End of the road for SnowRunner?

It was unclear whether SnowRunner was being phased out for Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. Now I can share more info that clears things up.

What do you do if you accidentally stumble upon something that makes a lot of money? You do it again. Except in the case of SnowRunner, it appears Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment are being even smarter.

Because having two cash cows is better than one and, according to Evgeniy Sorokin, now lead producer on the recently announced Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, that is how things will go. SnowRunner and its more scouty friend side by side, holding hands and skipping through meadows.

Please note: This is the script from my YouTube video, click play above to watch or go here.

The show goes on?

When asked if SnowRunner will see continued development, Esorokin (as he is known on the official Discord) said that they are “two different projects that live in parallel”, confirming that SnowRunner’s journey is going to continue.

He later added that they are “different games” and have a “different game loop and overall design [with] different activities and features”.

This suggests that we may, in fact, get a SnowRunner Year 4 Pass. Maybe even one after that. Because if people keep buying DLCs and you have the groundwork in place, why stop making them?

Not all is entirely separate though. As I said in my Expeditions reveal, the Swarm game engine is used by games and both exist in the same ‘runners’ universe. “Any changes on the tech side of things are applied to both projects moving forward,” Esorokin explained.

Those who love, or can actually play co-op, will be pleased to know that Expeditions: A MudRunner Game will have this feature. Perhaps the fact two Saber Interactive games are going to have it will help incentivise progress in this department.

Mod support will also continue for the new off-road trucking game. When asked about it, Esorokin said things will be “similar, but different due to the tycoon mechanics”. This is a reference to the ability to build structures as revealed in the announcement trailer. Death Stranding style. Go check out my video.

Now, for the sake of time I did not make my announcement video too long. However, I did notice a few tyre pressures seemed a bit low. It has since been confirmed that there is a gauge for tyre pressure, confirming it will be a new gameplay mechanic. Could that mean it will be added to SnowRunner?

Mr Esorokin also said that in Expeditions: A MudRunner Game “you actually research stuff” and that “all of this will be revealed later”. As shown in the trailer, we can also see a new user-interface with added complexity, which realism fans may be pleased to hear.

On a different note, wondering about PROS cross-save support on PlayStation? It is yet to be approved by Sony hence the delay. Those on PC and Xbox, meanwhile, should see it working now, having been added then removed.

Scouting ahead

For those who have not yet seen the trailer, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game puts more emphasis on scouting, with an anchor tool there for pulling trucks up to 30,000lbs in weight up steep ascents. The echo sounder from Spin Tires will also feature for scanning the depths of water.

Controllable drones feature, too, allowing you to search the terrain for objects without actually driving to them. Does that mean watchtowers will no longer be necessary?

Oh and there is said to be an improvement to in-game communication – text or voice chat confirmed?

Reading from the official forum post, you can also expect to “lead research missions as you drive a variety of all-terrain vehicles through treacherous paths, using advanced technologies and high-tech tools to overcome obstacles and build and manage your base and equip your vehicles with essential gadgets like drones or scanners to ensure your success in the wild”.

The description continues: “Round out your Expedition by hiring a team of top-notch experts to improve your skills in the field, unlocking new possibilities for exploration.”

Remember BloodRunner, a trademark I made a video about many moons ago? That has since been confirmed as Toxic Commando, which is a zombie vehicle game. Think killing hordes of undead while navigating harsh terrain in armoured vehicles.

Another project under the wing of Mr Esorokin is Teardown, which comes from Swedish developer Tuxedo Labs. This is the result of Saber Interactive owner, Embracer Group, purchasing Tuxedo Labs. Presumably, that means more drip-feed content will be applied here too.

So there you have it. Multiple off-roaders, with Dakar Desert Rally still in the mix courtesy of sister studio Saber Porto. At least that will keep A Tribe Called Cars busy. Maybe I should change the name to A Tribe Called Trucks.

It also means the door is very much open for a true SnowRunner sequel though it could be saved for the next generational leap in graphics cards and/or consoles. Given that Microsoft has ruled out a mid-generation refresh for now, I would not wait outside your local game store anytime soon.

Esorokin himself said that he will not be working on the “next runner games”, with Expeditions: A MudRunner game his last.

And here I shall end this video. If you found the info useful or if it helped you sleep, be sure to like and subscribe. Plenty more where that came from. In the meantime, I shall try to finish my Ride 5 review. Thank you all for helping me reach 60,000 subscribers.