Dead Static Drive is a top-down driving meets survival horror video game developed and published by Reuben Games. It is planned to be released on Windows and Xbox One in early 2025.[1][2][3] The game has a "retro Americana" graphical style, and involves a road trip that takes a turn into Lovecraftian horror.[4]
| Dead Static Drive | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Reuben Games |
| Publisher(s) | Reuben Games |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure, survival horror |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Plot
editThe main character of the game goes on a road trip to reconnect with their estranged family members, traveling between towns and doing quests in each town where they can freely walk around outside their car.[4] The player realizes that the apocalypse is happening and must fight Lovecraftian monsters and potentially stop the end of the world.[5]
Development
editThe game's creator, Mike Blackney, started development in 2014, and 6 months later, in 2015, received a $15,000 Unreal Dev Grant for the game's development.[5][6] Later, he also received funding from the Australian government that enabled him to quit his job as a teacher and continue developing the game, as well as hire an artist and musician.[5] He noted inspiration for the game from the 1981 film The Evil Dead, and horror set in the suburbs and mundane settings, and has described the game as "Grand Theft Cthulhu".[4] Leena van Deventer came onto the project in 2019, as Creative Producer and Writer.
In March 2023, Reuben Games announced that they intended to release the game in the third quarter of 2024.[2]
As of October 2024, Reuben Games expects to release the game in early 2025.[1]
Reception
editStephanie Chan of VentureBeat called the game "stylish but also evocative".[5] Adam Smith of Rock, Paper, Shotgun called the graphics "lovely" and the monsters "refreshingly untentacled", commenting that the game could use some folklore that is not just Lovecraft.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Dead Static Drive". Steam. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
Release Date: Q1 2025
- ^ a b Williams, Leah J. (March 16, 2023). "Dead Static Drive sets Q3 2024 release date". Gameshub. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (March 12, 2019). "Dead Static Drive, Afterparty and other indies coming to Xbox One". VG247. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c Priestman, Chris (November 23, 2016). "Dead Static Drive to be a road-trip horror in vintage Americana style". Kill Screen. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Chan, Stephanie (March 22, 2018). "The IndieBeat: Dead Static Drive is 'Grand Theft Cthulhu' on Route 66". VentureBeat. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Minotti, Mike (March 5, 2015). "First recipients of Epic's Unreal Dev Grants deserve every penny". VentureBeat. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Adam (November 17, 2016). "Dead Static Drive takes you on a cosmic horror roadtrip". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved July 29, 2020.