Directive 8020 Cover Art

Directive 8020

Survival Horror, Adventure, Interactive Drama, Cinematic

star_borderstar_borderstar_borderstar_borderstar_border(3 Ratings)

$59.99

Directive 8020 is a narrative-driven, cinematic survival horror adventure and the fifth installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology. The story follows the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia, which crash-lands on the planet Tau Ceti f. The crew is hunted by a shapeshifting, parasitic alien organism that has infiltrated the ship—the 'Alien Hunter'—and is replacing the human form. Drawing influence from sci-fi horror classics like Alien and The Thing, the game features a multilinear, choice-driven narrative with significant enhancements in gameplay, including full third-person control, new real-time stealth mechanics, and the unique 'Turning Points' system, allowing players to rewind pivotal decisions.

Directive 8020

Directive 8020 Thumbnail
star_borderstar_borderstar_borderstar_borderstar_border(3 Ratings)$59.99Survival Horror, Adventure, Interactive Drama, Cinematic

Directive 8020 is a narrative-driven, cinematic survival horror adventure and the fifth installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology. The story follows the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia, which crash-lands on the planet Tau Ceti f. The crew is hunted by a shapeshifting, parasitic alien organism that has infiltrated the ship—the 'Alien Hunter'—and is replacing the human form. Drawing influence from sci-fi horror classics like Alien and The Thing, the game features a multilinear, choice-driven narrative with significant enhancements in gameplay, including full third-person control, new real-time stealth mechanics, and the unique 'Turning Points' system, allowing players to rewind pivotal decisions.

business Dev: Supermassive Gamesprint Pub: Supermassive Gamesevent Rel: update Upd:
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Themes

Sci-Fi HorrorSurvival HorrorBody HorrorCosmic HorrorInteractive DramaPlayer ChoiceParanoia
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Directive 8020 Key Specifications

Key Specifications for Directive 8020
Specification Detail
Engine Unreal Engine 5
Genre Survival Horror, Interactive Drama
Release Window 2026
Developer Supermassive Games
Publisher Supermassive Games
Setting Deep Space / Alien Planet (Tau Ceti f)
Perspective Third-Person
Platforms PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Multiplayer 2-Player Online Co-op, 5-Player Local/Online Co-op
Unique Feature A cinematic sci-fi horror story that introduces a 'Turning Points' rewind mechanic and full third-person stealth/action controls to the series.

info_outline Note: OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. These specifications reflect the demands of the Unreal Engine 5 build, which is a first for the series.

laptop_windows Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the model's cooling and TGP. The game's graphically rich world and cinematic presentation will require a powerful gaming laptop.

info_outline GPU TGP: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain stable framerates.

info_outline Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.

info_outline CPU Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI and physics-based combat.

info_outline MUX Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the game's real-time stealth and action sequences.

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Directive 8020 System Requirements

1080p

tune Minimum – Low Preset, 1080p resolution.

memory
CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (The official minimum CPU required to play the game.)
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Laptop CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H / AMD Ryzen 5 3600H or better. (A solid mid-range laptop CPU is needed for minimum settings.)
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GPU: Nvidia RTX 2070 Super or AMD RX 5700 (Official minimum desktop GPU.)
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Laptop GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop (6GB) or RTX 2070 Mobile (8GB). (A mid-range dedicated gaming laptop GPU is needed.)
storage
RAM: 16 GB (16GB RAM is the official minimum requirement.)
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Storage: 70 GB HDD (An HDD is technically supported.)

tune Recommended – High Preset, 1080p resolution.

memory
CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F or AMD Ryzen 5 5600 (The official recommended desktop CPU for a smooth experience.)
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Laptop CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H / AMD Ryzen 7 6800H or better. (A strong modern laptop CPU is recommended for consistent performance.)
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GPU: Nvidia RTX 3070 or AMD RX 6800 (Official recommended desktop GPU for 1080p gameplay.)
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Laptop GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop (8GB, High TGP) or RTX 4070 Laptop (8GB). (A high-end laptop GPU is needed for a high-quality 1080p experience.)
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RAM: 16 GB (16GB RAM is officially recommended for optimal performance.)
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Storage: 70 GB SSD (An SSD is required for this tier.)

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Directive 8020 Laptop Recommendations

ASUS TUF A15 with RTX 3050 and Ryzen 7 more_vert

memory AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS

developer_board NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 75W

storage 32GB DDR5-4800MHz

US $799

Details close

Model: ASUS TUF A15 with RTX 3050 and Ryzen 7

memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS (Score: 1655)

developer_board GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (Score: 7220) @ 75W TGP

storage RAM: 32GB DDR5-4800MHz

save Storage: 1000GB NVMe

desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)

Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low Preset, 1080p resolution.).

HP Omen 16 (RTX 5060 & Ryzen 9 8940HX) more_vert

memory AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX Processor

developer_board NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU 115W

storage 32GB DDR5-5200MHz

US $1689

Details close

Model: HP Omen 16 (RTX 5060 & Ryzen 9 8940HX)

memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX Processor (Score: 2225)

developer_board GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU (Score: 9000) @ 115W TGP

storage RAM: 32GB DDR5-5200MHz

save Storage: 1000GB NVMe

desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA / FHD+)

Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low Preset, 1080p resolution.).

