House 16 Software's open-world survival game ORMOD: Directive nears 325,000 Steam wishlists as the studio prepares to debut a new playable build at Gamescom 2026, offering hands-on access to previously unseen content
ORMOD: Directive, the open-world survival project from House 16 Software, is set to make its first public appearance at Gamescom 2026 with a new playable build. The independent Australian studio has confirmed that the game is now approaching 325,000 wishlists on Steam, placing it among the most anticipated upcoming survival titles on the platform. This milestone comes just eight months after the game's initial reveal and follows a series of closed playtests that have shaped its development.
Gamescom debut and new demo content
Visitors to Gamescom will be able to try an updated build of ORMOD: Directive at Hall 10.1, Booth A033. According to House 16 Software, this version includes gameplay systems and content not previously available in public playtests. The demo is intended to showcase recent improvements, including expanded mechanics and refinements based on earlier testing feedback. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet members of the development team and access limited-run merchandise tied to the game.
The Gamescom build is positioned as a significant step forward for the project, offering a hands-on look at features that have only been described or shown in controlled environments until now. While the studio has not detailed every change, the playable demo is expected to highlight the game's evolving systems and provide a clearer sense of its direction ahead of launch.
Gameplay structure and feature set
ORMOD: Directive is designed as a systems-driven survival experience, challenging players to endure against hostile machines, environmental threats, and other players within a procedurally generated world. The game promises infinite, fully customisable worlds, with towns, roads, and terrain generated anew for each session. Players can choose between private sessions with friends or persistent 24/7 community servers, supporting a range of modes including PvP, PvE, Hardcore, Creative, and minigames.
Key features include a tile-based building system, physical and persistent item simulation, and the ability to automate resource production through complex factory setups. Combat is described as realistic and skill-based, with weapon modification, advanced physics, and armour simulation. Survival elements extend to hunger, sickness, temperature, injuries, and farming, while progression is supported by skills, quests, trading, and a dynamic in-game economy. Vehicles such as cars and helicopters are confirmed, each with handling intended to reflect real-world mechanics. The game also introduces a persistent nighttime threat in the form of roaming mechanoids that hunt players after dark.
Development status and release window
House 16 Software has spent over five years developing ORMOD: Directive, with the current focus on refining core systems and expanding content ahead of release. The studio has confirmed a planned launch window in the first half of 2027 for Steam, with no other platforms announced at this stage. Players interested in following the project can wishlist the game on Steam to receive updates on development progress, feature reveals, and future playtest opportunities.
The studio's approach to community-driven development and iterative playtesting has been central to its progress, with feedback from earlier sessions informing both technical and gameplay adjustments. ORMOD: Directive's wishlist numbers place it in a similar bracket to other highly anticipated indie projects, such as those highlighted in recent coverage of upcoming PC releases like the September 2026 launch of Songs of Glimmerwick.
ORMOD: Directive's Gamescom showing will be the first opportunity for the wider public to experience the game's current state, and the studio has indicated that further updates will follow as development continues towards release.
Procedural generation is a core design principle in ORMOD: Directive, enabling the creation of unique worlds for every playthrough. Unlike handcrafted maps, procedural systems use algorithms to generate environments, structures, and item placements dynamically. This approach can increase replayability and unpredictability, but also presents technical challenges in ensuring world coherence and gameplay balance. For players, it means that no two sessions are identical, and strategies must adapt to the specific conditions of each new world.
