Dan McDonald, executive producer of Directive 8020, confirmed that the fifth installment of Dark Pictures is set in space for a simple reason: it's fun. The team always knew this would be the title's setting, allowing them to explore a different kind of horror compared to franchises like Silent Hill or Resident Evil, which are grounded on Earth.
A technical leap into cosmic horror 🚀
The change of setting poses a technical challenge for the graphics engine. The developers have worked on dynamic lighting and zero-gravity physics to generate tension. Unlike closed environments on solid ground, the vacuum of space allows them to play with claustrophobia and isolation, offering new narrative tools to scare the player without relying on predictable jump scares.
Forget Silent Hill, now the fear comes in a can 👾
While in Resident Evil you worry about opening a door, in Directive 8020 your biggest fear will be the oxygen filter breaking. Because yes, space is fun, until you remember that outside the ship there's only void and silence. At least on Earth you can run away; here, all that awaits you is a cold, atmosphere-less death.