Supermassive Games, known for its expertise in cinematic horror experiences with Until Dawn and The Quarry, is now venturing into the realm of sci-fi with Directive 8020. This new installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology brings the signature branching narratives and decision-based gameplay into a space setting, blending psychological horror with survival mechanics. Having first seen the game during a hands-off presentation at Gamescom 2024 and then gone hands-on with a much lengthier demo build at Gamescom 2025, it’s clear that this project is ambitious — even if it’s still in need of some polish. Once set for release earlier, the game has recently been postponed, with launch now planned for 2026.
What we know
Directive 8020 is a next-gen survival horror game set in deep space, where humanity’s last hope for survival lies on the distant planet Tau Ceti f. The story revolves around the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia, who crash-land on this alien world only to discover that they are not alone. As they try to survive, they encounter an extraterrestrial lifeform capable of mimicking its prey, raising questions about who can be trusted. With an emphasis on cinematic storytelling, Directive 8020 explores themes of paranoia, betrayal, and survival as the crew faces deadly threats both within and outside their ranks.
The game features real-time threats, with aliens that actively hunt the player down in the claustrophobic corridors of the Cassiopeia. Combat remains sparse, with improvised weapons playing a key role, but the core gameplay relies heavily on stealth, decision-making, and quick reflexes. The choices you make will influence the branching narrative, with multiple possible outcomes shaping the crew’s fate. As announced before, Lashana Lynch leads the cast as the protagonist, anchoring the story with a cinematic edge. Originally planned for an earlier release, the game has been pushed back and will now arrive in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
What we saw
In 2024, Supermassive gave us a hands-off look at Directive 8020, showcasing atmospheric corridors, dynamic lighting, and the alien threat that feeds into the game’s psychological tension. At Gamescom 2025, however, we finally got to experience it firsthand through a substantial demo. This build highlighted the survival elements, branching dialogue, and stealth sequences that underpin the gameplay loop.
While the demo confirmed much of what we had suspected — that this is classic Supermassive cinematic horror applied to a fresh sci-fi setting — it also revealed the game’s ambitious scope. Coordinating stealthy movement through the Cassiopeia’s dimly lit interiors, confronting situations where crew members may or may not be who they seem, and making split-second decisions all reinforced the sense of paranoia. The alien threat remains ever-present, and the tension builds as you question both your environment and your allies.
That said, the extended demo wasn’t without hiccups. We ran into a few rough edges during our time with the game, most notably with environmental interactions where prompts didn’t always trigger properly. It’s the kind of issue that breaks immersion in a tense scenario, though it’s also the kind of detail that can be smoothed out with further development time — something the new 2026 release window suggests Supermassive is aiming to do.
What we thought
From what we’ve now seen and played, Directive 8020 feels like a natural evolution for Supermassive. Their mastery of cinematic horror remains intact, but the move into science fiction adds a welcome twist to their formula. Inspirations from genre classics like Event Horizon are clear, and fans of both sci-fi and horror should find much to enjoy in how the game blends those traditions.
Visually, the game impressed with its oppressive environments and sharp use of light and shadow. The Cassiopeia feels alive in its detail — every corridor a potential trap, every corner a chance for the alien menace to strike. Lynch’s performance already seems poised to give weight to the narrative, while the decision-making system, tested more fully in the 2025 demo, has the potential to create compellingly different outcomes.
The rough edges we encountered – especially those finicky interaction prompts – were reminders that the game is still very much in development, but they didn’t overshadow the promise on display. If anything, they highlighted why the delay to 2026 could be beneficial, giving the studio time to refine an already strong foundation.
Ultimately, Directive 8020 is shaping up to be an exciting crossover of genres, marrying Supermassive’s signature narrative-driven horror with a classic sci-fi survival premise. Even with its bumps, the demo left us convinced that this is one worth waiting for.
Press Play Media 