How to find the Serial Number for the Probe in Directive 8020

Two astronauts stood by the probe in Directive 8020 tau ceti f — (Image credit: Supermassive Games)

Just as you think you've made it through a tense episode of Directive 8020, you hit a puzzle that requires a key code to progress. Whether you've decided to send a distress signal or a warning to Earth in episode 7, you'll still need to find the serial number for the probe. It's not exactly hidden in plain view either.

Much like every other key code you need to find throughout the game, you need four numbers to progress to the next part of the story. Rather than being a huge elaborate puzzle to solve, it's more about looking in the right places. Here's what you need to do so you can get into the probe.

How to find the serial number for the probe in Directive 8020

The serial number for the probe is 2540.

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You can find the answer yourself by using the two screens displaying part of the number on either side of the probe. Due to the storm on Tau Ceti f corrupting the probe, conveniently, parts of the number on both serial number screens are missing. This is where the simple task becomes that little bit more challenging, as we've only got two parts, and one entire number seems to be missing.

Fortunately, the first screen is next to where you need to input the serial number and shows 40 at the end of the four-digit sequence. If you head around to the back of the probe, and look for where you pinch the replacement chip from, you'll find the second serial number screen. This only shows a 2 at the very beginning of the sequence, leaving the second digit for us to figure out. However, if you head toward the rocks to the right of the probe, you'll find a third serial number screen hidden behind them. This displays the final number we need to complete the sequence: 5.

A player stood over a serial number rock in Directive 8020 showing the number 5 — (Image credit: Supermassive Games)

You'll need to input this code once you've replaced the overloaded chip with the replacement unit found at the back in order to send either your distress signal to initiate your rescue, or the warning to Earth. This is one of the most significant sections of the game's story, and even though there's no alien lifeform stalking you down, it still feels like there's a lot of pressure on you to get it right the first time which doesn't help with remembering the order each number goes in.

Kara is an evergreen writer. Having spent five years as a games journalist guiding, reviewing, or generally waffling about the weird and wonderful, she’s more than happy to tell you all about which obscure indie games she’s managed to sink hours into this week. When she’s not raising a dodo army in Ark: Survival Evolved or taking huge losses in Tekken, you’ll find her helplessly trawling the internet for the next best birdwatching game because who wants to step outside and experience the real thing when you can so easily do it from the comfort of your living room. Right?