Directive 8020 is set to kick off the second season of The Dark Pictures Anthology. Switching things up from the previous season, Directive 8020 is taking the series to space for a full-blown alien-centered horror romp. This marks the first heavy sci-fi story for the anthology series, and based on previews, its cosmic horror approach appears to be heavily influenced by films like The Thing and Alien.
Last year, Directive 8020 was announced via teaser trailer, but much of the game’s story was still kept under wraps. While it was clear from that first sneak peek that Directive 8020 embraces intense body horror, the newest trailer to be revealed at the recent Sony State of Play promises plenty of grotesque moments waiting on the horizon. Extra glimpses of the game were intriguing enough, but even more exciting is that the title finally has a release date set in stone. Slated for October 2, 2025, Directive 8020 is arriving at the perfect time.
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Sony’s February 2025 State of Play Was a Banquet for Horror Fans
Sony’s February State of Play had a good assortment of reveals from a range of different genres, though horror fans were treated particularly well.
Directive 8020 is Set to Kick Off the Halloween Season
The month of October is usually the ideal stage for a lot of horror games to make their debut. Last year brought horror-filled titles Silent Hill 2, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, and The Lake House DLC for Alan Wake 2 to players. This year, it seems as though Directive 8020 is prepared to kick off the Halloween season in a big way. Directive 8020 demonstrates a newfound interest in cosmic horror. Between the announcement of games like Cronos: The New Dawn and the confirmation of an Alien Isolation sequel, terrifying tales set in mind-bending sci-fi worlds are making a comeback.
Even better, Directive 8020 is launching at the very beginning of the month, meaning that it can fill up the space for Halloween fans leading up to the holiday. For those who love both gaming and celebrating Halloween, having a strong roster of horror games at one’s disposal can elevate the lead-up to the holiday in an incredibly fun way. The well-timed arrival of Directive 8020 hopefully brings even more horror titles along with it, so the month can be even stronger.
Directive 8020 stars actress Lashana Lynch as main character Brianna Young.
Gaming’s Fall Calendar is Looking Bare
As of now, much of the fall and winter looks empty in regard to video game releases. With the impending arrival of GTA 6, it appears as though a lot of developers may be waiting to see what Rockstar announces as the official release date in order to sidestep getting swallowed by the juggernaut. However, Directive 8020 has planted its flag in the fall landscape, making it one of the first upcoming games to commit to a release during this time of year. The Dark Pictures Anthology attracts a lot of horror fans, and even if GTA 6 happens to release in proximity to Directive 8020, there are bound to be a lot of gamers who buy the new chapter in order to properly get into the spooky spirit.
The Dark Pictures Anthology Season 1 Titles
- Man of Medan
- Little Hope
- House of Ashes
- The Devil in Me
Season 1 of The Dark Pictures Anthology ran from 2019-2022.
Directive 8020 Leads the Halloween Charge
The horror genre was on full display at Sony’s State of Play, but Directive 8020 is seemingly the only that has embraced the nature of its genre by launching in October. Directive 8020 has teased a chilling atmosphere that is primed to be a great way for horror fans to enjoy the creepiness that has become synonymous with the month.
As the year continues, there will hopefully be more horror titles confirmed for October releases. The daunting task of potentially releasing close to GTA 6 is understandable, but when it comes to this specific genre, October is the best time to debut.
Survival Horror
Psychological
Horror
Adventure
- Released
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October 2, 2025
- ESRB
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Rating Pending