Highly anticipated open-world survival game to debut an all-new Gamescom build featuring never-before-playable content
Perth, Australia – August 18, 2026 – House 16 Software today announced that ORMOD: Directive has nearly 325,000 Steam wishlists, marking another major milestone as the highly anticipated open-world survival game prepares for its first public appearance at Gamescom 2026.
Watch the new gameplay video showing a first look at the latest content:
Visitors to Hall 10.1 will be among the first in the world to experience a brand-new playable build of ORMOD: Directive, featuring content that has never been available in any previous public playtest. The Gamescom demo includes new gameplay systems, expanded content, and significant improvements developed since the team’s most recent testing phases.
The milestone reflects the growing excitement surrounding ORMOD: Directive, which has steadily built momentum through a series of successful playtests and community-driven development since its initial reveal nearly 8 months ago. Surpassing 325,000 Steam wishlists places the game among Steam’s most anticipated upcoming survival titles and marks a major achievement for the independent Australian studio.
“I’ve spent more than five years working on ORMOD: Directive, so seeing almost 325,000 people wishlist the game since the reveal has been pretty incredible,” said Riley Ainge, Lead Developer & Creative Director at House 16 Software. “I’m really excited for Gamescom. It’ll be awesome to finally meet people from the community face-to-face after chatting online for months, and I’m just as excited to see brand new players discover the game for the first time. Watching people play ORMOD: Directive is always one of the best parts of development.“
Attendees visiting the ORMOD: Directive booth in Hall 10.1 at Booth A033 will be able to:
- Play the latest Gamescom-exclusive build.
- Experience new gameplay content unavailable during previous public playtests.
- Meet members of the development team.
- Pick up exclusive ORMOD: Directive merchandise while supplies last.
In ORMOD: Directive, players must rely on ingenuity to survive against machines, the elements, and other players, all within a deep and systems-driven world filled with mechanics to discover.
Key Features:
- Infinite and Fully Customizable Worlds – Explore a completely endless world that is different every time you play, with procedurally generated towns, roads, buildings, and terrain that can be tailored to your preferred difficulty and playstyle.
- Play Your Way on Private or 24/7 Servers – Host your own survival sessions with friends or join persistent 24/7 community servers across multiple modes, including PvP, PvE, Hardcore, Creative, and assorted minigames.
- Physical and Persistent Item Simulation – Every item in the world exists physically and stays exactly where it is left. Loot shelves for your home base, steal items off other players, or stumble upon the aftermath of someone else’s adventure.
- Unique Tile-Based Building System – Build your base using a flexible tile-based construction system not seen in any other game, then defend it against machines or rival players.
- Full Resource Automation and Mega-Factories – Automate every resource in the game by constructing complex production lines and fully functioning factories capable of manufacturing weapons, supplies, equipment, and more.
- Realistic Combat and Weapon Simulation – Engage in grounded, skill-based combat featuring leaning, slow and fast reloads, complete weapon modification, and advanced physics including penetration and armor simulation.
- Deep Survival Gameplay – Manage hunger, sickness, temperature, injuries, farming, cooking, and medical conditions in an unforgiving world that constantly pushes back.
- Skills, Quests, and Trading – Level up your character, complete quests, trade with others, and interact in a dynamic item-driven economy.
- Dynamic World Events – Respond to helicopter crash sites, global PvP events, airdrops, and other world-changing encounters that create constant opportunities and risks.
- Vehicles With True-to-Life Handling – Repair and operate vehicles such as cars and helicopters, each with realistic driving and flight mechanics, including manual gears.
- A Constant Nighttime Threat – Survive against roaming mechanoids that emerge after dark and hunt players relentlessly, offering danger even when playing alone.
ORMOD: Directive plans to launch on Steam in the first half of 2027. Players can wishlist the game now to follow development updates, feature reveals, and upcoming playtest opportunities.
About House 16 Software
House 16 Software is a West Australian-based independent game studio focused on creating ambitious, systems-driven experiences built with depth and longevity in mind. After more than five years of development on ORMOD: Directive, the team is preparing to launch its first title, bringing together survival, automation, and multiplayer elements in a uniquely reactive sandbox world.
