Ranch mission optimized
I’ve just optimized the Ranch mission, now it’s less punishing and more fun!
I’ve just optimized the Ranch mission, now it’s less punishing and more fun!
Saddle Up and Drive
- Released
- Mar 31, 2026
- Platforms
- Last updated
Updates & announcements
- Developer postOriginal post
- Developer post
Only two days left, and Saddle Up and Drive will be released.
On March 31st I will release Saddle Up and Drive here on Steam! First of all, I want to thank everyone who has supported me up to today, including all the people who gave suggestions for the game, those who made videos, and those who downloaded and played the demo. I truly apprec
Original postOn March 31st I will release Saddle Up and Drive here on Steam!
First of all, I want to thank everyone who has supported me up to today, including all the people who gave suggestions for the game, those who made videos, and those who downloaded and played the demo. I truly appreciated every piece of feedback I received, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!
In this last period I’ve worked a lot on optimization and polishing, and especially on hunting down those infamous bugs, I hope I’ve found them all! :)
The game’s launch does not mean the end of its development; it will be a new starting point for continuous updates and improvements. For this reason, your future suggestions will be extremely valuable.
Have fun with Saddle Up and Drive!
Developer postUpdated the Demo with all your suggestions!
A new version of the Saddle Up and Drive Demo is now available! What’s new? Well, we carefully reviewed all your suggestions — and followed them! Many cacti and plants can now be destroyed on impact. We added the ability to destroy wooden fences. The County Competition now has a
Original postA new version of the Saddle Up and Drive Demo is now available!
What’s new? Well, we carefully reviewed all your suggestions — and followed them!
Many cacti and plants can now be destroyed on impact.
We added the ability to destroy wooden fences.
The County Competition now has a reduced number of 5 laps instead of the original 10, so it doesn’t become too demanding and keeps pure fun as the main goal.
When playing the Demo, the first two times you start it you’ll see a short intro, which can be skipped if you wish.
Hey, got more suggestions? Send them our way, we want to make this game even more fun!!!
Developer postNew Mechanic! Burnouts and Better Cornering
By popular community request, I’ve added the ability to perform burnouts with your car! To pull it off, simply brake, steer, and accelerate at the same time. It’s not just awesome to watch, but also very useful for taking tighter corners at high speed and improving overall vehicl
Original postBy popular community request, I’ve added the ability to perform burnouts with your car!
To pull it off, simply brake, steer, and accelerate at the same time.
It’s not just awesome to watch, but also very useful for taking tighter corners at high speed and improving overall vehicle control.A huge thank you to everyone who suggested it, keep the feedback coming!
- Developer post
We’re almost there!
Saddle Up and Drive is almost complete! We’ve planned to finish development by early 2026, and then move on to its release. We’d really love to know if you enjoyed the Demo, and if you have any feedback or suggestions for us, we’d be truly happy to receive them (the Demo includes
Original postSaddle Up and Drive is almost complete! We’ve planned to finish development by early 2026, and then move on to its release.
We’d really love to know if you enjoyed the Demo, and if you have any feedback or suggestions for us, we’d be truly happy to receive them (the Demo includes an anonymous form that only takes a minute to fill out).
We can’t wait to launch this game, see you soon!!!
Developer postEnhanced DEMO
This month, we revised the Demo, slightly lowering the difficulty level to make it more enjoyable. Additionally, we removed the limit of three attempts for the County competition. Now, you can try it as many times as you want—just head to the airport located south of the County a
Original postThis month, we revised the Demo, slightly lowering the difficulty level to make it more enjoyable. Additionally, we removed the limit of three attempts for the County competition. Now, you can try it as many times as you want—just head to the airport located south of the County and get a plane ticket to the racetrack. The competition is very challenging, and only the most skilled players can hope to come in first, but don’t be discouraged—the more you try, the better you'll become!
The map has also been improved: only points of interest for the Demo are highlighted, and information relevant only to the full game has been removed, making it easier to read.
If you have any suggestions, let us know in the comments!
Developer postA little bit of aliens and a little bit of cows
I'm actively working on the central map missions, particularly on the alien hunting one. Since it didn't seem challenging enough, I decided to add, besides the aliens to catch, a flying saucer that drops live cows all around the player to hinder them. Magically, the cows won't ge
Original postI'm actively working on the central map missions, particularly on the alien hunting one. Since it didn't seem challenging enough, I decided to add, besides the aliens to catch, a flying saucer that drops live cows all around the player to hinder them. Magically, the cows won't get hurt, but your car will soon need repairs! Is this a good idea? Do you have more interesting suggestions to propose? Let me know!
