stealth gameplay and a saggy middle section. While the game redeems itself in its later episodes with gripping paranoia and chaotic events, its core gameplay loop and narrative pacing issues prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Directive 8020 review – Until Dawn in spaceDirective 8020 is Supermassive Games' latest interactive sci-fi horror title, drawing inspiration from films like The Thing and Aliens. While featuring excellent graphics, solid voice acting, and an innovative 'Turning Points' system allowing players to revisit decisions, the game is hampered by a lack of context for choices and a rigidly linear structure. The narrative, set on an exoplanet as humanity's last hope, suffers from character development issues and excessive walking through dark corridors, ultimately scoring a 6/10.
Directive 8020 review - Supermassive reinvents its cinematic horror anthology with mixed resultsDirective 8020 offers a cerebral, slow-burn sci-fi horror experience that shifts away from Supermassive Games' usual popcorn thrills, featuring a stellar cast and a more sophisticated tone. While the game's narrative plot and stealth mechanics are considered derivative and perfunctory respectively, its patient build-up, character development, and the performances of actors like Anneika Rose and Lashana Lynch make it a compelling, albeit imperfect, entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology.
Directive 8020 review: "Twisty terrors make for sublime corpo-space drama, but I've seen this movie before"Directive 8020, the latest installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology from Supermassive Games, offers a tense survival horror experience set on a spaceship. While it introduces new mechanics like stealth and player agency, the game is hampered by pacing issues, inconsistent voice acting, and derivative elements from other horror titles. Despite its flaws, the narrative remains engaging, making it a solid, albeit not groundbreaking, 10-hour adventure.
Directive 8020 Review: Dark Pictures Returns With Scariest Game YetDirective 8020 marks the return of The Dark Pictures Anthology with a sci-fi horror theme inspired by Alien and The Thing. This installment shifts focus from exploration and QTEs to more stealth-based gameplay, making it a more solo-centric experience. Despite changes like the removal of co-op, the game is praised as Supermassive's scariest yet, offering genuine chills and improved visuals on platforms like the PlayStation 5.
This week in PC games: Subnautica 2 early access, a Battlestar Galactica roguelite, and Directive 8020 disproving the old saying about space and screamingThis week's PC game releases include the early access launch of Subnautica 2 and the full release of Hotel Architect. New titles also feature the Battlestar Galactica roguelite Scattered Hopes, the horror game Directive 8020, and the tactical shooter Vultures: Scavengers of Death.- Directive 8020 release countdown: Exact date and timeDirective 8020, a new horror adventure game developed by Supermassive Games, is set to release globally on Tuesday, May 12. The game will be available on PC and consoles simultaneously, featuring a narrative set in outer space where players must survive an alien organism that can mimic its prey. The game supports co-op gameplay and features multiple endings based on player decisions.
The Dark Pictures Anthology Has Never Been More Adrift | Directive 8020 ReviewThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020, the fifth entry in Supermassive Games' horror series, takes players to outer space but suffers from grating performances and rote stealth sequences. While it introduces a new "Turning Points" system for easier story exploration and a tense multiplayer mechanic inspired by "The Thing," the game's overall formula feels aged, with frustrating puzzles and a departure from the series' former cinematic flair. The review suggests the series is at a crossroads, potentially needing a technical overhaul to recapture the quality of earlier titles like "Until Dawn."