HP Victus 15 (RTX 4050 & Ryzen 7) more_vert

memory AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS

developer_board NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 140W

storage 16GB (2x8GB) DDR5 5600MHz SO-DIMM

US $799

Details close

Model: HP Victus 15 (RTX 4050 & Ryzen 7)

memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS (Score: 1656)

developer_board GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (Score: 9842) @ 140W TGP

storage RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) DDR5 5600MHz SO-DIMM

save Storage: 512GB NVMe

desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low Preset, 1080p resolution.).

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 with RTX 4050 more_vert

memory AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS

developer_board NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 105W

storage 16GB DDR5 5600MHz SO-DIMM

US $1699

Details close

Model: ASUS TUF Gaming A16 with RTX 4050

memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS (Score: 1656)

developer_board GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (Score: 9842) @ 105W TGP

storage RAM: 16GB DDR5 5600MHz SO-DIMM

save Storage: 512GB NVMe

desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1200

Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low Preset, 1080p resolution.).

Dell Alienware M16 Gaming Laptop with RTX 4080 more_vert

memory AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX

developer_board NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

storage Up to 64GB DDR5

US $2799

Details close

Model: Dell Alienware M16 Gaming Laptop with RTX 4080

memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (Score: 2078)

developer_board GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Score: 12500)

storage RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5

save Storage: 4000GB NVMe

desktop_windows Display: 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA)

Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low Preset, 1080p resolution.).

XMG Apex 16 Max (RTX 5070 Ti & Ryzen 9) more_vert

memory AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX

developer_board NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU 140W

storage 64GB DDR5-5600MHz (Dual-Channel)

US $2999

Details close

Model: XMG Apex 16 Max (RTX 5070 Ti & Ryzen 9)

memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (Score: 2362)

developer_board GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU (Score: 13756) @ 140W TGP

storage RAM: 64GB DDR5-5600MHz (Dual-Channel)

save Storage: 2000GB NVMe

desktop_windows Display: 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA)

Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low Preset, 1080p resolution.).

  • Core Requirements

  • desktop_windowsOperating System: Windows 10 64-bit 1909 revision or higher / Windows 11

    A modern 64-bit OS is a firm requirement.

  • memoryDirectX: Version 12

    DirectX 12 is required for the Unreal Engine 5 feature set.

  • save_altStorage Note: 70 GB available space

    An SSD is recommended for faster loading times and seamless transitions.

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Directive 8020: Map Size and Regions

The game is a linear, cinematic adventure. Locations include the claustrophobic corridors of the crashed starship Cassiopeia and the surface of the hostile alien planet, Tau Ceti f. The game features full, player-controlled exploration, a significant departure from the fixed cameras of previous series installments.

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Directive 8020: Post-Launch Content / DLC

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes an exclusive bonus mission and cinematic filters. The game is designed for high replayability with branching storylines and multiple endings.

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Directive 8020 Skills & Upgrades Overview

The game does not feature traditional RPG leveling. Progression is narrative and inventory-based. Players find and use key items and gadgets to solve environmental puzzles. The 'Turning Points' system is a key feature, allowing players to 'rewind' pivotal decisions to explore alternate narrative paths, though irreversible 'Survival Mode' is also available.

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Directive 8020: Game Editions

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, the 'Dark Pictures Outfit Pack' (iconic outfits from previous games), a 'BONUS MISSION: THE DARK PICTURES HEIRLOOMS RETRIEVAL,' three cinematic filters (60's Black and White, 70's Gritty, 80's VHS), an artbook, and the exclusive soundtrack.

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Directive 8020: Cross-Platform / Crossplay

Cross-platform play is expected for the game's multiplayer modes, allowing players on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S to play together.

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Directive 8020 Other Features & Info

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    Multiplayer Modes

    The game supports both single-player and multiplayer modes. 'Shared Story' is a 2-player online co-op mode. 'Movie Night' is a local/online co-op mode accommodating up to five players, who can mix and match between couch and online play.

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    Story and Setting

    The game is the fifth installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology. Earth is dying, and the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia crash-lands on Tau Ceti f. They must contend with an alien organism that can mimic human form, creating intense themes of paranoia and isolation. The story is structured into eight hour-long episodes and is heavily influenced by sci-fi horror films like Alien and The Thing.

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    Top 3 Gameplay Mechanics
    1. 1. Turning Points System: A major new feature allowing players to 'rewind' to pivotal story moments and retry crucial decisions without overwriting their original progress, aiding completionists and narrative exploration. 2. Real-Time Stealth & Evasion: The game moves beyond QTEs, incorporating full third-person control and stealth mechanics where players must 'evict' the deadly alien threat by staying in the shadows and avoiding detection. 3. Dual-Mode Co-op: Supports both 2-player online co-op ('Shared Story') and a 5-player local/online 'Movie Night' mode, accommodating multiple players and playstyles.
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Directive 8020 Frequently Asked Questions

  • help_outline What is Directive 8020?
    It is the fifth installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology, a series of cinematic, interactive horror games. This installment is a sci-fi horror story about the crew of a crashed spaceship being hunted by a shapeshifting alien.
  • help_outline How is it different from other Dark Pictures games?
    It marks a significant evolution for the series, moving from fixed camera angles to full third-person player control. It also introduces deeper gameplay mechanics like real-time stealth, a full inventory system, and the 'Turning Points' system to retry decisions.
  • help_outline What is the 'Turning Points' system?
    It's a major new feature that allows players to 'rewind' to a pivotal decision they have made and retry the sequence, enabling them to explore alternate narrative paths without losing overall story progress.
  • help_outline Can I play with friends?
    Yes, the game supports two main co-op modes: a 2-player online 'Shared Story' mode and a 5-player local/online 'Movie Night' mode.