Developer postSeven Tracks for Seven Days!
Have you tried the County Competition available in the demo? Did you enjoy it? Here's the news: I’ve decided to develop seven unique tracks, each set in a different environment, all accessible from the airport near the southern border. Why seven tracks? Well, one will be availabl
Original postHave you tried the County Competition available in the demo? Did you enjoy it? Here's the news: I’ve decided to develop seven unique tracks, each set in a different environment, all accessible from the airport near the southern border.
Why seven tracks? Well, one will be available each day of the week. When you visit the airport, you’ll see the day’s destination displayed on the departures board, so you can decide whether to take off or not.
The difficulty of these competitions will remain high, so it’s advisable to participate only when you’ve become skilled enough at driving your car.
If you have suggestions or would like to leave me feedback, you can also fill out the form available in the demo. Thanks for your support!
Developer postNew Demo, with a new level available
In September, the first version of the Saddle Up and Drive Demo was launched. To make the experience more varied and fun, I decided to introduce the possibility of playing the external race, but only a limited number of times, just to give a taste of what can be found in the full
Original postIn September, the first version of the Saddle Up and Drive Demo was launched. To make the experience more varied and fun, I decided to introduce the possibility of playing the external race, but only a limited number of times, just to give a taste of what can be found in the full game (though there will be much more, of course!).
As for the development of the full game, there’s big news. I had already hinted that the main level of the game is the County, located in the center of the world of Saddle Up and Drive and the starting point of every game (you always start at Uncle's house). This central level has three borders: one to the east, one to the south, and one to the west. The eastern border allows access to a vast snowy area, currently under development, which will contain several missions and will have the same gameplay as the central level. In the south, I plan to make a map that leads to the sea, but it's still in the planning stages. Meanwhile, the western area will be procedurally generated through an algorithm. This is a large area, where we will have forest zones, residential areas, and the city center (the entire level will essentially be one large city). Do you have any suggestions for me? At the moment, I'm working on the algorithm and graphical elements, but I haven’t decided what kind of mission to include in a level like this. Let me know your ideas!
Developer postWE ARE READY FOR SEPTEMBER 10th!
Here we are! The demo is finally ready, and it will be released on the 10th of this month. What will you be able to do in this Demo? You'll have just one car available, which you'll need to drive to the only distillery and buy some goods to resell. As soon as you fill the trunk,
Original postHere we are! The demo is finally ready, and it will be released on the 10th of this month. What will you be able to do in this Demo? You'll have just one car available, which you'll need to drive to the only distillery and buy some goods to resell. As soon as you fill the trunk, the police will be alerted and will try to stop you to seize the load, and you'll have to rush to reach the buyer before your car is demolished by law enforcement.
The buyer will always appear in different spots on the map, so there will be many different landscapes to speed through. Just remember to repair your car at the garages found in the various villages between races!
If you explore the game area well, you'll find several characters who will show you what the full game will offer in the future.
Another important event: from September 16th to 23rd, we will be present with the Saddle Up and Drive demo at the Steam Airplanes, Trains, and Automobiles Festival. What better chance to try this game?P.S.: Want to make sure you play correctly? I've published a brief manual, take a look!n manuale breve, dacci un'occhiata!
Developer postWE'RE ALMOST THERE!
Here in Italy, in August, everyone goes on vacation to relax. Not me! I've been working and am still working on the Demo of *Saddle Up and Drive* day and night! What's new? Graphically, I've added new elements to the environment to make the landscape more varied and complete. Spe
Original postHere in Italy, in August, everyone goes on vacation to relax. Not me! I've been working and am still working on the Demo of *Saddle Up and Drive* day and night!
What's new? Graphically, I've added new elements to the environment to make the landscape more varied and complete. Specifically, I've added new cacti and trees, eagles in flight, trash bins in cities, and dinosaur fossils in the middle of the desert.The distilleries' UI has been completely redesigned, making it much smoother to use with a controller.
I've also modified the County Competition; now opponents can be taken out if the impact is too violent, but the difficulty level remains quite high—it's really hard to finish first.
As announced last month, I will release the Demo on September 10th. I invite everyone to try it out and give me feedback so I can perfect the final game according to your suggestions.
Developer postDEMO COMING SOON!!!
The demo version of Saddle Up and Drive is almost ready! It's scheduled for release in early September, just enough time to add a few more details and we'll be set! First of all, I want to thank everyone who gave me their valuable suggestions, which have greatly helped me in grow
Original postThe demo version of Saddle Up and Drive is almost ready!
