SnowRunner News

Hello SnowRunners!

In today's modder interview, we welcome Poghrim, who also happens to be a moderator on our forums and Discord! Suppose that makes him a mod mod. Anyway, let's get on with the questions!

[h3]How did you discover SnowRunner? What about it appealed to you?[/h3]
I was intrigued by MudRunner, but I didn't play all that much of it. However, I was extremely excited when I saw the trailer for SnowRunner.

I particularly adore the immersive nature of the game. Driving a large commercial vehicle out of a quarry on a rainy Michigan night in first person was probably one of the best experiences that I've had from singleplayer games in recent years.

Another aspect that I love about the game is the level of detail of the vehicles. Sure, it's simplified for the sake of optimization, but the primary components are still there. And it's just a joy to watch the suspension components bounce over rough terrain.

[h3]How did you get into gaming?[/h3]
I was surrounded by PCs pretty much since my birth, so I guess I was a "gamer" before I even went to kindergarten... Some of my earliest memories are of me playing something on PC. Probably the first game that had a major emphasis on ground wheeled vehicles, especially commercial ones, would be "Hard Truck 2", quite a fun, but quirky truck driving game.

[h3]Could you tell us a little bit about your background?[/h3]
Quite the sociophobe, I've been leaning heavily towards technical or artistic subjects of education, which ended up in me choosing 3D animation as my primary focus in high-school. During that course, I found great joy in bringing life to inanimate 3D objects and giving them a living character. It's also gives me quite a bit of insight and intuition when working with a game engine.

Mod: Poghrim's Universal Addon Collection

[h3]What got you into modding?[/h3]
Having finished high school, I struggled to get into higher vocational education for various reasons (not all of which are any fault of my own), which was made even more difficult with the first Covid19 outbreak.

Right before the start of the pandemic, I was able to participate in a short preparatory course for a big name game development school, where one of the things that I took away from it was a quote from one of my mentors "You won't become an expert in something until you have spent 10.000 hours doing it."

I took that phrase quite literally and decided to combine something useful with something that I liked. And what do you know? SnowRunner was about to be released. A new entry in a series of games with a vivid and lively modding community.

[h3]Have you modded for any other games?[/h3]
No... at least not yet. I was, at one point, peeking into how mods work in the game Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, but never fully committed to it.

[h3]What's your favourite SnowRunner mod?[/h3]
I can't really pinpoint any specific favourite mod. Any mod that adds something new and unique has a good chance of becoming a "favourite" of mine.

[h3]What would be your dream change or addition to SnowRunner?[/h3]
It would probably be a more chaotic and impactful weather system, along with the ability to assign a lot more functions to animate buttons with. Imagine driving in first person in a thunderstorm, with wipers desperately trying to wipe away the downpour, revealing slivers of the washed out road in front of you. Or a strong blizzard in the mountains, swallowing the valley under a cliff-side road into ghostly white nothingness.

[h3]What’s your favorite thing about SnowRunner?[/h3]
I've referred to it already, but I absolutely adore the immersiveness of the game. I am a huge fan of games that you can fully immerse yourself in. Games like Skyrim, Deus Ex, etc. And SnowRunner has immersion by the truck-load (pun intended).



[h3]What advice would you give to people who would like to get into modding?[/h3]
Not sure if you can count this as "advice", but anyone that is interested in modding SnowRunner (or any other game, really), should be wary of how much effort it actually takes. But just because something isn't trivial and immediate, doesn't mean that it's not worth it. Overcoming obstacles is one of the best ways to learn something. And the various modding communities, not to mention the official SnowRunner Discord server, are full of people that are willing to assist and guide you through any issues you might encounter.

[h3]Working on any exciting mod at the moment?[/h3]
I'm always working on something...

One of the current projects is to add more customization features to the Tenno T-21 in the form of various addons and paint jobs.



But on a more exciting note, I'm almost done making a sporty facelifted version of my Volvo C3-series. (I also have plans to make a rally/raid version of the Z-31 from my Z-series to accompany it.)

Here are some WIP screenshots:





After that, I'm planning on making a set of industrial vehicles, designed mainly from fantasy. (RWD or AWD tractor / Articulated Tractor and a self propelled crane)

Lastly, I may or may not be working on some unique features for custom maps.

