As part of this year’s Future Games Show Summer Showcase during Summer Games Fest, developer Supermassive Games has shared a new look at its upcoming sci-fi survival horror title Directive 8020. Alongside the fresh gameplay trailer, the studio introduced a major new feature called Turning Points, offering players expanded narrative control.
The newly revealed trailer invites viewers aboard the Cassiopeia, the game’s primary setting, and provides a glimpse into some of the threats lurking within. Among the features showcased is “The Scanner”, a tool used by characters to distinguish between human and alien crewmates. Tension escalates in the hydroponics bay, now overrun by a hostile alien substance. Here, players witness two crewmembers face off against mimic versions of themselves, while also encountering new, twisted variants of characters Cernan and Williams – known as the Hunter Variants.
Central to this update is the Turning Points mechanic. A first for the Dark Pictures series, this feature allows players to rewind the story to key narrative moments, revisiting decisions to explore different paths, unlock missed sequences, or alter the course of events entirely. Those seeking a more intense challenge can opt for Survivor Mode, which removes the option to rewind, reinforcing the consequences of every decision.
Commenting on the inclusion of this new mechanic, Will Doyle, Creative Director for the Dark Pictures anthology at Supermassive Games, said:
With Directive 8020, we’re introducing a brand-new major gameplay feature—Turning Points. For the first time in a Dark Pictures title, players can rewind the story to key decision moments and change the outcomes. It’s an exciting step for us, especially with a story that has branching and multiple endings. It’s all about giving players more control, more replayability, and more ways to uncover every layer of the story.
Directive 8020 is set for release on 2 October 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.=
