The next season of The Dark Pictures Anthology has taken awhile to get here, but today Supermassive has revealed a new release date for Directive 8020 which is sure to please fans as it is not too far out.

In a new trailer posted today by Supermassive called “Comply” showing off pre-order details we got the release date of May 12th. The game is certainly looking incredible as these games usually do with the focus on narrative and choice being front and center.

Directive 8020 will be available both digitally and physically at select retailers. Anyone who pre-orders the game will get a free deluxe edition upgrade as well, so if that is your thing pre-ordering is definitely the way to go. If you pre-order you will receive many bonuses alongside the base game.

• The Dark Pictures Outfit Pack
• The Dark Pictures Collectables
• Cinematic Filter Pack
• Digital Soundtrack
• Digital Artbook

If you are a fan of the previous games you will be happy to know that Directive 8020 continues giving you both co-op and solo options. The game will launch with 5 player couch co-op support. Online multiplayer will be added in at a later date post launch.

Key Features From Trailer

• Choice-Based Gameplay: Cooper, the ship’s medic, is fueled by paranoia and faces a harrowing decision as her crewmate Mitchell pleads for release from behind a sealed door. Cooper, unknowing if he’s human or not, has a difficult decision to make. This moment underscores a core theme of Directive 8020: trust no one, as every action has consequences.
• The “Double” Reveal: Based on how the game branches and your previous decisions, Cooper can now possess the gun instead of Commander Stafford. Two identical versions of Cernan (the ship’s Engineer) rush into view and you must choose: who is the mimic and who do you allow back into the crew? One choice will prove fatal.
• Planetary Exploration: For the first time, the trailer teases on-planet gameplay showcasing the harsh, alien landscape of Tau Ceti f.
• Talent & Track: The trailer features lead talent Lashana Lynch as pilot Brianna Young, accompanied by the track “Comply” from Brighton-based band Blood Red Shoes.

New Turning Points Feature

With Directive 8020 being the first game in season 2 of The Dark Pictures Anthology, Supermassive has taken the time to introduce a new feature that they expect to be a big part of the series going forward.

Turning Point will allow the players to rewinds key decisions right then and there allowing for different playstyles. In the previous games if you made those decisions you would have to restart the game from a chapter select. So if you accidentally kill a character you can simply rewind if you so choose.

• Completionists: Track and explore alternative narrative branches and hidden endings.
• “Save my favorite character!” players: Rewind death to undo fatal mistakes and keep favorite characters alive.
• Survivors: Survivor Mode delivers the classic Dark Pictures experience – no safety nets, where every death is permanent.

As a non horror fan, the Dark Picture Anthology has been a big hit for myself. Having played every one Directive 8020 has been high on my most anticipated list since it was first announced.

Directive 8020 launches May 12th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and Steam on PC.