Load up your PC, Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch and SnowRunner Phase 6: Haul & Hustle should start to download. Yes, the release date is here and so are the patch notes, which give us a better picture of what has been fixed – and what has not.
If the SnowRunner Phase 6 update does not download straight away, try running the game and/or do the tried and tested off and on trick. You may also need to find and install the relevant Phase from the store and the Year 2 Pass.
Phase 6, based in Maine of the US, can be bought separately too if you do not own the Year 2 Pass. It includes two maps, The Lowland and Yellowrock National Forest and two new trucks, the Aramatsu Forester tree grabber and the six-wheeler Tayga 6455B.
The patch notes also list 10 new stickers, new scout trailers and medium logging addons for the Azov 5319, Azov 73210, Cat CT680, Cat CT681, Freightliner 114SD, GMC 9500, International HX 520, International Paystar 5070, Pacific P12W, Pacific P512, Paystar 5600TS, Royal BM17, Step 310E, Voron AE4380, Voron D53233, Western Star 49X and White Western Star 4964.
There are also four new skins, which were awarded in light of the official Saber Interactive best truck tournament. That means a fresh look for the Tayga 6436, Kolob 74760, Ford F750 and the Azov 64131.
Not being counted as a new truck but included in Phase 6/Season 6 is the ANK MK38 Civilian. Or Civilisation as one commenter joked. I was more of a Command & Conquer, Empire Earth, Rise of Nations, Warzone 2100, Warcraft 3, Total Annihilation strategy fan.
Anyway, that means those who like the ANK MK38 can slap on new addons as opposed to just the sideboard bed. More reason to use it, basically.
We also get the Photo Mode I showed you already, so you can take photos of your favourite trucks navigating SnowRunner’s punishing yet beautiful scenery. PC users will have to navigate towards the ‘shots’ folder that will vary depending on whether you play on Epic, Steam or Windows.
Photo Mode includes contrast, aperture, time of day, weather and a whole lot more to help you compose the shot you want. To take a photo on console is done by hitting the share button, so remember to hide the user-interface.
Saber Interactive and Focus Home also announced new addons for existing trucks. There is a new Derry Longhorn engine, upgradeable winches for the Caterpillar 770G, fine-tune gearbox for the Freightliner M916A1, active suspension for the DAN 96320 and higher suspension for the International Transtar 4070A.
Usefully, you can now see whether a truck can fit key addons such as the evacuator, seismic vibrator and metal detector before you buy it. There is also a switch between normal and had in the custom scenarios menu and an in-game content browser for downloadable content (DLC).
Okay, time for the dryer, less exciting patch notes. See the full list below, but highlights include:
Unpacked cargo that could grow wings and fly away or get stuck in a truck during co-op should no longer be a thing. You should also no longer endure a twitchy camera near the log trailer and that the Jeep Renegade has additional winch attachment points.
Speaking of trucks, the Western Star 49X and CT681 should no longer have unnaturally twitchy suspension. The interior glass texture is better in the Tatra Force T815-7. The Sunvisor of the 5319 now matches the truck colour when using the Burning Bright vinyl wrap and the ANK MK38’s weight setup has been tweaked.
Meanwhile those who play on a wheel may be happy to know to that a bug that prevented you from restoring to the default preset has been fixed.
Modders can rejoice in the fact that there is now a hard reset button to remove all mod content in one fell swoop. It is also now possible to reload a modded truck directly in the garage. Map creators can play with fuel and repair zone prices in hard mode, which is particularly interesting.
Unfortunately, it appears the memory total for mods has decreased again and without warning. Not so good if that is what the developer meant by optimisation.
As for crossplay, you should be able to play between PC and PlayStation. Xbox support is coming later at an undisclosed date.
Because things occasionally change from the PTS update to the public release (ahem Chernokamensk garage guide), I was holding my Phase 6 review video back. Keep your eyes peeled. Plus some long overdue truck reviews.
I do hope we see more variety in the terrain and challenges in updates after Phase 6, but then the stuff I talked about in my Phase 6, Phase 7 and Phase 8 news round-up video bodes well.
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