Nova Drift News

[p]Hello all,[/p][p][/p][p]Today we are launching not one but TWO major versions that have been brewing in the beta branches for months:

1.2.37 : Save and Quit Feature + minor fixes
1.2.35 : A huge amount of fixes, tweaks, and a balance pass[/p][p]
But of course this is all rolled into 1.2.37, which you should now have access to in the default branch.

Read the entire patch notes here.[/p][p][/p][p]Here are the highlights:[/p][p]- Added a Save and Quit feature: Resume your game-in-progress anytime![/p]

• [p]Note that when using Resume, your score will not be submitted to online leaderboards.[/p]
• [p]Added settings for the Save and Quit / Resume run feature which allows you to toggle when your run should be auto-saved. Note: In resumed runs, your final score won't be shared to online leaderboards[/p]

[p]- A slew of bug fixes[/p][p]- Major balance changes touching but not limited to:[/p]

• [p]Saturation Fire[/p]
• [p]Bastion Shield[/p]
• [p]Constructs[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Also a reminder that these changes are reflected in the newly launched Mobile Versions as well:
[/p]

• [p]iOS App Store[/p]
• [p]Google Play[/p]
• [p]Itch.io (Android APK with no Googly features)[/p]

[p][/p][p]There is more on the horizon, Nova Drift continues to evolve across space and time it seems...[/p][p][/p][p]Miles @ Pixeljam[/p]

[p]Hello all, [/p][p][/p][p]It's been a while since we dropped any news, and as usual there is a lot going on:[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h2]Nova Drift Mobile - Now Available[/h2][p][/p][p]The mobile version features a highly customizable touch-control scheme, mobile gamepad support, optimized performance, and all features from the PC version.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]You can buy the Premium version or try out the free, but limited Lite version. The Premium version is the full game, and the Lite version is a free demo that lets you play until wave 60 and limits unlocks.[/p][p]Neither have any ads or IAP. There's even itch.io build for Android if you don't use the Play store.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]🔹iOS Premium: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nova-drift/id6744329971[/p][p]🔹iOS Lite: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nova-drift-lite/id6746450915[/p][p]🔹Android Premium: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chimeric.novadrift[/p][p]🔹Android Lite: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chimeric.novadriftdemo[/p][p]🔹Android (Itch) https://pixeljam.itch.io/nova-drift-android[/p][p][/p][h3]Transferring Your Save Data From PC to Mobile[/h3][p]In case you need to do this, here's how:[/p][p]There's a feature in the mobile version's settings that lets you PASTE your save data from your phone's clipboard. The Nova Drift save file is just plain text. So to get it on your clipboard you could do one of two things-[/p][p]1) Email the contents of save.ini to yourself and then copy it on your mobile. Here is where the save file is located:[/p][p]PC: C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\NovaDrift\\[/p][p]MAC: ~/Library/Application Support/com.pixeljam.stardriftmac[/p][p]For the PC path, just change "USER" to your username.[/p][p]2) Alternatively, you could use a USB / charging cable to connect your phone to your computer and transfer the file that way, then copy the contents of the file.[/p][p]Finally, go to Settings -> Account -> Paste Settings From Clipboard.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h2]What's Coming Up?[/h2][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Save & Quit Feature[/h3][p]Better late than never right??[/p][p][/p][p]We're already testing this feature on the Steam beta, and it works great. You can freely leave your game and pick it up whenever. The enemy wave you're facing will restart, but almost everything about the state of the player will be retained, including conveniences like unclaimed experience orbs.[/p][p]The only limitation is– since restarting the wave is naturally going to be exploitable– games where you've used this feature won't submit your score to online leader boards. So if you're competing, you should still finish your run in one sitting, but otherwise, you can freely put games on hold.[/p][p]We'll deploy this as soon as possible for both PC and mobile.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Consoles![/h3][p]Polycrunch Games (just one awesome guy, btw) has made us an amazing mobile port, and has been very forward-thinking while engineering it. We're ready to hit the ground running with all major console ports, targeting a 2026 release. Of course, you never know with these things. Working with huge corporations is never fast, each platform has their own highly specific requirements, and actual game development is only one part of the process. I expect piles of digital paperwork, waiting on submission approvals, and unexpected troubles. But that is the job and we are equal to it. We will get it done![/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Optimization[/h3][p]With consoles on the way, I've continued working on projectile optimization. Projectile calculations are by far the most demanding aspect of Nova Drift. I'm currently testing a new settings feature that lets you tell the game how aggressively you want the game to optimize projectiles by squarshing them together. If that setting is on, it does this by combining excessive player projectiles into fewer projectiles that have the combined damage and effectiveness. This optimization happens when a lot of projectiles are created at once, or when new projectiles are created when a whole lot already exist. This is designed to have as little impact on performance as possible. For example, powers like "Corrosion" that care about how many times your projectiles hit won't be adversely affected... if two projectiles were clumped together, it will simply deal twice the damage and apply twice the stacks of corrosion.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h3]Downloadable Content?[/h3][p]I'm not ready to talk about this or to promise anything (I've learned I work best under these conditions) but I would like you to know that I have been working on, and experimenting with, many fun things![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Also, in case you haven't been keeping up on the Discord, we've been bug fixing and adding QoL regularly, since the game released. We've just been quiet about it.[/p][p]That's all for now, enjoy the mobile version, and I'll keep you posted. Thanks for reading, Drifters.[/p][p][/p][p]-Jeffrey[/p]

