After four installments across as many years, the first season ofThe Dark Pictures AnthologySeries has come to a close withThe Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me. To Supermassive Games’ credit,The Devil in Mehas ended proceedingson a particularly solid note. Since its release last month fans have praised the horror game for its true-crime themes and the tweaks the studio has made to its gameplay formula.
Even thoughThe Devil in Meacts as a finale,The Dark Pictures Anthologyseries is far from finished. It’s been known for some time that Supermassive Games has an agreement with Bandai Namco to produce at least eight entries. While the next game is yet to receive an official release date, several references inThe Devil in Mehave confirmed the second season will kick off with a title namedDirective 8020.
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Directive 8020 References
Since the release ofUntil Dawnin 2015, Supermassive Games has built a reputation for filling its games with references to other projects.The Dark Pictures: The Devil in Meis no exception to this. One series of Easter eggs that’s of particular note, though, alludes toDirective 8020. The first of these pops up early on in the game when Charlie and Mark are getting ready totravel to Du’Met’s hotel. On a memorial plaque, there’s a reference to an SS Cassiopeia, a vessel that is now known to share its name withDirective 8020’s starship. Later on, Erin makes a reference to a rocket being launched into space which could be a subtle nod. Similarly, the “Breaking Down Walls” and “Future Vision: Countdown to Mars” collectibles both talk about space as well.
As has become a tradition forThe Dark Pictures Anthologygames, the final premonition that players can find inThe Devil in Meactually alludes to the next entry in the series. While Charlie and Mark arefleeing from Du’Mettowards the end of the game, they can find a painting that shows two astronauts on a space walk. Although neither is heard in the vision, their futuristic outfits make it clear they are fromDirective 8020. Players now have time to think about how they might save the astronaut that’s ejected into space at the end of the premonition.
Directive 8020’s Trailer
After players have reached one ofThe Devil in Me’s endings, The Curator starts to allude to the next installment within the series. He does this by first making a cheeky reference to meeting again in the future. Players don’t have to wait long for an explanation as to why this line is so pointed, because a trailer for theDirective 8020plays after the game’s credits. In another tradition for the series, the video does a particularly good job of setting up the next installment.
From theteaser trailer forDirective 8020, it’s clear thatThe Dark Pictures Anthology’s second season will start with a sci-fi horror experience. Having taken inspiration from theSawfilms inThe Devil in Me, the studio is seemingly now going to dip into the themes that have made the likes ofAlienandThe Thingiconic. In addition to moody shots of a planet, players can hear what appears to be an altered human running rampant.
While most ofDirective 8020’s story is under wraps right now, the message that’s sent out in the game’s debut trailer points to several plot elements. For example, it appears as though the previously referenced Cassiopeia will feature alongside a group of colonizing humans. There are also references to the Cetus constellation, which is where the vampires fromHouse of Ashescame from. This underlines the referential potential ofThe Devil in Me, and the secrets players might not have uncovered yet.