[h3]What’s your all-time favourite real life vehicle? What about SnowRunner vehicle?[/h3]
I'm a relatively simple person, so would have to pick the Volvo V70 (2nd gen). In SnowRunner, it would probably be the International Paystar 5070. The simplistic and functional design, paired with meaty single off-road tires is a winning combination in my mind. Sure, it's a bit top-heavy, but that's what makes driving fun!

[h3]Wildcard Question: Which fruit or vegetable do you believe best represents you and why?[/h3]
A Squirting Cucumber. Because of my "machine-gun approach" to making up excuses to do or not do something. Alternatively, once I start working or get inspired to do something, there's pretty much no stopping me.
[h3]A bold choice, Poghrim. o_O
Thank you so much for joining us![/h3]

[h2]Check out and play Poghrim's mods on mod.io.[/h2]

If you have questions you'd like to see added to these interviews, feel free to suggest them and we may add them! 🙂

Hello SnowRunners!

This week we roll out the carpet for another talented modder (there are so many of you, this series of articles will probably go on for a while!).

It's been a delight for us to discover more about the people behind the mods, and we hope that you all agree.

Please welcome Remoh667!

[h3]How did you discover SnowRunner? What about it appealed to you?[/h3]

For me, it's always been RPG and Simulation games. Mudrunner caught my eye cruising through the steam pages, on one of my many searches for a new game to throw myself into. Since that day in mid-2016, I have been hooked. I knew about Snowrunner as soon as it was announced and sat patiently waiting to get my hands on the editor. From what we were first told it was going to be everything we wanted to add to Mudrunner. Missions, customization, new cargo, I could go on, but I won't for everyone's sake. I have to thank the whole Snowrunner team too, you have given us all countless hours of fun and creation, I have a lot of respect for the work you all have done.

Mod: Canadian Shield

[h3]How did you get into gaming?[/h3]

My first gaming experience was on an Atari 2600, yes the wooden panel one. I would get a new game every week from the flea market. Those were the days. In hindsight, I should have taken better care of that thing, I hear they're worth a few bucks now. I switched over to PC mostly for the variety it offered. The first game I bought on PC was "The Long Dark". I really love the adventures and emotions a good game can take you through. It's an incredible way to tell a story or give you a glimpse into a part of life you have never experienced. I will 100% be a gamer for the rest of my life.

[h3]Could you tell us a little bit about your background?[/h3]

I'm a small-town Ontario kid at heart. I've always had a love for computers and gaming, technology in general. The first games I remember playing on PC were Test Drive and Leisure Suit Larry. They were installed when we got the PC. I'm just guessing here. If my parents actually knew what Leisure Suit Larry was, they would have deleted it pretty quickly. I consider myself a huge Science and Space nut who isn't afraid of a challenge, whether working with my hands or my head. This may explain my many years working as a Ski Lift Mechanic (very Canadian eh!) These days I'm doing a bit of writing, enjoying my quiet time (my map building of course!), and spending as much time as possible with my Wife, 3 Daughters, dog, hamster, budgie, and 3 runner ducks. We tend to stay busy.

Mod: Western Monster

[h3]What got you into modding?[/h3]

I got into Mudrunner pretty early on. People had told me it was slow, boring, not much fun. I tried it for 5 mins and knew I would have a long relationship with the game. It didn't take long for me to start playing with mods. Which is when I realized the modders hadn't made a map I was into yet. I figured I had years of sim city and games like that under my belt, how hard can it be. Let's just say, we didn't have the resources and manuals that Snowrunner has. It was tough, but fun. And posting mod maps before we had the workshop, don't get me started. Since then I have continued making maps for Mudrunner and now Snowrunner (I must be up to 40 or 50 maps between the two games.)

I've certainly made sure to take a few breaks here and there. I will say, most "breaks" involved playing one of the many monster RPG games that take a month or 3 to finish. The versatility of Snowrunner is why I love modding. I have always thought of map building as similar to writing a book in many ways. The world is only half the battle in a great experience. Snowrunner has made the story just as important and I love the challenge. Without a doubt, I consider myself pretty lucky to have a hobby I can share with so many.

