What to know
- Cat’s Out the Bag is a Bronze trophy in Directive 8020.
- The trophy requires you to persuade Williams to reveal the truth about the mission.
- Your success depends on increasing Cooper’s “Playful” personality trait during earlier episodes.
- Missing even one important dialogue choice can lock the trophy route until another playthrough.
Getting the Cat’s Out the Bag trophy in Directive 8020 is easy once you understand how the game tracks character traits and branching dialogue. The trophy is tied directly to Cooper’s relationship dynamics and her hidden “Playful” stat, which influences later conversations with Anders and Williams. If you do not build this trait early enough, the critical Episode 5 scene will not play out correctly, preventing the trophy from unlocking in Episode 7.
Directive 8020: Cat’s Out the Bag trophy route
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Trophy Type | Bronze |
| Trophy Name | Cat’s Out the Bag |
| Main Objective | Persuade Williams to reveal the truth |
| Key Character | Cooper |
| Important Trait | Playful |
| Critical Episodes | Episodes 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 |
| Missable? | Yes |
| Recommended Playstyle | Explorer mode for rewinds |
| Final Unlock Point | End of Episode 7 |
How the trophy route works behind the scenes
Directive 8020 uses a hidden personality system where dialogue decisions gradually shape each crew member’s behavior. For this trophy, the most important factor is making Cooper appear lighthearted, humorous, and socially playful throughout the story.
Several conversations allow you to respond seriously or jokingly. The “Joke” responses steadily increase Cooper’s Playful attribute. By Episode 5, that hidden stat determines whether Cooper agrees to help sedate Williams during a major confrontation.
If the condition is met, additional story scenes become available later in the campaign, ultimately leading to Williams exposing the mission truth near the end of Episode 7.
How to unlock Cat’s Out the Bag trophy in Directive 8020
Step 1
During Episode 2 – Little Faith, select the “Trust” dialogue option when prompted.
This choice starts the correct relationship chain needed for the later confession sequence. Choosing a hostile or suspicious response may interfere with future conversations tied to Williams.
Step 2
Most of the important progression happens during Episode 3. You need to repeatedly choose humorous dialogue responses whenever possible.
During Episode 3 – Regroup, speak with Anders and Williams.
Choose the “Joke” dialogue option to increase Cooper’s Playful attribute.
Step 3
Later in Episode 3 – Search, access the crew messages and talk to Williams.
Again, choose the “Joke” response.
Step 4
Still during Episode 3 – Search, talk to Anders.
Pick the “Joke” option first, followed by “Dismiss.”
Step 5
These combined choices are believed to provide enough Playful progression for the Episode 5 requirement. Episode 5 contains the biggest branching requirement for the trophy.
During Episode 5 – Drugs, before solving the sedative puzzle, check the crew messages and speak with Stafford. Choose the “Joke” option again.
Step 6
Continue through Episode 5 until the confrontation involving Anders and Williams.
If Cooper’s Playful trait is high enough, she will automatically agree to help sedate Williams while speaking with Anders.
If this scene does not happen, your earlier dialogue choices were likely insufficient and the trophy path may fail for this playthrough.
Step 7
In Episode 6 – Point Blank, choose the “Stand Down” option.
This is the critical late-game choice that keeps the confession route active. Aggressive responses can prevent Williams from revealing the truth later.
Step 8
Reach the ending portion of Episode 7.
If all earlier conditions were completed correctly, Williams will admit that he knew the truth about the mission all along. The Cat’s Out the Bag trophy should unlock immediately after the reveal scene.
Common mistakes that can fail the trophy
| Mistake | Result |
|---|---|
| Skipping Joke dialogue options | Cooper’s Playful stat may remain too low |
| Choosing aggressive responses in Episode 6 | Williams may never confess |
| Missing Episode 5 message conversation | Sedation scene may not trigger |
| Playing without rewind support | Easier to accidentally lock the route |
Why Explorer mode is recommended
Directive 8020 includes the new Turning Points rewind feature in Explorer mode, allowing you to revisit failed decisions without replaying the entire campaign. Since the Cat’s Out the Bag trophy depends on several hidden branching conditions, Explorer mode makes the process significantly easier for trophy hunters.
Best strategy for trophy hunters
If you are attempting a full completion run, it is highly recommended to keep manual saves or use Turning Points before every major dialogue-heavy sequence. The game frequently hides relationship calculations behind seemingly harmless conversations, especially those involving humor or trust.
You should also avoid randomly changing Cooper’s personality direction midway through the campaign. Consistency matters more than isolated choices.
The Cat’s Out the Bag trophy in Directive 8020 is primarily about maintaining Cooper’s Playful personality path from Episode 2 onward. By consistently selecting Joke responses, supporting the sedation plan in Episode 5, and choosing Stand Down in Episode 6, you will unlock the confession scene at the end of Episode 7 and earn the trophy successfully.