[p]Dear Drifters, [/p][p]I know I've been pretty quiet lately, but there's been a lot going on behind the scenes. I'll catch you up, and then I'd like to tell you about the next Pixeljam game, Dino Run 2, which I was a big part of way back before Nova Drift![/p][p][/p][h3]Chimeric News:[/h3][p]If you're not already aware, Nova Drift was built in GameMaker. This often surprises people. I think this is partially because of how far we've pushed its capabilities, but also because people don't realize how far GameMaker has come since its early days when it was known as more of a hobbyist's tool. It's powerful now! Still, as we work on porting for mobile and consoles, we're starting to see its limitations, and as my next project approaches, I'm thinking it's time for a change. I continue to believe it is the best tool for rapid prototyping, and perhaps the easiest engine to pick up, especially for people with a more creative than technical background, and so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, unless they improve its compatibility, UI support, and the porting experience, I feel like it's something that most serious game developers will eventually "grow out of".[/p][p]So, I've weighed all of my options carefully, and Unity eventually came out on top for building my future games. I can already hear people groaning. Listen, it's like this: All game engines are bad; The question is, which one is the right kind of bad for you... [/p][p]It's been a crazy adjustment for me as I've been practicing with it, since I'm learning not just a new environment, but also a new programming language, AND at the same time brushing up on my 3D art and vfx. It definitely feels like a power tool compared to GM, but also feels complex and bloated compared to Gamemaker's light-weight simplicity. Anyway, I'm certain that once I'm comfortable with it, I'm going to love having the wealth of tools, support, and visual tech that it offers. [/p][p]In other news, the mobile port for Nova Drift is nearing its final phases, and after that we'll start right on console ports. Also, I'm still considering creating DLC for Nova Drift, likely involving Gear Mutations, and offering it on all of the platforms we'll be supporting.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Prototyping my next game?! (Not to be confused with Dino Run)[/h3][p]I'm very excited to say that I may have finally found an "official" development partner?? We've been carefully reviewing options for the next game to build, selected one, and have begun prototyping it. This game must remain a secret for now, since we aren't sure if it'll be something we'll commit to yet, but I wanted you to know that things are happening. [/p][p]In the meantime, while he's laying down the architecture for that game, I've been working on a cute little app in order to accelerate my learning C# and Unity. I can best describe the side-project as a Virtual Pet crossed with a light-weight fitness app. It's something that I've wanted to make for myself for a long time, but the full pedometer/GPS integration I wanted for it looked like it just wasn't going to happen with Gamemaker. It's been fun, and I'll show the Discord when it's further along. Who knows, might finish it. [/p][p]Once I'm comfortable with the new tools, I'll join him on the prototype and we'll see whether it's worth pursuing or if we need to revisit our other top choices. Once we have any confidence on what we'll move forward with, I can reveal some teasers.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Dino Run 2![/h3][p]For a little background on the connection between Nova Drift and Dino Run, Nova Drift was published by Pixeljam which was co-founded by my friends, Miles Tilmann and Rich Grillotti. Miles Tilmann is also Nova Drift's musician! I don't think many Nova Drift players know this, but I actually got my start in indie Games by being a fan of the flash game Dino Run, a 2008 hit browser game created by Pixeljam. I loved it so much that I sent them some fanart, and surprisingly, this led to me working for them as a pixel art contractor, and eventually allowed me to quit my corporate games job! Over the years, we worked on many retro games together, and this eventually led to the creation of Nova Drift with Pixeljam acting as its publisher. Along this journey, I'd laid down Dino Run 2's early concept art, animations, environments, and mechanical design, but eventually got pulled away as Nova Drift became my full-time job. Dino Run 2 chugged on from then until today, and it is finally ready for the last PUSH, via a Kickstarter campaign, into Early Access.[/p][p][/p][p]Here's some of my early artwork on the game from many moons ago:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And here's what it's looking like today:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]I'm very excited to finally get to play the sequel to the game I imagined when I was but a small Jeff. It's changed in some radical ways since I worked on it, and now includes a super robust Multiplayer Sandbox mode that lets you build while you hang with friends. Actually insane. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Please check out the Kickstarter, below, if for no other reason than to witness the adorable animations and the brilliantly creative work the team has been cooking. Or just drop it a wishlist! [/p][p][/p][p]Wishlist the game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2590330/Dino_Run_2/ [/p][p]Join the Dino Run 2 Discord: https://discord.com/invite/pixeljam [/p][p]Back the Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pixeljam/the-dino-run-2-early-access-campaign?ref=b7d2o9[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks for reading,[/p][p]Jeffrey/Chimeric[/p]

