Directive 8020 is the fifth entry in Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology, this time set aboard a colony ship in deep space. One of the biggest questions surrounding the game is how multiplayer works, especially for fans who have been playing the series with friends since Man of Medan. The answer involves a few important distinctions between what is available at launch and what is coming later, so here is everything confirmed.
Directive 8020 Multiplayer Overview
| Feature | Status |
| Single-Player | Available at launch |
| Local Couch Co-Op (Movie Night) | Available at launch (up to 5 players) |
| Online Multiplayer (Movie Night) | Coming as a free post-launch update |
| Shared Story Online Co-Op | Not available in Directive 8020 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam) |
| Price | $49.99 (Standard) / $59.99 (Deluxe Edition) |
Does Directive 8020 Have Co-Op?
Yes, Directive 8020 supports local couch co-op for up to five players through the returning Movie Night mode. This has been a feature of The Dark Pictures Anthology since the beginning, and it returns in full for this entry.
However, if you were hoping to play through the story online with a friend as a shared two-player experience, that mode is not present in Directive 8020. The Shared Story online co-op that defined earlier entries in the series has been removed for this installment.
How Does Movie Night Mode Work in Directive 8020?
Movie Night mode is the local multiplayer option available at launch. Here is how it works:
- Up to five players can participate on the same couch using a single controller
- Players choose which crew member or members they want to control
- The controller passes between players as the game moves from character to character
- All players can vote on key decisions, adding a social layer to the story
- Turning Points, the game’s new rewind feature, adds an extra dimension in group play. If a character dies, the group can collectively decide whether to accept the outcome or rewind and attempt a different result
You can set up Movie Night mode in either a fixed assignment format, where each person controls specific characters throughout, or in a round-robin format, where the game prompts the next player when it is their turn to take over.
Is Directive 8020 Online Multiplayer?
Not at launch. Directive 8020 launches on May 12, 2026 with local co-op only. However, Supermassive Games has confirmed that online Movie Night multiplayer will arrive as a free post-launch update, bringing the same couch co-op experience online for players who want to play with friends remotely.
No specific date has been given for this online update at the time of writing.
What Happened to Shared Story Mode?
Previous entries in The Dark Pictures Anthology featured a Shared Story mode that allowed two players online to simultaneously control different characters and experience separate but connected parts of the same story. This mode does not appear in Directive 8020.
Supermassive Games has stated that Shared Story mode created significant restrictions on narrative branching and introduced technical complications. Removing it allowed the team to build more branching story paths and deliver a less restricted gameplay experience overall. Supermassive has also confirmed through their official Discord that Movie Night was the more widely played mode among the player base, which influenced this decision.
This change has disappointed a portion of the fanbase, particularly players who played previous entries exclusively through Shared Story with long-distance friends. However, the upcoming online Movie Night update will at least allow those players to experience the game remotely once it arrives.
Turning Points and How It Changes the Multiplayer Experience
One of the new features in Directive 8020 is Turning Points, which allows players to rewind pivotal story decisions using a visual branching tree. In multiplayer, this creates a genuinely different social dynamic compared to previous games.
When playing in Movie Night mode, the group can debate together whether to accept a character’s death or rewind and try to save them. This makes each session feel unique, as no two groups are likely to make the same calls. However, players who want a more intense, high-stakes experience can switch to Survivor Mode, where all decisions are permanent and Turning Points are locked until the story is completed.
You can switch between Explorer Mode and Survivor Mode at any point through the options menu.
Directive 8020 Multiplayer: What You Can and Cannot Do
| Feature | Available |
| Play solo | Yes |
| Local co-op (up to 5 players) | Yes, at launch |
| Online Movie Night | No, coming as a free update |
| Shared Story online co-op | No, removed from this entry |
| Vote on decisions in group play | Yes |
| Use Turning Points in group play | Yes (Explorer Mode only) |
Where to Buy Directive 8020
You can purchase Directive 8020 via the following platforms:
- PlayStation Store for PS5
- Xbox Store for Xbox Series X/S
- Steam for PC
- Physical copies are available through retail stores, published by Bandai Namco
The Standard Edition is priced at $49.99. The Deluxe Edition, which includes the exclusive soundtrack composed by Jason Graves, additional outfit packs, collectibles, cinematic filters, and a digital artbook, is priced at $59.99. Players who pre-ordered the game received the Deluxe Edition upgrade at no extra cost, available for a limited period while stocks lasted.
Directive 8020 offers a solid couch co-op experience at launch, with online play confirmed to arrive later at no additional cost. If you have been waiting for the online update before jumping in, keep an eye on Supermassive’s official channels for a release date.
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