[h3]Have you modded for any other games?[/h3]

I have done a little modding in BeamNG. It was way back when the game was new. Before I found Mudrunner. I never actually published anything though. Just made some personal maps. Other than that I've made a few simple models for Mudrunner maps. Truthfully, creating a Snowrunner region is such a great mix of world-building, storytelling, and balancing of difficulty, I don't think I could find another game that would be as much fun to mod.

[h3]What's your favourite SnowRunner mod?[/h3]

I'm taking the cliche answer here… I like all of them. I have two reasons though, hear me out. First of all, most of us modders don't really "play" like the rest of the community. We play when we test, finish testing, then start the next project. I just don't get a chance to shake down mods the way I should. We choose to live like this, don't worry too much about us. We live off the likes and great comments.

Here's my second reason, I know the work that goes into every single mod out there. From tweak, to vehicle, to maps, they all have untold hours and passion put into them. We are lucky to have such a passionate community. I really enjoy all the work out there. I can't wait to see what comes out next.

Mod: Northbrook

[h3]What would be your dream change or addition to SnowRunner?[/h3]

That's a tough one. From a creator’s standpoint, we have so much to work with already, not much comes to mind. Most of my ideas over the past year have been implemented in some form. I guess I would have to say I'm pretty happy with what we have now.

[h3]What’s your favorite thing about SnowRunner?[/h3]

My absolute favorite part of Snowrunner, by far, is the diversity of the player base. I receive comments and messages from the whole age range and it always amazes me the variety of people that love this game. It's just so incredible to get a chance to add some fun into so many people's days.

Mod: Remoh’s Rally Challenge

[h3]What advice would you give to people who would like to get into modding?[/h3]

The first 20 - 30 hours is so tough. You are literally lost, at least for a bit. The good news is we all started in the same spot, and we got through it. Watch the tutorials, read the manuals first. If you approach most modders with respect and a genuine passion to learn, we will help pretty much every time. Just do your homework first, that way you show up knowing the basics.

Lastly, start small. I know we all want to make the Peterman, or the Kodar Desert map. You will, just work your way there. It’s definitely worth the time and effort.

[h3]Working on any exciting mod at the moment?[/h3]

Right now I'm working on integrating map 3 (Rutland) into the Highway Haulin Region. It's the fun part where I need to work on all three maps at once. This is a skill I am getting better at, but I still make my mistakes.

Mod: Rutland

The 4th map for the Highway Haulin Region will be focused further up the mountain following the highway in Manchester. It's going to be my take on some Ice Road Trucking. I'm super excited to have the region offer players a driving experience that ranges across farm fields, mountains, deserts. and snow.

Mod: Highway Haulin

After I finally finish the Highway Haulin series I need to get back to work on the second Aftershock map, which is about 50% built at this point.

[h3]What’s your all-time favourite real life vehicle? What about SnowRunner vehicle?[/h3]

My favorite vehicle has to be my Nissan Frontier. My last three pickups have been Frontiers. I've done a few 5000 km in 2 weeks marathon drives, the last one up to James Bay. Check out the James Bay Road, it's really in the middle of nowhere, on some seriously tough roads. We made it to the Arctic Ocean and back without a single problem.

My favorite Snowrunner vehicle is easily the Loadstar. It's such a great truck and you guys did a bang-up job on recreating it.

Mod: Highrock County

[h3]Wildcard Question: Favourite Ninja Turtle?[/h3]

Donatello by a mile. I'm a pretty serious science nut. I figure it was him and Bill Nye that lit the fire for me.

[h3]Thank you so much Remoh667![/h3]
[h2]Check out and play Remoh667's mods on mod.io.[/h2]

If you have questions you'd like to see added to these interviews, feel free to suggest them and we may add them! 🙂

Hello SnowRunners!

Today we have our first guest for a very special new series of blog posts, where we showcase a new modder every week. We hope you'll all enjoy this insight into modders, their lives, work, and thoughts.
Please welcome Rng3r!

[h3]How did you discover SnowRunner? What about it appealed to you?[/h3]
My discovery of Snowrunner is based on the first game in the series. I've played all the games in the series since then. Snowrunner meets many features that should be in an offroad themed game for me. The main ones are deformable terrain, trucks, off-road vehicles, amazing graphics, challenging but fun missions. The best for me.

