The Long Drive V2024.10.17b -

What comes after v2024.10.17b? Developer Genesz has hinted at two major features for late 2024 and early 2025:

For now, v2024.10.17b represents a stable, enjoyable milestone. It polishes the core desert-driving loop without adding unnecessary bloat.

Released in mid-October 2024, version v2024.10.17b is a significant maintenance and feature patch. Unlike major overhauls that add new biomes or vehicles, this update focuses on stability, bug fixing, and quality-of-life improvements that long-time players have been requesting.

The V2024.10.17b_test update for The Long Drive is a hotfix focused on item interactions, lighting, and physics polish within the game's beta branch. Here are the key changes and fixes included in this patch: New Features & Improvements

Manual Headlights: You can now turn on all headlights and lightbulbs by hand even when they aren't slotted into a vehicle. The Long Drive v2024.10.17b

Note: The developer mentioned that batteries will eventually be required for this, but they are not implemented yet.

Physics Lock: A thin physics lock has been added around the metal bar to improve item stability.

Pumpkin Improvements: The pumpkin has been refined, and players can once again manually toggle it on and off. Major Bug Fixes

Explosive Items: Fixed an issue where explosive objects (like paint cans) would fail to explode when shot. What comes after v2024

Weapon Scaling: Corrected a bug where very weak guns were unable to destroy lightbulbs.

Visual Glitches: Fixed a bug causing the internal "slices" of lightbulbs and big mirrors to appear purple (missing texture indicator). Context from Previous Recent Beta Updates

If you are returning after a short break, recent versions (like V2024.10.16) also introduced:

Expanded Roads: Road types increased from 4 to 12 (currently a visual change). Tall Grass: Re-introduced with improved visuals. For now, v2024

Tape Measure: Added in V2024.10.12, allowing players to measure distances between objects.

Snow Mechanics: Players in the snowy biome can now create snowballs and "snowwalls".

To access these features, you must opt into the "upcoming version test" beta branch through the game's Steam properties. Be aware that these beta builds often break older save files. UPDATE V2024.10.17b_test and previous patchnotes

Scouring the game’s Steam forums and the unofficial Discord server, the reception to v2024.10.17b has been largely positive.

Before we dissect the v2024.10.17b update, it’s worth remembering the core loop of The Long Drive. The game drops you into a seemingly infinite, procedurally generated desert. Your only goal is to drive. There is no map marker, no fast travel, and no hand-holding. You find a beat-up car, scavenge for fuel, water, and food, and manage your vehicle’s health—from engine temperature to tire pressure.

The magic of the game lies in its emergent chaos. A broken fan belt can leave you stranded miles from a wrecked building. A rabbit jumping in front of your car can crack your radiator. The quiet, simmering tension of the desert is the game’s real antagonist. Every update, including v2024.10.17b, aims to refine this experience.