Directive 8020 signifies a significant shift from the typical interactive dramas by Supermassive Games. Instead, it offers an immersive space setting and gives players greater control over the direction of the storyline’s development.
I had a conversation with the developers at Supermassive Games regarding their upcoming horror game, and also managed to try out a preliminary version during Summer Game Fest.
With a good grasp of other games by Supermassive Games, as my companions and I regularly enjoy playing the Dark Pictures Anthology during our get-togethers, I felt quite certain about what to expect when I started playing Directive 8020.
It seems I made an error; upon a quick scene change, I found myself plunged straight into a skirmish involving two individuals and their shape-shifting companions – the mimics, extraterrestrial beings who have masterfully disguised themselves to resemble the human crew onboard the Cassiopeia spacecraft.
Directive 8020 forces players to fight or flee from aliens
In this part of the game, I had complete command over my character who was evading a monster disguised as a mimic. Unlike other conflicts in Supermassive’s games that are usually resolved through quick-time events, here, players find themselves immersed in an action-packed adventure. They must either engage in combat, escape or devise strategies to distract the mimics in order to safely elude them.
The game shifted significantly more control to the user than I had expected, and I found useful tools like a scanner for locating monsters hidden in the shadows and a stun gun for fending off encounters.
We refer to this as “threatening exploration,” and we’ve been attempting to reach it for quite some time. However, trying to transform it into a game after its conception often leads to numerous issues. Therefore, we have had to halt our progress each time.
Now, you take charge of the character, which means you have the opportunity to respond differently when unexpected events occur. These situations might feel more intense and exciting. For instance, the Hunter may suddenly emerge from beneath the floor since it can traverse through foliage and other obstacles. This is an exciting leap forward for us as it’s something we’ve been eager to introduce for quite some time.
Additionally, there were methods to divert the mimic’s attention and occupy it, allowing the player to escape to a secure location. I opted for a more aggressive approach, but unfortunately, I still met my demise.
In the end, my character joined the rest of the team, and they entrusted me with a crucial decision: whether to let live or end the life of a crew member who seemed very suspicious. Was he a disguised being or a human? I opted to eliminate that uncertainty, and it turned out he was indeed human… however, based on my earlier choices in the game, his true identity could have been something else entirely.
“We keep saying this is our version of The Thing in space,” McDonald continued.
It’s quite intriguing, the unsettling aspects of the body horror themes. We’ve decided to revamp the monster’s appearance. By extending the game development timeline, we’re giving ourselves additional time to refine and polish the design, aiming for a top-notch result in the end.
As a gamer, I’ve noticed that the Hunter character has evolved over time, taking on various forms. Some versions are purely beastly, while others show signs of transformation into a terrifying half-human hybrid. The diversity in these creatures is quite astonishing!
In our conversation, McDonald casually brought up movies such as Event Horizon and the Alien series, emphasizing that everyone at Supermassive shares a passion for the Resident Evil and Silent Hill video game franchises.
Directive 8020 has eight, hour-long episodes with many branching paths
According to Dan McDonald from Supermassive, the decisions made by players influence future events in the game, creating multiple paths for them to explore at will. The game Directive 8020 features a Turning Point menu similar to Detroit: Become Human, enabling players to review their choices and jump back into the storyline at any point, discovering what would have transpired if they had chosen differently.
According to McDonald, this factor contributes significantly to the game’s length. He clarified that Directive 8020 consists of eight separate episodes, with each episode lasting approximately an hour. However, due to the numerous possible paths within the game, experiencing the entire narrative might take you considerably more time.
In our game, there are numerous paths for the players to explore, and key decision points will make it simpler for them to access these branches. Unlike before where they might need to replay the entire game to see all the content, now they can return to certain moments, make different choices, and proceed without starting over.
In our design, which you may have noticed in the Turning Point preview, we’ve divided it into eight episodes. We’re aiming for a format similar to premium TV series like HBO, Netflix, or Amazon Prime shows. Each episode is approximately an hour long, and there are eight of them. This structure serves various purposes, but it also allows you to play at your convenience, perhaps stopping before you continue tomorrow or next week.
Play with up to five friends on one console or online
For Supermassive Games, the multiplayer aspect is crucial in their project Directive 8020. To cater to both seasoned gamers and those new to the field, they’ve incorporated multiple difficulty settings and features tailored for easier gameplay.
McDonald explained, “You’re able to adjust the settings for a more traditional gaming experience.” He demonstrated a point where you had the ability to use a wedge tool to combat monsters. If you opt for the challenging mode, it will function only once, and then be depleted. However, in easier settings, it will recharge swiftly, allowing continuous use. Moreover, altering the accessibility options ensures it will never malfunction.
The team consists of approximately ten individuals. However, there are just five main playable characters, and one more character is introduced during the prologue who plays a crucial role in the mission. It’s a common narrative device for us to eliminate early characters, which includes this character as well.
Absolutely! If you’ve got a group of five characters, you can certainly host a movie night with them. Whether everyone is gathered around one computer or each person is on their own device, the choice is yours. We’re all about making it easy for you to enjoy time with your friends and family, so go ahead and create your dream game night setup!
“We’ve always wanted to go to space”
Absolutely, one question that kept coming up among us was whether they would set the narrative for the latest game in space. Given that all previous Supermassive games share a connection, this trend continues in Directive 8020 as well.
Indeed, they mentioned their longstanding dream to venture into space, and emphasized that they linked this game with actual real-world incidents, just as they do with all their other creations.
Each game in our series links to real-life scenarios, including this one. Initially, when we began the series, we had a clear idea about what the first four games would be like. Moreover, we had a detailed plan for the following four games as well. Additionally, we were already working on ideas beyond that point. However, we’ve rearranged some of these plans and altered their sequence slightly. Yet, one thing remained constant – our intention to explore space. This was always part of our plan.
For this game, there are a couple of connections to the real world. Directive 8020 is one such reference, but it’s quite challenging to find nowadays. It might have just been NASA exploring hypothetical scenarios, though we can’t be certain. This directive pertains to handling an alien presence and enforcing quarantine measures, ensuring they don’t return to Earth.
Additionally, McDonald brought up the initial space voyages by the U.S., particularly the Apollo 10 mission, referring to it as a ‘preliminary run’ before the historic moon landing. He pointed out that the crew aboard Cassiopeia was similarly tasked with a similar objective.
In simpler terms, “They possessed the ability to touch down on the moon, but they lacked the required fuel for a lunar landing. Instead, their plan was to merely pass by and return home. This mission, too, is designed not for a landing.
Based on the brief glimpse I had during Summer Game Fest, Directive 8020 seemed significantly more chilling than other games by Supermassive. The fact that you’re fully in charge of your character adds a whole new layer of fear and increases the potential for scares. I suspect this game will be a massive hit at game nights. With its release date set for October 2, 2025, you’ll have the entire month of Halloween to play it with friends.
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2025-06-12 02:49