NEWS

Pacific Drive celebrates 600,000 units sold with free DLC

A drive to succeed...

Written by Jason Venter
Published Jul. 18, 2024

Pacific Drive sales have exceeded 600,000 units globally, developer Ironwood Studios has announced. The title, which is the team's debut project, was published by Kepler Interactive and rates as one of the year's “first must-play indie hits,” according to the publisher. Apparently, consumers agree.

Players who take a chance with Pacific Drive will explore the “Olympic Exclusion Zone" while driving a station wagon. It's a mixture of traditional survival gaming (you'll have to scavenge for resources that include various car mods) and driving, with the beautiful Pacific Northwest serving as a backdrop.

“We are blown away by the response to Pacific Drive,” said Alex Dracott, CEO and Creative Director of Ironwood Studios. "This isn’t a milestone we expected to reach when we first started working on it, it’s a dream come true for us. It is a testament to the hard work of everyone at Ironwood Studios. We are deeply thankful to our community for believing in our vision and joining us on this journey. None of this would be possible without their support, and we’re thankful for the chance to continue supporting Pacific Drive and improving their experience."

To mark the occasion, Ironwood Studios has provided a free content update, along with a paid-for contact pack. Both are available now, and the highlights according to a press release are as follows:

Free Content Update Highlights: 

• Photo Mode: Capture and share stunning in-game moments
• PS5 Performance Mode: Enjoy optimized performance on PlayStation 5 for a smoother gameplay experience
• Paintable Car Headlights and Light Parts: Customize your vehicle even more
• New Car Part - Juke Jet: Dodge sideways with the new Juke Jet car-ability part
• New Garage Upgrades: 
• Smart Matter Deconstructor: Throw items into the Matter Deconstructor for efficient disposal
• Vargas Auto-Pac-Vac: Automatically store vacuumed items in the Transfer Trunk
• Interactive Jukebox: Players can now kick the jukebox to turn it on and off
• Expanded Worldbuilding: 
• New recreational points of interest (POIs) 
• New variations on road obstructions, abandoned vehicles, signs and ARDA trailers 
• New explorable rooms and environmental details in tunnels
• New coastal-themed Highway map added to Outer Zone
• New Free Cosmetics: 
• Believer Sticker
• The Golden Dumpster (Hood Ornament) 

Paid Cosmetic Pack Highlights: 

• Dumpster-Themed Content Pack: 
• Re-Cycled Steering Wheel
• Dumpster Devotee Decal Kit
• Gift Shifter
• Air Trashener (Mirror Ornament)
• Dumpster Idol (Bobblehead)
• Cuddle Can (Antenna Topper)

If you would like to try Pacific Drive, look for it on the PlayStation 5, where it retails for $29.99. It also is available on PC, courtesy of Steam and the Epic Games Store. Currently, the title is available at a 40% discount on all three digital stores, carrying a sale price of $17.99.

Jason Venter (Managing Editor)

Jason Venter has been writing about games since he discovered the medium as a small child, but people didn't start paying him until around 2002. He began by writing online at HonestGamers, the site he founded, and spent a few years writing for Hardcore Gamer Magazine. Since then, he has freelanced for leading outlets such as IGN, GameSpot, Polygon, and numerous others. When he's not playing and writing about video games, he spends what little time is left writing and publishing fantasy novels.