- ADRIFT IS OUT NOW - 9 December 2025
Hey folks,It’s hard to believe I can finally say this but ADRIFT is OUT NOW. It has been an incredible journey developing ADRIFT. Words can’t truly explain what it’s like to develop a game by yourself and see years of learning come together. It might be cliché but I’ve learned a lot about myself and the development process. ADRIFT is very much a labour of love, I hope you enjoy it as much as I spent making it. Please drop a review or send feedback in the Steam forums. Thanks so much,Stefan, S.K.9.8
- New Release Date & Poetry DevLog - 1 December 2025
Hey folks!I've had my head down focused on the final finishing touches for ADRIFT and I'm pleased to announce that ADRIFT will launch next week on December 9th!I also thought I'd put some thoughts together on one of the other major inspirations for the game - Poetry. “Listen-It’s never-ending analysis that wounds us.Why not circle away in the seasons, adrift”I was already a while into development and I had been struggling to come up with a name for my game. It wasn’t until I found myself reading some old Chinese poems by T’ao Ch’ien that ‘ADRIFT’ was staring back at me. Throughout ADRIFT you will discover poems hidden across the world whether that’s from entering a new biome or if you decide to explore off the beaten track. Since the beginning of its development, I’ve described ADRIFT as a poem about getting lost in order to find your own way. I’d argue that it reflects how I felt after…
- ADRIFT Release Date Update - 24 October 2025
Hey folks,First off, I just want to say thank you for the support over the past few months - from everyone who's played the demo, shared feedback or followed the game on social media. It's been a amazing seeing people connect with the project, and I can't wait to bring this game out in its best state.That said, after a lot of thought and discussion with my publisher, we've decided to delay ADRIFT's release slightly. As this is my first game, I really want to get it to a state I'm proud of before putting it in your hands! Having pushed for the end of October, I've got the game to the major milestone of being content complete, but as I've played it and had feedback, it's clear it needs a bit more time spent on polishing off the rough edges and making sure it plays as smoothly and cleanly as I want it to.I know delays are never fun to hear about, but I truly believe this extra time will ma…
- DevLog - The Dakar Rally - 8 October 2025
Hey folks! ADRIFT launches on October 30th so I thought I’d put together a DevLog on the run up to launch and touch on one of the big inspirations for ADRIFT - The Dakar Rally. The Dakar Rally, or simply ‘The Dakar’ is an annual off-road endurance event crossing extremely difficult terrain. It originally started in Paris before contestants raced across the Sahara Desert before reaching the city. This year’s Dakar Rally took place in Saudi Arabia taking participants over two weeks to complete the 7,700km journey. Each day of the rally is made up of timed off-road stages where competitors must finish a stage in the fastest possible time, as well as untimed sections that connect these stages. While ADRIFT isn’t necessarily an adrenaline-fueled racing game (despite having its moments of racing against time!) the Dakar is often described as an incredibly emotional experience. In interviews,…
- Six One Indie Showcase + Release Date Announcement - 18 September 2025
Hey everyone!We're accelerating towards launch now, and I'm happy to announce that ADRIFT is part of the Six One Indie Showcase. I'm really excited to be one of the 47 indies that have been chosen to be part of the event!You can catch the full showcase here.I'm also proud to announce that ADRIFT will release on October 30th. There's still time to jump into the demo for ADRIFT! If you enjoyed your time with it, please consider leaving a review - it helps a lot for discoverability on Steam and will help me with feedback in the run up to launch!Also please consider wishlisting, I'll be dropping some DevLogs in October about my experience making the game and some of the inspirations behind it. Stay tuned,Stefan, S.K.9.8
- Short Games Showcase - 4 August 2025
Hey folks!We're back to back on showcases and I'm delighted that ADRIFT has been selected to be part of Short Games Showcase.ADRIFT is my first game, and it's designed to be short, contemplative experience as you chart your own path through the world. You'll have the opportunity to discover hidden poetry as you make your way down the winding roads, and explore the non-linear areas.I've learned a lot while making this game, and look forward to taking those learnings to future projects, but first I need to launch ADRIFT! I'm currently working towards launch, finishing off some levels and focusing on some polish.Stay tuned for more details on the launch, and if you enjoyed the demo, please consider wishlisting and dropping a review on the demo page!See you round the bend,Stefan, S.K.9.8
- ADRIFT at ChinaJoy! - 29 July 2025
