The Dark Pictures Anthology
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Dark Pictures Anthology across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Directive 8020 Interview – Sci-Fi Horror, Couch Co-Op, Turning Points, and More
Supermassive 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.
Directive 8020, The Latest Dark Pictures Anthology Title, is Out Now
Directive 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 review: A new breed of sci-fi horror
Directive 8020 is a new sci-fi horror game that marks a positive return for The Dark Pictures Anthology series. The game offers a fresh take on the genre.
Directive 8020 Review — Scared Space | Console Creatures
Directive 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.
Recension – Directive 8020
Directive 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 – Strong Sci-Fi Horror Dragged Down by Weak Stealth
Directive 8020 is a sci-fi horror interactive story game that excels in atmosphere and narrative intrigue but is hampered by pacing issues and excessive stealth sections. While the game explores thought-provoking themes and features a compelling antagonist, the stealth gameplay often feels like dull filler, detracting from the overall experience. The rewind mechanic for exploring different story routes is a positive, but the reliance on bland stealth may deter players from replaying.
Directive 8020 review – A beacon of potential, frozen in stasis
Directive 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
The Dark Pictures Anthology's second season begins with the release of Directive 8020, which is described as a chilling and impressive start to the new season. The review suggests the game lives up to the anthology's established horror themes.
Directive 8020 Review: Dark Pictures Returns With Scariest Game Yet
Directive 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.
Directive 8020 review – Until Dawn in space
Directive 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 is Now Available to Pre-Load, Global Release Timings Revealed
Supermassive Games' sci-fi horror title, Directive 8020, is now available for pre-load on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, with a global release set for May 12th at 7 AM PST. The game features five playable characters navigating a colony ship crash and encountering a shape-shifting organism, with new mechanics like Turning Points allowing players to revisit critical decisions. Enhancements such as PS5 Pro compatibility and ray tracing are also highlighted.
Directive 8020 – 15 Things We’ve Learned So Far
Directive 8020, the latest entry in Supermassive Games' The Dark Pictures Anthology, is set to evolve the series' signature choice-led cinematic horror with a new emphasis on real-time survival gameplay. The game features a crew of astronauts on a mission to a distant planet, facing a deceptive alien threat inspired by "The Thing." New features include a "Turning Points" system for replaying pivotal moments and expanded lore collectibles, with a release date of May 12th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Long-Awaited PS5 Adventure Game Out Soon, Priced Just Right
Supermassive Games' horror adventure title Directive 8020, part of The Dark Pictures Anthology, is set for release on May 12, 2026, for PlayStation 5. The game, originally announced in 2022, will cost $49.99 and features a story about a colony ship crew stranded on a planet and hunted by an alien organism.
Games Inbox: Is buying a video game day one a good idea?
Readers discuss the merits of buying games on day one, weighing instant access and being part of the conversation against the potential for lower prices and sales later. The article also touches on Sony's controversial PS5 DRM policy, the impact of studio closures on franchises like XCOM, and speculation about future game releases and company strategies.
'When you look at horror franchises or movies or games, the sci-fi space is huge' — Directive 8020 executive producer says the simple reason for the game's space setting was because it's 'just fun'
Directive 8020 executive producer Dan McDonald stated that the game's space setting was chosen because it is 'fun' and allows Supermassive Games to explore different horror concepts within The Dark Pictures Anthology series. The decision to set the fifth installment in space was made early in the series' development, and it required the team to develop new assets and skills due to the unique environment.
Directive 8020 executive producer says the Turning Points system was added for players who 'want to keep everyone alive' but also for 'a big percentage of our hardcore fans' that will replay the game to get all endings
Supermassive Games executive producer Dan McDonald discussed the new 'Turning Points' rewind system in Directive 8020, designed to help players keep characters alive and achieve all endings. This feature addresses player feedback from previous Dark Pictures Anthology titles, where irreversible choices could be disheartening. Directive 8020 is set to release on May 12 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Directive 8020 wants you to feel the weight of every decision
The upcoming game in The Dark Pictures Anthology, Directive 8020, will emphasize the impact of player choices, both large and small. The game aims to make players feel the weight of every decision they make throughout the narrative.
The secret to Supermassive Games casting two Oscar winners is its focus on human-made art: 'They know that their performance is going to come across really well'
Supermassive Games' upcoming cinematic horror title, Directive 8020, features a cast of acclaimed actors, including Oscar winners Jesse Buckley and Rami Malek, and Lashana Lynch. Creative director Will Doyle attributes their success in attracting top talent to the studio's focus on high-quality, human-made cinematic experiences and their ability to capture performances effectively. The studio is also navigating the evolving landscape of AI in game development, emphasizing its commitment to a human touch in its games.
PREVIEW Directive 8020
Supermassive Games' upcoming title, Directive 8020, aims to redefine the interactive movie genre with significant gameplay enhancements. The preview showcased real-time stealth sequences and a revamped chapter select system that makes narrative branches more accessible. The preview focused on a chapter where characters must solve a murder after a spaceship crash, featuring tense Alien-inspired stealth and a crucial choice regarding weapon use.
Directive 8020 feels like the horror game Supermassive Games was born to make
Directive 8020 is Supermassive Games' latest interactive horror experience, heavily inspired by John Carpenter's The Thing. The game places players on a spaceship where a shapeshifting alien infiltrates the crew, forcing difficult choices to keep characters alive. Creative director Will Doyle highlights the game's focus on player agency and the consequences of decisions, featuring a rewind function to explore different outcomes.
