The update is a continuation of a series of refinements, which included: Autosave being "a lot less noticeable." Better item spawns, including buried items. Fixed issues where players couldn't pick up items. Conclusion: Is It Time to Come Back?

Despite (or perhaps because of) its unpolished nature, The Long Drive has earned a "Very Positive" rating on Steam from over 47,000 reviews.

Reduced instances of invisible bumps and sudden terrain tears on the endless highway.

Unlike traditional survival games that focus heavily on complex crafting tables, this title focuses on mechanical realism and resource management. You must manually open gas caps, mix fuel ratios, replace bald tires, and clean blood off your windshield. The open road is lonely, save for occasional abandoned structures, aggressive mutant rabbits, and the eerie chatter of your car radio. Key Highlights of the v2024.10.17b Build

The Long Drive is still janky, yes, but it is a "working" janky.

This specific build, categorized as a "test" branch update, introduces several quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes:

The Long Drive - UPDATE V2024. 10.17b_test and previous patchnotes - Steam News. Is The Long Drive done yet? | 2026 Review

: Re-introduction of cacti and rocks to the desert landscape.