Hey there! I’d just thought I’d give you a quick update on everything that’s been happening since Steam Next Fest. I’ve been super busy adding more and more content as I set my sights on launch (More on that soon!)It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I’m still learning a lot so I’d like to say thank you once again to everyone who played and gave feedback during Next Fest!Also, I’m delighted to announce that ADRIFT is taking part in ChinaJoy! Thanks to the organisers for accepting me into their showcase. I hope you enjoy the demo. If you have a good time, please consider leaving a review. It helps a lot with the Steam algorithms and maybe more importantly, helps me gather feedback on what people are enjoying and what could do with some tuning up! That’s all for today, please consider wishlisting the game and stay tuned for more details on launch soon! See you round the bend,Stefan, S…
- Next Fest Speedrun Contest CLOSED! - 26 June 2025
Hi there! The Next Fest Speedrunning Contest has wrapped up to a close, and I’m happy to announce two winners... Congrats to “Tyrian Mollusk” here on Steam, and “Ghost Shadows” over on Bluesky - a copy of the game at launch is yours! I’ll be reaching out in the next few months to get those keys to you 👀👀From here on out, it’s the road to release so please look out for more updates either here or on BlueSky. Once again, a really great big thank you to everyone who played the demo - all the feedback received has been incredibly valuable. If you enjoyed your time with the demo, please consider putting ADRIFT on your wishlist! See you round the bend,Stefan | S . K . 9 . 8Follow me on Bluesky
- The Journey Continues... - 16 June 2025
Hi there! Steam Next Fest has been a great experience, with new folks checking out the demo for ADRIFT. We've received valuable feedback and discovered some bugs I wasn't aware of. It's one of those rare occasions where finding a bug is a positive outcome! The more I can squash on the way to launch, the better! With that in mind, I'm going to keep the demo available online for a little while longer, releasing small fixes and updates as I go. So, if you have found a bug, be sure to let me know! I'm also extending the Speedrunning Content so that as many of you as possible get a chance to participate. You can leave you times in the comments here or in the Steam Community Forums. See you down the road, Stefan | S . K . 9 . 8
- Next Fest Demo Bug Fixes, New Demo Page & Community Speedrunning Competition - 15 June 2025
Happy weekend! Following on from some feedback on the demo, I've fixed some bugs that included crashes after the early ferry cutscene that was afflicting certain players. If you haven't already played the demo recently, the latest version introduced a lot of quality of life improvements. A new checkpoint after the ferry section, some adjustments to the onboarding experience, smoothed out interacting/dropping/swapping cargo and more. Alongside that, a lot of smaller changes were made under the bonnet that I won't list here (just know that they cleaned up a lot of messy corners). The demo timer that was added can also be used to enter a competition to win full game keys when the game comes out later this year! All you have to do is share a screenshot of your time either here or on BlueSky and we'll select some random winners at the end of Next Fest. The current time to beat is just over 1…
- ADRIFT Demo In Steam Next Fest - 9 June 2025
ADRIFT is part of Steam Next Fest! To mark the occasion, I’ve updated the demo with a few quality-of-life improvements based on your feedback that should make your journey a little easier. I've also made some small changes for new players, so please do leave any feedback!If you missed my last post, there’s now a run timer that appears at the end of your journey, perfect for those of you looking to test your skills. I'm running a little challenge to see who can deliver their cargo the fastest. Just share a screenshot of your best time for a chance to win one of three free launch keys on the post or BlueSky! If you’re enjoying the demo, please consider hitting that Wishlist button and spreading the word. It might seem small, but it genuinely helps ADRIFT reach more players, especially during events like Next Fest. The Algorithm Overlord must be appeased.I hope you enjoy all the little twe…
- Speedrunning Contest - 4 June 2025
Hi there! Steam Next Fest is almost here! I’ve got some updates coming to the ADRIFT demo (more on that soon), but one fun new addition is a timer at the end of your run. It’s great for seeing how long your journey took, and even better for a bit of friendly competition. ADRIFT is all about chilled-out exploration… until you pick up your cargo. Then it’s all about speed. So: who can deliver their cargo the fastest? Once the updated demo is live, share a screenshot of your best time here or on BlueSky. The fastest run will win one of three copies of ADRIFT at launch! The key will be learning the map, finding your route, and then finding a better one. The game’s full of different paths and shortcuts, and I’d love to see how you get it done. If you’re recording or streaming your run, even better (but not required)! More details on the updated demo coming soon. See you down the road, Stefan…
