Independent developer 3DClouds has announced AfterZero: The Last Drive, an all-new story-driven survival and driving exploration game slated to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S next year. Revealed during the Galaxies Showcase, the title represents a stark tonal shift for the studio, moving away from past racing titles like Formula Legends into a harsh, freezing post-industrial wasteland.
Set in a world suddenly plunged into an endless winter known as the Frostfall, players take control of a rugged off-road vehicle named “Old Grizzly” alongside a small drone companion named T3DDY. As the designated explorer operating out of a safe haven called the Firewall, players must venture into abandoned cities, frozen lakes, and mountain forests to scavenge resources, repair an old locomotive, and rescue fellow survivors. Survival depends on upgrading the vehicle with specialised tools like grappling hooks, ice tires, and nitrogen guns while managing brutal weather, dropping temperatures, and hostile automated machines controlled by a mysterious artificial intelligence.
According to 3DClouds CEO Francesco Bruschi, the game combines exploration, puzzle-solving, vehicle upgrading, and base management to deliver a uniquely oppressive and unforgiving campaign experience.