It is not often you see a studio jump from managing fuel pumps to fighting off wolves in a frozen hellscape, but that is exactly what Drago Entertainment has done. In a recent Reddit AMA, the team behind the meme-worthy Gas Station Simulator and the newly released Winter Survival sat down to answer questions about their erratic genre hop, the state of their latest game, and what the future holds.
If you missed the thread, don’t worry. We have combed through the comments to bring you the highlights, the fixes, and the “Wait, they made that?” moments.
Winter Survival: Fixing the Chill
Let’s address the elephant in the room—or rather, the bear in the forest. Winter Survival launched to mixed reviews (sitting around 61% on Steam), and the developers aren’t hiding from it. During the AMA, Technical Director Merc_TI was upfront about their immediate priorities.
The team is currently in full damage control mode, but in a good way. Their strategy involves a rapid-fire update schedule:
- Weekly Patches: Expect updates every 7-10 days targeting crashes and game-breaking bugs.
- Balance Adjustments: Difficulty spikes are being smoothed out based on player feedback.
- Cold Wave Tournament: To keep competitive players engaged, they are running a leaderboard event for their roguelike “Cold Wave” mode until December 10th.
The “Gas Station” Connection
Yes, these are the same people who let you run a chaotic gas station in the middle of the desert. When asked “Why gas stations?”, the team gave a surprisingly deep answer. They felt that the simulator genre was becoming too rigid and boring. Their goal was to prioritize fun over realism.
This philosophy explains why their games often feature bizarre elements. The team revealed that many of their best ideas—like the infamous party bus in Gas Station Simulator—came from random team members joking around during development lulls. “What if there was a rave party bus?” wasn’t just a joke; it became a feature.
What’s Next: Airport Contraband
Drago isn’t stopping at survival. They confirmed their next major title, Airport Contraband, is already in the works. True to their style, it’s not just a dry simulation of TSA protocols.
They plan to inject roguelite elements into the gameplay loop, making every shift at the security checkpoint unpredictable. A Steam Playtest is scheduled for January 2026, so keep your eyes peeled if you want to confiscate water bottles and catch smugglers early.
Drago Entertainment Project Roadmap
| Project | Genre | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Survival | Survival / Story-Driven | Live (Weekly Updates) |
| Gas Station Simulator | Simulation | Live (DLCs Coming) |
| Airport Contraband | Sim / Roguelite | Playtest Jan 2026 |
| Motel Simulator | Simulation | In Development |
FAQs
1. Is Winter Survival finished?
Technically, yes. The game has launched out of Early Access, but the developers are treating it as a live service for now, with weekly patches to fix bugs and performance issues.
2. Can I play with friends?
Currently, Winter Survival is a single-player experience focused on narrative and personal survival mechanics like the “sanity” system.
3. What is the “Sanity” system?
Unlike other survival games where you just manage hunger and thirst, Winter Survival tracks your mental state. If your trauma gets too high, you start hallucinating, which adds a horror element to the gameplay.
4. When is the Airport Contraband playtest?
The developers announced in the AMA that the first public playtest on Steam is targeted for January.
5. Are they abandoning Gas Station Simulator?
Not at all. The success of Gas Station Simulator is funding these new projects, and they confirmed that new DLCs (like the Tidal Wave DLC) and expansions are still part of the plan.
Conclusion
Drago Entertainment is proving they are not a one-hit wonder. While Winter Survival has had a bumpy landing, their commitment to weekly fixes and transparency in this AMA is a good sign. Whether you want to freeze to death in the woods or bust smugglers at an airport, this studio seems determined to keep gaming weird and fun. We will be watching that January playtest closely.