Directive 8020 is out now — but Supermassive's space horror lands with mixed reviews

Directive 8020, the fifth entry in Supermassive Games' The Dark Pictures Anthology, launched on 12 May 2026 for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It's the first game in the series set in space, and early reception has been decidedly split — critics are lukewarm, and players are even less enthusiastic.

The setup

The game takes place aboard a colony spaceship called the Cassiopeia. An alien threat capable of mimicking human appearances has infiltrated the crew — a premise that draws obvious comparisons to John Carpenter's The Thing. Lashana Lynch, known from The Woman King and Bob Marley: One Love, stars as astronaut Brianna Young in what is an unusually high-profile acting lead for a narrative game.

Supermassive has expanded the formula beyond the dialogue-heavy choices of earlier Dark Pictures entries. Players now take direct control of characters, with stealth sections requiring you to hide from monsters, and more action-oriented combat mechanics throughout. A new "Turning Points" feature lets you rewind key decisions — a notable quality-of-life addition for a series built around permanent consequences.

The reception

The expanded gameplay hasn't landed as intended. Critics score it at 72–73 on Metacritic aggregator and 76 on OpenCritic with 63% of reviewers recommending it. The stealth sections in particular have been flagged as shallow in execution, and the alien paranoia angle — ripe for psychological tension — is widely seen as underexplored. Player sentiment is harsher still: just 40% positive reviews on Steam at launch.

The troubled development adds context. Supermassive went through significant staff layoffs in July 2025, and the game slipped from an October 2025 window to its current May 2026 date. Whether the studio can maintain the anthology's pace going forward is an open question. Directive 8020 is priced at $49.99 / £44.99, with pre-orders having included a free Deluxe Edition upgrade. If you're already a Dark Pictures fan, the space setting and Lynch's performance are genuine draws — just don't expect the stealth mechanics to carry the experience.