It's scheduled for release in early September, just enough time to add a few more details and we'll be set!
First of all, I want to thank everyone who gave me their valuable suggestions, which have greatly helped me in growing Saddle Up and Drive. Keep it up!
More news? Lots and lots! First and foremost, I've made another leap in quality regarding graphics, here’s a list of the work done this month:
- Applied a new post-processing effect that generates the 'Outline' effect on all objects in the game.
- All buildings in the game have had a complete makeover: higher definition textures, 3D tiles on roofs, windows with dynamic lighting (they light up at night). Some buildings have been completely redesigned.
- New details on the terrain: fallen trees, new vegetation (including prickly pears, various bushes, trees), rocks, and stones.
- A baseball field, because why not?
And then? I've revised the police algorithm again. Now, police cars will try to avoid obstacles like houses and rocks and will actively seek new paths to catch you.
What’s cooking now? Continuous improvement, both in graphics and code optimization, to make Saddle Up and Drive more beautiful and fun!
P.S.: We now also have an author's page, take a look!
- Applied a new post-processing effect that generates the 'Outline' effect on all objects in the game.
Developer postIMPROVED TEXTURES AND NEW DETAILS
This month we have reviewed all the game terrain textures. We upgraded from low-resolution textures (512x512) to significantly better resolution textures (4096x4096), increasing the graphic quality. The same work has been done on all the textures of the trees and bushes in the ga
Original postThis month we have reviewed all the game terrain textures. We upgraded from low-resolution textures (512x512) to significantly better resolution textures (4096x4096), increasing the graphic quality.
The same work has been done on all the textures of the trees and bushes in the game.
Additionally, some details have been added, such as the urban power grid and some new buildings, like the new town hall of the village of Old Oak.
We will also release a Beta test this month, scheduled for the weekend of June 21st, to gather all your feedback.
Developer postNew Open Beta scheduled for June 21, 22, and 23, 2024
We did it! Thanks to your valuable contribution, we have refined the game and resolved all the detected bugs. Now we are ready for a new Beta, planned for June 21, 22, and 23. What's new? First of all, we optimized the traffic (denser and more efficient), then we introduced new v
Original postWe did it! Thanks to your valuable contribution, we have refined the game and resolved all the detected bugs. Now we are ready for a new Beta, planned for June 21, 22, and 23.
What's new? First of all, we optimized the traffic (denser and more efficient), then we introduced new vehicles and new vegetation. Moreover, the syrup seller has been moved significantly closer to the starting point for quicker action and reduced chances of getting lost on the map.
Your feedback is very valuable, feel free to communicate your suggestions, they will all be taken into consideration!- Developer post
NEW VEGETATION, NEW CARS, AND VARIOUS OPTIMIZATIONS
We have concluded the first Beta, and we have gathered some interesting information, discovered some bugs, and received very useful suggestions. This month, we focused on resolving all the issues encountered, all bugs have been fixed, and the code has been optimized by reducing t
Original postWe have concluded the first Beta, and we have gathered some interesting information, discovered some bugs, and received very useful suggestions.
This month, we focused on resolving all the issues encountered, all bugs have been fixed, and the code has been optimized by reducing the complexity of some geometric calculations.
The traffic system has also been revised, creating a new set of skins for the existing models and introducing completely new vehicles. The vehicle physics calculations have also been perfected.From a landscaping perspective, we have designed new cacti and bushes in various colors, but this is just the beginning, as our idea is to continuously enrich the game environment and make it as varied and detailed as possible.
We plan to launch a new Beta in June, this time open, where anyone can access and give us feedback, with any suggestions.
Anyone who wants to contribute by reporting bugs or sending us suggestions can do so freely at any time in the 'Discussions' section of this Steam page.
Remember to follow us to stay updated! 
Developer postNow we have bumper cars!
Now we have bumper cars! This new mission allows you to make extra money quite easily, it's ideal when everything else goes wrong. By paying the entrance fee, you need to eliminate all opponents (they also eliminate each other). You can repair your car on the track by picking up
Original postNow we have bumper cars!
This new mission allows you to make extra money quite easily, it's ideal when everything else goes wrong. By paying the entrance fee, you need to eliminate all opponents (they also eliminate each other). You can repair your car on the track by picking up spare parts boxes that will appear randomly at certain points.
We have enhanced the gaming experience by creating 3 cinematic cameras instead of just one, with different angles that allow you to fully enjoy the most spectacular jumps you'll make with your favorite car! But, since not everyone might like this interruption of gameplay, we have introduced an option to disable these cameras.
And for the next month? A new mission: the treasure hunt!
