Publisher Kepler Interactive and developer Ironwood Studios have released another free update for Pacific Drive, their supernatural adventure game.

Here’s a rundown on the update, plus a new trailer:

This major update introduces a range of exciting features, giving players greater control over their car, environment and overall experience as they navigate the desolate roads of the Pacific Northwest.

This is the game’s most significant update since its February release, introducing six gameplay presets, in addition to the default Pacific Drive setup, giving players new experiences such as Iron Wagon, Scenic Tour and Mechanic’s Road Trip. For the bravest drivers, Iron Wagon brings a high-stakes challenge where failing a run results in permadeath and the loss of the save file. Meanwhile, Scenic Tour offers a more relaxed, story-driven experience by removing the possibility of death and reducing overall difficulty. Mechanic’s Road Trip alters how different types of terrain impact driving and how the car responds to various status effects, adding further depth to the gameplay.

These presets can be fine-tuned with over 50 new settings, offering even more ways to experience Pacific Drive. Players can adjust gameplay elements like terrain impact, storm intensity, damage modifiers and crafting requirements, among others. Additionally, Ironwood Studios has implemented further performance optimizations delivering improvements across all platforms. 

Free Content Update Highlights: 

Gameplay Presets:

• Iron Wagon: Significantly increases difficulty, adds permadeath
• Scenic Tour: Lowers difficulty, removes death and reduces requirements to driving, hazards, damage and crafting
• Mechanic’s Road Trip: Driving is impacted by the terrain and status of the car. Items cost more to repair and cannot be crafted while on runs
• Joyride: The same gameplay and tension as Pacific Drive, but gathering, crafting and research requirements are all lowered. Damage and failure penalties are minimal
• Nuclear Journey: Every map will be filled with lose dose radiation that is harmful to the player. Storms are faster and stronger, hazards and damage are more plentiful
• Olympic Gauntlet: All aspects of the game are much harder. An extreme gauntlet to challenge the most dedicated breachers

Gameplay Settings (over 50+ in total), highlights include: 

• Customization to the car:
• Performance challenge can be tuned on every surface type
• Engine power can be tuned
• Flat tire severity
• New slider to control crafting requirements
• Radiation can now be made invisible
• Ambient radiation can be added across the entire game
• Instability shown on the route planner can be controlled
• Added controls for the storm including storm speed and the radius to the Exit Gateway
• Trunk Bonk can be flagged to instant kill the player
• New Free Cosmetics: 
• The Balloon Blaster (Mirror Ornament)
• The Scrappy Gladiator (Antennae)

Anomalous Customization Pack:

• Bunny Express (Bobble Head)
• The Mail Opener (Hood Ornament)
• Souvenir Shifter
• Anchor Steering Wheel
• Vacation Sticker
• Decal Kit: Wave of the Future

Pacific Drive has been available since February 2024 across Windows PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store) and PlayStation 5.