The single-page reference hub for Directive 8020 — facts, characters, mechanics glossary, ending tree and series context. For deep dives, follow the links into each section.
At a glance
| Title | The Dark Pictures: Directive 8020 |
| Developer | Supermassive Games |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Series | The Dark Pictures Anthology (Entry #5) |
| Director | Will Doyle |
| Composer | Jason Graves |
| Lead Actor | Lashana Lynch as Brianna Young |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam) |
| Release Date | May 12, 2026 |
| Launch Price | $49.99 (Standard), $59.99 (Deluxe) |
| Runtime | ~8 hours (main), ~13 hours (Curator's Cut) |
| Endings | 6 named states (A–E + Curator's S) |
| Genre | Cinematic survival horror, choice-driven narrative |
| ESRB / PEGI | M / 18 |
Plot premise (spoiler-light)
The crew of the Cassiopeia arrives at Tau Ceti f under Directive 8020 — a contingency protocol authorising the use of force against any biological threat. They quickly discover the planet's biosphere harbours a shapeshifting variant that mimics crew members. The game follows Brianna Young (Lashana Lynch) and four protagonists across 8 episodes as paranoia, trust collapse and the Curator's framing converge on five possible endings. See /story for a full spoiler summary.
Playable characters
- Brianna Young — lead, played by Lashana Lynch.
- Captain Akin — mission commander, hardest to save.
- Thomas Carter — Brianna's closest crewmate.
- Naomi — Chief Science Officer.
- Riley — Chief Engineer.
- The Curator — non-playable framing character.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cassiopeia | The crew ship carrying Brianna and four protagonists to Tau Ceti f. |
| Tau Ceti f | The destination exoplanet. The variant originates from its biosphere. |
| The Variant | Extraterrestrial body-horror entity introduced in Episode 2. |
| Bearings | In-game premonition system. Scans glowing prompts to preview future deaths. |
| The Curator | Narrative framing character returning from every Dark Pictures Anthology entry. |
| Shared Story | Online co-op mode for two players, crossplay enabled. |
| Movie Night | Local pass-the-pad multiplayer for up to 5 players. |
| Curator's Cut | Second-pass campaign unlock with rearranged POVs and exclusive scenes. |
Ending tree
- Ending A — Beacon (canonical good ending).
- Ending B — Sacrifice (Brianna dies, crew survives).
- Ending C — Escape (mixed survival).
- Ending D — Silence (variant contained, ambiguous).
- Ending E — Variant (worst — variant escapes).
- Ending S — Reveal (Curator's Cut exclusive).
Series context
Directive 8020 is the 5th Dark Pictures Anthology entry, following Man of Medan (2019), Little Hope (2020), House of Ashes (2021) and The Devil in Me (2022). See our ranking for how it compares.
FAQ
What is Directive 8020?
Directive 8020 is a cinematic horror game by Supermassive Games, the 5th entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology. Released May 12, 2026, it follows the crew of the Cassiopeia investigating a hostile extraterrestrial variant on Tau Ceti f.
Is Directive 8020 a sequel?
It's an anthology entry, not a sequel. Each Dark Pictures game tells a standalone story; only the Curator's framing recurs. You can play Directive 8020 first.
How many playable characters are in Directive 8020?
Five protagonists — Brianna Young (lead), Captain Akin, Thomas Carter, Naomi (science officer), and Riley (engineer). All five are permadeath-eligible.
How many endings does Directive 8020 have?
Six named ending states: A (Beacon — best), B (Sacrifice), C (Escape), D (Silence), E (Variant), plus the Curator's Cut S (Reveal). Each gates on different trust and choice combinations.