Drago Entertainmenthas announcedthat their 2021 surprise hit,Gas Station Simulator, will be receiving a whopping four DLC packs for 2024. They’ve even outlined what to expect in each pack.
You might wonder what significant additions can even be added to a game about running a gas station. To Drago’s credit, they’ve got some decent ideas for it. The first expansion they have planned isTidal Wave, which transplants your gas station out of the barren Dust Bowl and onto a tropical island. Rather than just being an aesthetic change, they tout that the new location will be “governed by its own unique rules” and then specifically mention “God appeasement.” I guess don’t dump your used motor oil into the volcano’s crater.
The second planned DLC forGas Station SimulatorisShady Deals, which allows you to partake in illegal behavior. Your uncle shows up to build a “pub” which hosts “unsavory characters.” Drago suggests that the expansion will allow you to buy and sell goods of questionable legality and allows you to partake in “avoiding taxes, brawls, or new interactions with the police.” The developer has also decided your gas station is sitting on an oil reservoir, so there will be illegal drilling.
While the next two expansions haven’t been announced, Drago says the one afterShady Dealswill be announced in 4-6 weeks and will be similar to theTidal WaveDLC. The last one will apparently be more “in-line” than their currently availableAirstrip DLCand will focus on expanding your gas station.
Gasoline fumes
When I reviewedGas Station Simulator after it released in 2021, I looked at it rather favorably, saying that it had the jank that you normally expect from “simulator” games but also had a decent amount of mechanical chew. I’m still rather fond of the game, even thoughFood Truck Simulatorby the same developer was a disastrous disappointment. I kind of wish that game was getting more focus in terms of fixes and updates.
Meanwhile, the developer is still working onMotel SimulatorandRoad Diner Simulator. TheAirstripDLC forGas Station Simulatorthat was released this past April currently hasmixed reviews on Steamwith low engagement. The reviews that are there suggest that the pack’s features are unnecessary and create additional nuisances in the base game. Drago has always struck me as a developer who has plenty of ambition but needs to focus more on the execution.
Gas Station Simulatoris currently available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and Switch. None of the four planned expansions have set release windows.