[h2]Nova Drift's new game mode, Daily Challenge is now included as a free update![/h2]

But before I get into the details, I'd like to remind everyone that the World Ocean Day Steam Sale is live now.



100+ other games are participating, and any of your purchases will support vital conservation work to create safer seas for whales and dolphins, as well as fund a brand-new project to retrieve lost ocean fishing gear. Also, there are some amazing titles in the mix!

See what's for sale: World Ocean Day Steam Sale 2025

[h2]One week left to claim your Nova Drift OST on Vinyl![/h2]

Also, our Campaign to bring the Nova Original Soundtrack to Vinyl is more than halfway over but only just barely halfway to it's funding goal. Even if you don't want a record, there are a lot of digital-only rewards for those that just want to support the project, including steam keys for the game (that one could give to friends) at almost half price ($10).



The campaign ends June 12th: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/milestilmann/nova-drift-soundtrack-on-vinyl-and-cd

Without further ado,

[h2]New Game Mode: Daily Challenge[/h2]



Take on a new seeded challenge each day, competing with players globally. All together, there are 10 main Daily Challenges, and 23 modifiers that can be applied to them to in different combinations. This results in an enormous number of unique challenges that cycle daily.

[h2]Here are the main Challenge Modes:[/h2]

[h3]Super Nova Brothers[/h3]
Begin your journey alongside a unique and powerful Ally construct. You and the Ally share a portion of damage taken.



[h3]20-Point Draft / 45-Point Draft[/h3]
Begin your journey in Draft Mode with a different number of upgrade points.



[h3]Serpentine Drift[/h3]
Begin your journey as a Leviathan and munch orbs to increase your size. Protect your head, and don't chomp your own tail! Your only threats are cosmic hazards and yourself.



[h3]Turbo // Turbo Endless[/h3]
Experience a condensed and intense journey. Leveling and wave progression happen much faster.



[h3]Boss Rush[/h3]
Face a gauntlet of every boss. Bosses are faster and much tougher. You earn massively increased score and experience.



[h3]Way Of The Sword[/h3]
Begin your journey wielding a powerful variant of the Swords weapon. It can't be damaged by enemies or create spark projectiles. Only you may wield the Sword. You are faster and can use mobility powers more frequently, but you take more damage.



