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Press release:
Perth, Australia – November 21, 2026.
Today, indie developer House 16 Software officially unveils its debut title, ORMOD: Directive, a harsh open-world survival sandbox set in a world that never stops moving. Set to launch on Steam in early 2026!

The game lets players scavenge, automate, build, and battle for control as the ORMOD threat spreads across a vast, machine-infested landscape.

ORMOD: Directive introduces a post-apocalyptic sandbox where no two worlds are the same. Every playthrough generates a unique and fully customizable world, including the placement of towns, buildings, roads, and key landmarks. Players define their own survival strategy across a landscape built from the ground up for replayability, creativity, and challenge.

Blending classic survival gameplay with automation, base-building, and realistic combat simulation, the game offers a world that continues to evolve even when players are not online. Every decision affects survival, whether through diplomacy, stealth, or brute force, and every item in the world exists physically, stays where it is left, and can be picked up, stolen, or repurposed.

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, and 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 is nearing the end of development and will launch on Steam in early 2026. 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.