- Press Highlights & A Big Thank You! - 23 May 2025
Hi there! The demo for ADRIFT is out in the wild, and I’ve honestly been floored by the response. It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am to everyone who’s taken the time to play, share their thoughts, or even just post a screenshot. Seeing folks vibing with the atmosphere, the drifting, and making their deliveries (or blowing up, it’s one of the two really) means the world to me. So truly: thank you. On top of that, ADRIFT has been getting picked up by some press outlets, which is still kind of surreal to write out. I wanted to share a few highlights in case you missed them: Firstly, PC Gamer described the game as "aggressively vaporwave" which is a hell of an accolade. I might have to use that line later! Read more here Engadget featured the game in a list of “indie games worth checking out”... Read more here It’s also been featured on 4Gamers, Reboot, and a few other places I n…
- This aggressively vaporwave offroad driving game by a car mechanic turned solo dev just got a Steam demo - 18 May 2025
drift is an upcoming "offroad vaporwave racer" that is, clear as daylight, powered by pure vibes, with a retro-inspired palette that may resonate with people who are interested in relatively lo-fi driving games like Art of Rally —games more about the feel of driving than ultra-hi-res landscapes and cars... Read more.
- The ADRIFT Demo is OUT NOW - 14 May 2025
Hi there! Today is the day! The Demo for ADRIFT is available to download and play RIGHT NOW! ADRIFT began its life as a student project of mine and I just never stopped working on it. I wanted to create something that could give you the zen-like sensation of driving, the thrill of exploration and then the real pressure of delivering a vital cargo on time. In this first small section of the game you’ll get a taste for what it’s like to hit the dunes, drift, and create your own journey. You will find your path and deliver your cargo to where it needs to go, all before the cargo explodes, so be sure to find the destination before you pick it up! There is no right way to get to your destination, so be sure to jump in again and find other paths, and share them here with me! I hope you enjoy the demo, it’s been a passion project of mine for so long and it’s with a mix of anxiety and excitemen…
- Demo launches on 13/05/25 - 9 May 2025
Hi there! So you’ve seen the title, but I’m incredibly excited so let’s say it again: The demo for ADRIFT is coming out on 13/05/25! This will be the first time the game has been playable outside since Gamescom last year and I can’t wait for you all to get a chance to hit the uncharted roads, soak in the vibes, and find your own way. If you haven’t already, please add the game to your wishlist as it really helps me out, and click the “Get a reminder” button in this post and you’ll get notified as soon as the demo comes out. See you out there very soon, Stefan | S . K . 9 . 8
- The First Trailer - 16 April 2025
Hi there! I’m incredibly excited to share the first real trailer for ADRIFT! I’ve made some gameplay videos that I’ve shared around before but this is the first time I’ve got to work with an actual trailer maker. It’s been really exciting to share the vision and the vibe of the game and have someone just _get it_ right away. The trailer really gives you a good sense of how much more you will get to see in the full game, while also setting the tone. I can’t fully explain how big a moment this is for me, as a solo developer who has been working on this game for so long. To see it told by someone else for the first time, and for it to perfectly capture the game is incredibly validating and rewarding. I’ve got a lot more things to show you as development continues so you’re already in the right place. It’s also worth noting that we have a ]bluesky account] that you can follow. I’ve been pos…
- Re-Introducing ADRIFT! - 7 April 2025
Hi there! I’m Stefan, I’ve been working on ADRIFT for the last 3 years and I’m incredibly excited to share the game with you. ADRIFT began its life as a student project of mine and I just never stopped working on it through other projects, working as a car mechanic and now a full time solo dev. I wanted to create something that could give you the zen-like sensation of driving, the thrill of exploration and then the real pressure of delivering a vital cargo on time. There is no right way to get to your destination with multiple paths and journeys to make. I can’t wait to share the demo, which is coming soon. ADRIFT has been a passion project of mine for so long and it’s with a mix of anxiety and excitement that I present it to you. If this is your first hearing about ADRIFT, it would mean a lot to me (and the Steam algorithm) if you added the game to your wishlist. You can also find me o…
