After multiple entries of horrifying antics, the next era of The Dark Pictures Anthology begins with Directive 8020. We’re eagerly anticipating The Dark Pictures Directive 8020 release date, as it could give us one of the most chilling instalments in the franchise yet.
However, the real mystery is what the game’s plot means for the future of The Dark Pictures Anthology. Directive 8020 is set to explore new ground, or a lack there of, as this entry is set in space. So, let us get you up to speed with everything you need to know about The Dark Pictures Directive 8020.
The Dark Pictures Directive 8020 release date estimate
We estimate that The Dark Pictures Directive 8020 release date could be in late 2024. This follows the release pattern of the last three games, with Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me releasing in October 2020, October 2021, and November 2022 respectively. The only game to break this pattern is the first ever Dark Pictures anthology entry, Man of Medan, which was released in August 2019.
The Dark Pictures Anthology games are focused on delivering cinematic-style horror experiences, akin to blockbuster horror movies that would release in the Halloween period of the year. It is possible that Supermassive Games want to continue this trend, making October or November 2024 a prime period of time to release Directive 8020.
We know that the game has been in-development since February 2022, as the developer filed trademarks for Directive 8020 and three other titles yet, which are still to be officially revealed.
The Dark Pictures Directive 8020 story
The teaser doesn’t offer up much in the way of actual story details, but it does set the scene, which will take the series to space in what appears to be a sci-fi monster story on a space station.
But, thanks to some sleuthing by some Reddit users, Directive 8020 is a real NASA document, although it has now been updated and is now Directive 8700. This Directive relates to flight crew and space crew safety on missions and managing risks. And, if you have seen the trailer already, you can already see how that ties in. But, if not, the trailer can be seen below.
Some other players also have theories that this will be a prequel or sequel to House of Ashes with the monster sounding quite similar, with either an evolved version of the creature or an early breed of the creature being trapped on this ship or station.
The Dark Pictures Directive 8020 gameplay
As with the other games in the series, we can expect all the improvements introduced so far in the series to be implemented here. That means you can expect to see the much better third-person camera, improved movement mechanics, and polished visuals seen in The Devil in Me. Directive 8020 will also be the first Dark Pictures game to be released on Unreal Engine 6, meaning that it is getting a serious boost of current-gen power under the hood.
However, at the moment, it is unclear who will be part of the Directive 8020 cast. In the past, Supermassive Games have cast notable actors like Alan Wake 2 and Quantum Break star Shawn Ashmore, Jessie Buckley, Ashley Tisdale, Will Poulter, and Paul Kaye. As the games have grown in popularity, and Supermassive Games has acquired more star power in other games like Until Dawn and The Quarry, we may see even more Hollywood talent appear in Directive 8020.
So there you have it, everything we know about the start of the next spooky season in The Dark Pictures Anthology. While you wait for The Dark Pictures Directive 8020 release date to roll around, why not take a look at some of the other best PS5 horror games and best Xbox horror games to keep you busy in the meantime.