Note: This article contains spoilers for Directive 8020. If you're eager to keep your crew alive, check out our survival walkthrough.
Are you ready to meet the Curator in Directive 8020? This mysterious figure has always been a harbinger of doom in The Dark Pictures Anthology, but Supermassive Games has shaken things up. Instead of appearing automatically before a character's death, you now have to seek him out by collecting hidden items called O Death secrets. Why? The studio created this as a tribute to actor Tony Pankhurst, who passed away in May 2024. Plus, the next Dark Pictures teaser is now tucked away behind these collectibles, no longer at the end of the credits. To unlock the Curator and that exciting preview, you'll need to find all five secrets. Here's everything you need to know.
1. Understand the Curator's New Role
Why the change? In previous titles, the Curator would appear right before a character's fatal decision, offering cryptic warnings. Now, he remains hidden until you actively uncover O Death collectibles. This shift honors Pankhurst, who originally voiced the Curator. The secrets are scattered across the campaign, and finding even one triggers a brief cutscene showing his desk. After that, the Curator starts appearing during potential death scenes, even if you haven't collected all five. However, only locating all of them will reveal the next Dark Anthology teaser. So, if you want to see what's coming next, you must hunt down every secret.
2. Progress Through Episode 8: "Come True" to Start the Hunt
Your journey begins late in the game, specifically during Episode 8: Come True. Follow the main storyline until you reach the objective "Get to the Hangar." After a cutscene, look to your right—you'll see a receptacle missing a Power Cell. Grab the cell from a nearby corridor, insert it, and crawl through the opening. Ahead lies an environmental puzzle: activate switches (R2 on PlayStation, RT on Xbox) and redirect power by scanning hidden wires (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox). Continue through server rooms and tight gaps. Eventually, you'll find a Simms' Recording and your first O Death secret lying on the ground near a terminal. This is your gateway to unlocking the Curator.
3. Locate O Death Secret #1: This Doesn't Belong Here
Episode 8: Come True — The Way Back sub-area. The character who finds it depends on which crew member is still alive. You'll spot the secret on the floor near the terminal with the Simms' Recording. Pick it up, and the screen will flicker. A short cutscene shows the Curator's desk, and the game informs you that other O Death secrets have appeared in earlier sections. This is your cue to use the Turning Point system to rewind to those segments and continue your hunt. Remember: there are a total of five secrets, including this one. Even without finding the rest, the Curator will start appearing during death scenes—but the next Dark Pictures teaser requires all five.
4. Revisit Earlier Episodes for Two More Secrets
O Death Secret #2: The Man in the Bowler Hat
Episode 1: Little Star — Medical
Play as Carter. After lifting the lockdown, you'll find the datapad on the floor near the medical station. Be sure to pick it up before going through the door that triggers the spacewalk sequence. Missing it means you'll have to rewind later.
O Death Secret #3: Paranoia
Episode 3: The Sample — Search
This one involves Cooper during the search segment. Unfortunately, the original text cut off—but based on the pattern, it's likely near a terminal or datapad in the sample area. Use the Turning Point system if you miss it.
5. Collect All Five to Unlock the Next Dark Pictures Teaser
After snagging the first three, you'll need to find the final two secrets. They appear in later episodes (Episode 5 and beyond), but their exact locations are not detailed in our source. The game's Turning Point menu will highlight chapters with undiscovered O Death collectibles. Use that to pinpoint your missing items. Once you have all five, the Curator will fully manifest, and the next Dark Pictures teaser will play. This teaser was originally hidden at the end of credits, but now it's locked behind this collectible hunt. Congratulations—you've honored Tony Pankhurst's legacy and glimpsed the future of the anthology.
Conclusion: Finding all O Death secrets in Directive 8020 is no small task, but it's the only way to unlock the Curator and the next Dark Pictures teaser. Whether you're paying tribute to Tony Pankhurst or simply eager for a sneak peek, follow these steps, use the Turning Point system wisely, and you'll be rewarded. Good luck, and remember—death is never far behind.