Supermassive Games adds free online multiplayer to Directive 8020 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

Supermassive Games released a free online multiplayer update for Directive 8020 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on October 19, 2026. Provided at no cost to owners. It allows up to five players to play simultaneously, with each participant required to own a separate copy and no cross-play between platforms, and it arrived in time for Halloween.

The online mode offers two play options: Custom Mode, where each player selects a character and controls that character when it appears on screen, and Round Robin Mode, where control passes to the next player after a set time interval. During online sessions, players can vote on story choices at decision points, seeing the group’s decision before the acting player proceeds, which adds a cooperative layer to decision-making while preserving individual agency. These modes adapt the game’s original couch co-op Movie Night setup for online play, giving groups flexibility in how they share control during the story.

The lobby screen for online multiplayer lists six crew members — Young, Cernan, Stafford, Eisele, Cooper, and Carter — that can be assigned across up to five player slots, meaning one crew member will always sit out of a full session.

The free update also adds new customization DLC featuring retro-futuristic suits for the crew and introduces 13 new collectable premonitions that hint at future events. These additions give players fresh cosmetic options and extra lore tools that can aid survival or increase tension.

Directive 8020 originally launched on May 12, 2026, for PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S, initially offering only local pass-the-controller multiplayer.

Supermassive Games set the October 19, 2026 release date for the online multiplayer update on October 12, 2026, after telling players over the summer that online play was ‘definitely coming’. The Dark Pictures account on X confirmed the online multiplayer patch was live on October 19, 2026, and the update went live at 3pm BST (14:00 UTC, 10am ET).

The story follows the colony ship Cassiopeia as it travels to Tau Ceti f, a planet 12 light-years away, where survivors encounter an alien organism capable of mimicking humans. The narrative draws inspiration from the films Alien and The Thing, following established sci-fi horror tropes. It spans 8 chapters that use flashforwards revealing future events to the player.

Directive 8020 features 10 characters in total, with the narrative focusing on a core group of 5.

Dialogue choices progress character traits, which unlock alternative destinies that change story outcomes. An optional messaging feature allows the active character to message other survivors during certain parts of the game.

Players can explore side rooms on the Cassiopeia colony ship, finding collectables and story details, and the game includes a lockpicking minigame. Stealth sections require players to sneak around threats, with a second-chance mechanic that allows a stunned escape if caught.

The turning-points system from earlier Dark Pictures games returns, allowing players to replay the story and change outcomes at key moments. It shows locked outcomes and their requirements. Locked outcomes require specific conditions to unlock, such as activating a character’s destiny, a particular character surviving, or achieving a previous story branch.

PlayStation 5 Pro owners can enjoy enhanced visuals in Directive 8020, including PSSR upscaling, dynamic shadows, and advanced ray-tracing effects. The PC version of the game suffers from optimization issues that the developers are expected to address in a future patch. The standard edition of Directive 8020 costs $49.99, with a Digital Deluxe Upgrade available for $10.99, and these prices apply to the PC version on Steam.

Supermassive Games has not published a patch size or separate list of bug fixes for the October 19, 2026 online multiplayer update. Supermassive Games has not announced any additional downloadable content or updates for Directive 8020 beyond the multiplayer patch.

Push Square was not enthusiastic about Directive 8020 at launch, but suggested that online multiplayer might provide a more enjoyable way to experience the story.

Supermassive Games has not announced any additional downloadable content or updates for Directive 8020 beyond the multiplayer patch. Supermassive Games has not announced any additional downloadable content or updates for Directive 8020 beyond the multiplayer patch.