Developer postNew missions and new maps!
The new year has started with a desire to go all out! The study of the firefighters' mission was quite complex, but after countless efforts, we managed to successfully develop and test this new part of the game. First of all, we specifically created a map: we asked ourselves, whe
Original postThe new year has started with a desire to go all out! The study of the firefighters' mission was quite complex, but after countless efforts, we managed to successfully develop and test this new part of the game.
First of all, we specifically created a map: we asked ourselves, where do we set this mission? We decided on a beautiful natural park, full of wild deer, in the center of which, of course, there is an oil refinery on fire.
The real challenge was defining the controls, which led us to opt for blocking the fire truck when using the water jet to extinguish fires.
As for the gaming experience, now vehicles explode in a very spectacular way: impacts and forces acting on the involved bodies have been improved, and particle effects have been applied to project debris, pieces of cars, wheels...
What's cooking now? For the next month, we want to develop a demolition derby, which will take place in a separate arena, where you can defeat a bunch of fierce competitors. What do you think?
Developer postNew vehicles and a new mission: the ambulance driver!
Here we are! Even in December, we worked full time to enrich Saddle Up and Drive. As planned, we introduced, developed, and thoroughly debugged the new ambulance driver mission. What does it consist of? First of all, you have to go to the county hospital, then a nurse will ask if
Original postHere we are! Even in December, we worked full time to enrich Saddle Up and Drive.
As planned, we introduced, developed, and thoroughly debugged the new ambulance driver mission.
What does it consist of? First of all, you have to go to the county hospital, then a nurse will ask if you want to lend a hand to the community (in exchange for a generous reward, of course...).
If we accept, we'll find ourselves driving an ambulance with which we'll have to rescue a person within a time limit and take them to the emergency room entrance of the hospital.
What's fun about this mission? Well, since traffic won't be particularly cooperative, you can kindly make your way by smashing every vehicle that obstructs your path, creating chaos and destruction everywhere!
In the traffic, we've also introduced ambulances and fire trucks, further enriching the variety of vehicles in the game and creating new explosive situations!
For January, we have a new mission in the works, which will take place on a side map, specifically in the county's natural park: the firefighters!
How would you set up a mission like this?Your advice and suggestions are always welcome!
Happy holidays!
Developer postNovember Announcement!
Well yes! As anticipated last month, we've devoted heart and soul to the design of 6 new missions, which will be added to the existing 8 missions, not to mention the syrup smuggling business, always very lucrative, although far from risk-free. The first extra mission we've develo
Original postWell yes! As anticipated last month, we've devoted heart and soul to the design of 6 new missions, which will be added to the existing 8 missions, not to mention the syrup smuggling business, always very lucrative, although far from risk-free.
The first extra mission we've developed is... the bikers' bar!
How does it work? Simple, reach the bikers' bar and challenge them in an arena in the desert, where you duke it out with sticks: whoever stays in the saddle wins the entire prize pool!
Moreover, regardless of the mission, a gang of fierce bikers circulates daily on the main map, which is better to avoid, lest you end up with your car reduced to scrap.
The mission for next month? Something good: drive the ambulance to the hospital and take patients to the emergency room, isn't that in tune with the Christmas spirit?
Of course, you'll find yourself driving like crazy in the midst of rather disrespectful traffic for those in a hurry...And now, to work!
Developer postAnnouncement for October!
This month, we have completed the development of the 'Homemade Syrup' smuggling missions, including all the characters and three varieties of available syrup. The value of a syrup cargo to be smuggled has been adjusted according to the difficulty of reaching the seller. Therefore
Original postThis month, we have completed the development of the 'Homemade Syrup' smuggling missions, including all the characters and three varieties of available syrup.
The value of a syrup cargo to be smuggled has been adjusted according to the difficulty of reaching the seller. Therefore, if you want to make more substantial profits in a single run, you'll need to take more risks, traveling longer routes filled with police officers ready to catch you.
As if the police weren't enough to hinder business (and they are!), we've introduced other smugglers who, not at all pleased with competition in their territory, will go the extra mile to further complicate the honest work of the independent smuggler.
Speaking of smugglers, we've added a group of traffickers flying an airplane across the map. It's quite challenging to spot them, but if you do, try to follow them. The pilots are so busy looking for a distant landing strip away from prying eyes that they might lose part of their cargo, all to our advantage!
November is approaching, and we're very excited to introduce some side missions, active every day of the week, allowing you to earn some money by helping the community, so nothing illegal (as long as you don't destroy everything and everyone during your work activity)!
See you next month!