SnowRunner Phase 5: Build & Dispatch ‘Don’ maps & new trucks

SponsoredBuy A Tribe Called Cars merch

The SnowRunner Phase 5: Build & Dispatch update is on PTS. Here is news of the new Don region in Russia, two new trucks, crossplay and more.

Hello and welcome to A Tribe Called Cars! In this SnowRunner Phase 5 video I shall be cruising around the latest maps now available for those on PC who have the Public Test Server AKA PTS installed. If you do not, it is super easy. On Epic it is next to the normal SnowRunner client – install and play.

Phase 5: Build & Dispatch has a release date of August 2021, according to the Nintendo Switch store. Unofficially and more specifically, the 24^th.

Where is the SnowRunner Phase 5 location?

On PTS there are only two maps to explore at the time of making this video, the smallest we have seen in SnowRunner so far. Stay with me, I will talk about that in a second.

The location is the Don region in Russia – haven’t seen any DON 71s though. The first map is called Industrial Zone, but is currently Factory Gound. It is so fresh the typo police have not even worked their magic.

Meanwhile the second Phase 5 map is the Antonovosky Reservation, which is currenly called the Antonovoskiy Nature Reserve. No snow here – the maps look like Michigan, which is a good thing in my mind. Maybe too similar. Not seen any additional wildlife either.

Are the SnowRunner Phase 5 maps small?

Is the small map size a problem? Well, it depends on what happens in that smaller 1 square kilometre per map – about the same area as Drummond Island in Michigan.

Higher density and punchier journeys might end up being a welcome change of pace. Spending hours trawling through Siberian-esque wastelands is not necessarily exciting.

Also we do not yet know whether the two maps we have now are all we are getting. If there is one or two more added later, then the size thing is less of an issue. If not, then time will tell whether Phase 5 is good value or not.

Bear in mind that this is early days for Phase 5 and so it is unclear how much will change between now and the release date. I have heard rumblings this is more of a preview than usual.

An alternative theory is that the Don region is smaller because we will have new maps for the existing regions such as Michigan. I would not mind revisiting old places, even Imandra, if new stuff was delivered. At least we now have mod trucks for when things get too infuriating.

Or, and this is my suggestion, the update schedule was swapped about a bit to accommodate other new things coming in Phase 5 and already on PTS. I am talking about the Immersive Mode and the next-gen optimisation – videos about both on the channel.

Although according to the developers and from what I have seen on the PTS, Immersive Mode seems more aesthetic than anything. Head-up display elements such as the gearbox are hidden until you come to use them, which is a cool idea but most likely far easier to implement than improved visuals such as 60 frames per second.

Any new trucks?

Also new to Phase 5: Build & Dispatch are two new trucks. The Tatra Force T815-7 is available in real life as a 6×6, 8×8, 10×10 and even a 12×12. In SnowRunner it has eight wheels and reminds me of the Tatra 813. It does, however, have a unique crane.

The Tatra Phoenix, on the other hand, bears little resemblance to a mythical bird rising from the ashes. But it did start life in 2011 so it is more recent than other trucks from the Czech Republic company and it looks more modern.

Trucking lovers may appreciate the fact the Phoenix was developed in cooperation with DAF – another trucking heavyweight.

What about Immersive Mode?

Those who do not pay for the Year 2 Pass will get the Immersive Mode for free as well as new stickers. Turning Immersive Mode on or off is done in settings and then HUD.

In addition, there have been lot of bug fixes that I will not list because life is short. You can follow the link in the video description, where other useful stuff lives. Including a Tribe mug for epic tea breaks.

Is Phase 5 adding crossplay?

I have also noticed a setting called Crossplay mode, which you can switch on or off. Joining a game by a code is also possible although I have not had a chance to test this out.

If you are unfamiliar, crossplay means you can play co-op with friends, and maybe foes, between different platforms or at least between Epic and Steam.

A Jeep Wrangler, really?

Not only that, hold your hats, the Jeep Wrangler has appeared in the SnowRunner files. Here is a picture of it, courtesy of my ever-useful SnowRunner spy.

As the first map content from the Year 2 Pass, which is an additional cost over the Year 1 Pass and SnowRunner Premium Edition, it would be weird for the developers to notably skimp on quality and quantitity. So let’s keep those pitchforks in the barn for now.

I am quite curious to see how a smaller set of maps works out. If you think about how much dead space there is in some maps, the idea of quality over quantity is not the worst thing. I mean, there are bits of Amur you only need to visit once, if that.

Not so fun is the fact it appears my mods have been broken on PC and I know other players have the same issue since the latest maintenance update. Maybe I just need to reinstall the PTS or wait for another update – I shall work it out.

And I shall leave it here for now, hopefully you found my first Phase 5: Build & Dispatch video useful and maybe even entertaining. As more stuff is added and confirmed officially, I shall let you know. I might start doing some longer SnowRunner gameplay videos so let me know if that sounds good to you.

For those interested, I will let the rest of my SnowRunner video from the two new maps finish while I play some music. Until next time chicos and chicitas, subscribe and like. Take care, bye.