[h3]Purity[/h3]
Begin your journey with a powered-up Ataraxia Super Mod. Once you have 7 Mods, you can't upgrade anymore.



[h3]Cosmic Egg[/h3]
Begin your journey with a COSMIC EGG, which enemies want to destroy. You're tougher, but if it breaks, you lose.



[h3]And here are the modifiers to those Challenge Modes:[/h3]

• Long Shot - The battlefield size is greatly increased.
  
• Grace - Power-ups last longer. Enemies and constructs drop more power-ups and orbs, and Cargo Trains are longer.
  
• Unbreakable - Your Body Gear is stronger, and body powers are improved.
  
• Unstoppable - Your Weapon Gear is stronger.
  
• Immovable - Your Shield Gear is stronger and shield effects are improved.
  
• Heist - Cargo Trains are much more common but spawn with dangerous escorts!
  
• Hyperactive - You have improved recovery and faster shield cooldown.
  
• Compact - You are much smaller.
  
• Hurt Me Plenty - Everything takes more damage.
  
• Ultra Violence - Everything takes much more damage.
  
• I'm The Boss, Now - You are much larger, and have massively increased hull and shields, but they never recover.
  
• Chosen One - Gear is predetermined, but stronger.
  
• Wilder Metamorphosis - Wild Metamorphosis is enabled and Wild Mods are much more common.
  
• Pandemonium - Wild Metamorphosis is enabled, and every other upgrade only Wild Mods are offered.
  
• Cage Match - Screen wrapping is impossible, but your gear is stronger.
  
• Sterner Stuff - Enemies are much tougher.
  
• Rogue Harder - Rerolls do not exist.
  
• Vengeance - Bosses are much stronger and provide greater rewards.
  
• Slippery Fish - Friction is halved.
  
• Frenzy - Enemies are much faster.
  
• Celestial Shower - Comets are more frequent and numerous.
  
• Cosmic Ballet - Special wave encounters happen much more frequently.
  
• Wilderness - Wild Metamorphosis is enabled.
  

[h3]A few other highlights from 1.2:[/h3]

• Buffs for Blade and Self Destruction
  
• QoL settings added for asteroid visibility
  
• Difficulty adjustments for Scion, Dweller, Seraph, Spitfire, Station Omega, and Star Eater, making them more in line with the power curve of other bosses, especially for Boss Rush mode
  
• Dozens of bug fixes, including some fatal crashes and memory leaks
  

Here's the full change log.

Thanks for reading. I hope you love the update!

-Jeffrey (Chimeric)

[h2]Don't want to miss my next project? Follow me![/h2]
On BlueSky (My preferred platform), or Twitter



We've got quite an active discord with a very chill and inclusive community. The dev team is also pretty active there. There are channels for #ask-the-devs and #feedback. I also enjoy the #game-dev-help channel, which is a space for current and aspiring developers to learn and collaborate. So... come chat with us!

[h2]Want to help Nova Drift grow?[/h2]
Steam Reviews really help! As a tiny operation, Nova Drift relies on its quality and reputation to sell, and fantastic reviews help people choose games with less exposure. Please do take a moment to fill out a short review, even if it's only a few words. It just might make a difference.

Every few moments in the current build of arcade space shooter Nova Drift there's a chance the game will spawn a Cargo Train. Whenever the game decides to spawn a Cargo Train, there's a 1/7777 chance it will spawn a Space Whale instead. "Nonsense," you bellow. "Space Whales are a myth. Designer Jeffrey Nielson has been telling us they're not real ever since the original Kickstarter in 2017." Ah, you poor, unsuspecting mooncalf. You chirpy little starfish. Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide treacherously hidden inside downloadable software packages. Nielson has been telling you porkies.

He did, in fact, surreptitiously add a Space Whale to the game shortly before Nova Drift's 1.0 release back in August 2024, after years of conspiracy theories. This, friends, is the good kind of lie, the kind of lie that makes combing through a million changelogs for potential headlines worthwhile.

Read more