Directive 8020 boss promises “a huge leap forward for the series” – and teases two major upgrades

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What makes Directive 8020, the latest game in Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology, different from the others?

We were curious about this, and asked the creative director, Will Doyle, when we met him at the Gamescom conference.

This month on the TopMob Gaming podcast, we’re taking a look at some of the most anticipated games coming out in 2026 – beyond Grand Theft Auto 6. And with that in mind, we’re excited to share our full interview from Directive 8020.

If you prefer not to listen to a podcast, you can watch the interview in the video player here, or on the TopMob Gaming YouTube channel. If you’d rather read, we’ve included some highlights from the interview in article format below!

If you haven’t heard, Directive 8020 is the newest installment in The Dark Pictures anthology. This time, Lashana Lynch leads the cast as players face a terrifying alien species that can perfectly imitate people – imagine a blend of the movies Alien and The Thing.

According to Will Doyle, returning players can expect two big improvements this time around: a revamped system for Real-Time Threats that makes action more dynamic, and the Turning Point system, which will make your choices matter even more.

We got a chance to play the first part of the game and test out these features. The Turning Point system really stood out and made a noticeable difference.

Think of being able to jump to any point in a DVD menu and start playing from there. That’s similar to how this game system works. It lets you rewind and change your decisions without constantly saving or restarting levels – even if you mess up a fast-paced action sequence.

So, what was thinking behind the Turning Point system?

According to Doyle, a key aim of this update is to make the game easier for players to use, letting them quickly access the content they’re interested in.

Players typically finished the game once and then had to restart from the beginning or a specific chapter if they wanted to revisit a moment. Now, our Turning Point system lets you jump directly to any key decision you want to explore.

Return to the specific point in time – whether that’s a memory or a decision you made – and really focus on what was happening then.

Doyle quickly reassured dedicated players that they can still experience a challenging, decision-focused game. He explained that ‘Survival Mode’ completely disables the assistance feature until the very end, letting players live with the consequences of their choices without any help.

He went on to say that the system is really great. It adds a collectible element to the game because the story unfolds as a series of scenes, revealed as you progress. It’s like a sticker book – players are motivated to unlock everything the game has to offer.

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A key improvement for players who enjoyed previous Dark Pictures games is the addition of Real-Time Threats. This feature includes sections where you can freely explore while being hunted by the main monster.

Doyle explained that this is a significant improvement for the game series. He felt that previous games created the most tension during exploration and discovery sections.

Once you understand how the games work, you realize the exploration sections are often the safest parts. The real danger comes during story scenes, where you might face a difficult choice or a quick-reaction challenge. When you’re simply moving around the environment, you generally expect to be in danger, so you’re prepared.

There’s a unique and exciting feeling when you’re holding a controller, knowing that your actions directly control the fate of the character on screen.

Explaining the game’s core idea, Doyle said they want every decision to feel difficult. “We actually want players to feel a sense of loss with every choice they make,” he explained, admitting it’s a somewhat unsettling design goal.

It’s okay to feel that way. I’m wondering if I made the correct decision. Was that the right thing to do? And now, you have the opportunity to easily review what would have happened if you had chosen differently.

You’ll notice how the story changes based on your decisions – your choices genuinely impact the game’s outcome.

As expected, after playing for about an hour, we’d already lost a few characters and were eager to rewind time and see if we could prevent their deaths.

Honestly, we’ll just have to play the game to really know what happens. Until then, if you’re interested, you can find the full interview over on our podcast!

I’m really excited for Directive 8020! It’s coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in the first half of 2026. You can already add it to your wishlist, which I totally did!

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Authors

Rob LeaneGaming Editor

I’m a big fan of TopMob, and I always check out their gaming coverage! Rob Leane is the editor in charge of all things gaming there – he makes sure they cover everything from PlayStation and Xbox to Switch, PC, mobile, and even VR. He’s all over their website, social media, and videos, and he even puts together their awesome weekly gaming newsletter. I’ve seen his work pop up on sites like Den of Geek and Stealth Optional too, so he’s clearly a seasoned pro!

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2026-01-28 18:41