I played an hour of Supermassive Games' highly anticipated Directive 8020
and fans of Alien: Isolation are going to adore this

Date:
Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Directive 8020 arrives in May, and its combination of new features and familiarity makes it well worth the wait.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Directive 8020 has been in the works for a while, with a three-year gap between the new arrival and the developer's previous game, Switchback VR .
The wait is almost over, though, as players will get to experience the next chapter of The Dark Pictures Anthology on May 12.

Marking the first time a Dark Pictures story has been set in space, this is
an exciting new chapter for Supermassive Games. Space exploration has been
one of my favorite themes in horror gaming recently, especially when I look
at titles like the brilliant Mouthwashing and Iron Lung , the latter of which got a record-breaking movie adaptation by YouTube star Markiplier. I'm happy to report that Directive 8020 follows in the footsteps of great sci-fi horror games, but manages to offer up something different to help it stand out among the crowd. If you're a fan of stealth-based horror games, there's plenty to enjoy here. Article continues below You may like The Until Dawn developer's next game, Directive 8020, just got a release date at long last Directive
8020 will let up to five players play local couch co-op in Supermassive
Games' returning Movie Night mode, and the latest trailer demonstrates just how intense it will be Directive 8020 was 'designed with the PS5 in mind' and will offer 'sharper visuals' powered by PSSR and 'advanced ray tracing' to heighten the horror on PS5 Pro Supermassive Games stays true to what it does best, and if you're hoping for stressful quick time events (QTEs) and heart-pounding scenes, you will certainly find them here. Humble as ever, I'd like to note I failed one of these QTEs about five minutes into my play test, because I was just not prepared for it at all. Prepare to be blindsided. We wouldn't have it any other way, would we? If I could turn back time... Patience really is a virtue here. (Image credit: Supermassive Games)
Directive 8020 introduces a new feature that might provide some reassurance
if you're the kind of person who gets emotionally attached to video game characters. Turning Points is a new and valuable addition to the game where you can rewind your decision, similar to Life is Strange .

I asked Executive Producer Dan McDonald about the decision to include Turning Points, and he said: "We know a lot of our players, the first time they play through, they want to keep everyone alive. And it can be really disheartening when you mess up, and your favourite character has died.

"Whilst we want you to experience that loss, in fact, one of my favourite things is making players cry as well as jump, we also want you to play a game that you want to experience. And so if you want to be able to turn it back
and undo it, we want to enable that and let you experience the game the way you want." Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

This may soothe your worries, but if you find Turning Points to be frustrating, you can continue on with your decision, no matter how painful it may be. Including this ability keeps everyone happy, giving you a second chance, but only if you want it.

When I played Directive 8020 , I got to experience one of the most stressful chapters of the game, which involves venturing inside vents to track down a threat. Closed spaces and jump scares galore follow, and you'll have to hold your nerve if you want to get out of there alive.

You can't just shoot your way out of this, but you do have plenty of tools at your disposal. Think Alien: Isolation or Amnesia: The Dark Descent in terms
of how you're tasked with dealing with the threat. The game rewards stealth, patience, and, honestly, creativity too. If you don't have a gun, how are you going to keep yourself safe? That's up to you to figure out. What to read
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Characters have a multifunctional utility strap, which features a shoulder-mounted flashlight, a scanner that can scan for electronics or be used to spot an alien, a "wedge tool" that can be used to open a door as a last resort or to stun an enemy, a text messenger, and a remote control that lets the player hack computers from a distance. You have everything but a
gun, because that would be too easy. Communication issues You can talk to characters regularly throughout, changing their traits and memories. But are they really who they say they are? (Image credit: Supermassive Games) Since you're on board a spaceship, it may not surprise you to know there's a comms system where you can discuss things with other characters. Throughout the game, you can send text-based messages to others, which include choices that will impact the game, so choose your words carefully.

To keep things interesting, though, the alien threat is able to mimic humans, so there's no guarantee you're talking to who you think you are. Be careful when and where you divulge information, as it could come back to bite you later.

As someone who loves reading in video games, I enjoyed having a nosy at everyone's conversations to see what the dynamics were like so far. There's a really well fleshed out cast here, with tropes like father-daughter bonds
that if you're not careful, you could ruin for good.

Choices are everywhere in this game, as are the consequences of those
actions. You find yourself suspicious at every turn, and I haven't felt this stressed in quite some time. That's a huge compliment, by the way.

Directive 8020 has everything you know and love about the Supermassive Games name, with some fun new additions too. Whether you play it alone or with a friend, there's lots to enjoy here. It was worth the wait, and I can't wait
to play the full release when it comes out on May 12, 2026, for PS5 , Xbox Series X |S, and PC. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a
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