#DRIVE Rally: Everything We Know

Thanks to gaming culture, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to enjoy the rally experience. All around the world, iconic rally cars brave the wildest gravel, dirt, asphalt, and snow roads for a spot at the top of the leaderboards. They race so we can fly via our at-home consoles and PCs. However, if you’re looking to kickstart your journey in rally racing, you may find most rally games are real-life simulators, leaning a tad bit more on the serious end. 

Perhaps you’re looking for something a little different? Well, in that case, you’ll be happy to know a new game with an arcade twist on EA Sports WRC is in the works. Tagged #DRIVE Rally, the upcoming game is the sequel to the mobile hit game #DRIVE and is perfect for anyone looking to play a more casual take on rally culture. But what exactly do we know about the gameplay, development, and release date? Follow along as we uncover everything we know so far about #DRIVE Rally.

What is #DRIVE Rally?

#DRIVE Rally is an upcoming arcade racing game currently in development by Pixel Perfect Dude Studios. It’s the sequel to the mobile hit game #DRIVE, an endless driving game that draws inspiration from the road and action films of the 1970s and 1980s. #DRIVE Rally, on the other hand, is a rally-focused game. It’ll embody the spirit of the 1990s, taking players back to relive one of the most exciting rally eras in motorsport history.

Story

As far as we can tell, all roads in the upcoming #DRIVE Rally lead to the 90s rally championship games. The game plans to curate an unforgettable experience for nostalgic rally fans but also hopes to reignite the rally spirit of the '90s for newcomers. #DRIVE Rally plans to do so by adding plenty of throwback moments, nods, and Easter eggs fondly curated for car enthusiasts’ pleasure.

Gameplay

Prepare to speed through gravel, asphalt, dirt, and snow roads. You’ll choose from a roster of legendary rally cars while winding down stunning landscapes. At the forefront of your gameplay will be speed, speed, speed. According to Steam, #DRIVE Rally will feature diverse locations. Some of these include the sunny landscapes of Dry Crumbs, the chilly wilderness of Revontuli, and the whispering woods of Holzberg.

You’ll also take the wheel behind legendary cars, including the Bobond, Doggo, Das Holzwagen, and many more. As the game focuses on the ‘90s era of rally racing, you can expect some iconic rally cars to make a comeback—Sandstrum and Celestia, to name a few. As any rally fan will tell you, there’s no racing without a co-driver. Get ready to meet an exciting bunch of wacky co-drivers. They’ll cheer you on but also be your biggest critics.

Customization is a huge part of racing games today. And #DRIVE Rally makes sure to include a custom editor for you. You’ll be free to build cars after your own heart from the ground up. You can switch up the paintwork, body, and decals and even add custom decorations as you please. As for the mechanics, #DRIVE Rally plans to incorporate easy-to-use controls that beginners can quickly jump into. But also add addictive, challenging, and demanding arcade mechanics to create room for climbing up the rookie-to-veteran ladder.  

Oh, and you’ll have a photo mode too. Here, you’ll mix your creative juices to create the perfect shot to share with friends. These will be your personal #DRIVE Rally moments, in which you’ll be free to adjust angles and filters as you wish.

Development

Pixel Perfect Dude will be developing and publishing #DRIVE Rally. They seem pretty enthusiastic about the project, having held a Discord Q&A session on November 24, 2023, to get in touch with fans about the project. You can check out the Q&A answers here. 

They’ve also held a #DRIVE Rally Car Paint Contest, whose winners they announced on December 1, 2023. When asked whether the studio plans to hold any future contests, like best fan-made vinyl, developer and CEO of Pixel Perfect Dude, Dariusz Pietrala, responds that “the car paint contest is just a beginning!”

Trailer

#DRIVE Rally has a reveal trailer out now. It draws a pretty clear picture of what to expect, including some humorous banter from your hot-tempered co-driver and arcade-y visuals shifting gears in the rally gaming world. It’s definitely refreshing from the bland co-driver personality, or lack thereof, we’re used to. Also, while #DRIVE Rally doesn’t have licensed cars like EA Sports WRC, the Audi Sport Quattro S1 featured in the trailer, inspired by its real counterpart, looks pretty good.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

#DRIVE Rally is coming in 2024. We can confirm that the game will launch on PC platforms via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and Mac. While the mobile hit game #DRIVE was launched on mobile platforms, #DRIVE Rally will not make it to either Android or iOS. In a Q&A session held on Discord, developer and CEO of Pixel Perfect Dude, Dariusz Pietrala, reveals that “We're a small indie studio, so we have to make priorities – and right now our main focus is to deliver the game to PC's and Consoles.” So, while the specific consoles remain unclear, it’s possible #DRIVE Rally could make it to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One platforms as well.

As for editions, we are yet to know what will be in store at the moment. However, we do know that the studio is aiming for a roughly $20 price tag and that a special launch discount may also be in consideration, but that’s all. Feel free to add the game to your wishlist on Steam here to get a notification as soon as the game drops. Meanwhile, you can also follow the official social handle here to keep track of new updates as they come up.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of #DRIVE Rally when it drops on PC in 2024? Let us know over on our socials here.