[h3]How did you get into gaming?[/h3]
The first game I played when I was a kid, Hard Truck 2. Has anyone been able to pass the places where the helicopter opened fire on your truck on the map or escaped the mines? I played for a long time. Good old days... In the following years, my interest in simulation games increased and I can say that now I only play simulation, except for certain games.

[h3]Could you tell us a little bit about your background?[/h3]
Sure! My name is Yusuf. I live in Turkey. I’m very passionate about design & 3d modeling, and am currently working as a freelancer. I have been interested in 3d modeling as a hobby and freelance for about eight years. All my experience has been gained through research and with very limited opportunities. My goal is to achieve better results and finished products, gain more experience and take part in the games industry in the future. After I started modding in the last year, I can say that my experience has increased 10 times. I even had the opportunity to take part in professional projects. I keep working for the better!



[h3]What got you into modding?[/h3]
It's great that the 3D models you can create can be made functional within the game. Being able to design anything you want and giving it life. For example, the movement of the mudguards, the shaking of the exhaust with the power of the engine and much more. For me, Snowrunner is a great opportunity to gain experience. State-of-the-art game engine, PBR, and gorgeous visuals, that's what impressed me. Currently, I can produce an average of one mod per month from scratch. RNG TX is an example of this. This is great stuff. Some of my friends even think there is a modder team in my house.

[h3]Have you modded for any other games?[/h3]
Years ago, I tried a few mods for Euro Truck Simulator 2. But these are like simple texture replacements or vehicle skins.

[h3]What's your favourite SnowRunner mod?[/h3]
Mercedes-Benz Zetros. It can do almost anything you want in SnowRunner. It has many unique addons, like the radar unit and much more.



[h3]What would be your dream change or addition to SnowRunner?[/h3]
Chassis options like 6x6, 8x8 would be really cool. In my opinion this will be a great experience for both SnowRunner vehicle and modding.

[h3]What’s your favorite thing about SnowRunner?[/h3]
Maybe I could say something about physics or vehicles. However, there is something that has been affecting me since Phase 2. Maps! Developers produce truly breathtaking maps. Sometimes I just stop and watch the view. Especially Canada and the upcoming DON map are my favourites. They have excellent views and the lighting is very good.

[h3]What advice would you give to people who would like to get into modding?[/h3]
In my opinion, the most important criteria in modding is 3d modeling experience. Nowadays, it is possible to access hundreds of content/tutorials on platforms such as Youtube. Don't give up too soon. Ask yourself: can I realistically make it better? If yes, continue. If not, be honest with yourself and start from scratch. The important thing is that you learn how it works and work with passion.

Start with a simple sample. I mean really simple. Creating samples is the best way in my opinion. Thus, you will not waste time and it will be very easy to make changes if there is an issue or you don't like it. If it works without any issue, you can move on to modeling the actual addons/vehicles. Have a roadmap. Modeling your own vehicle from scratch or using a paid/free model.

Do not get excited and pay high prices to random 3d models, this is the biggest mistake. I've seen dozens of examples. You have to consider many criteria in modding. In my opinion, the most important thing is optimization. Make sure that the vehicle (your own, paid, or free model) is suitable for games. Vehicles with millions of polygons are generally suitable for movies, commercials, close renders, etc. Carefully read the modding guides published by the developers. You can find many answers in them. The first days and weeks of modding can be really challenging. There are many things you need to take care of. Don't give up, modding over time will be as simple as pressing a key and turning on the computer. :)



[h3]Working on any exciting mod at the moment?[/h3]
I'm currently working on more than one vehicle right now, However I'm working on a project that will be released very soon and which I call my best mod ever. Oshkosh M-ATV. Called RNG MPV.



So why is it my best mod? Each new mod/3d model gives me different experiences and each new mod is more detailed and better than the previous one. While modeling the M-ATV, I used some new techniques and gathered a ton of detailed information about the vehicle. The most important point for me is the reference pictures. It is very difficult to reach references especially for military vehicles. But Snowrunner is a great game and has a great worldwide community. Thanks to this, I was able to get references with the support of my friends online, some of whom serve in the US Army.



Of course, references or 3d models are not enough to make a good mod. Textures are the element that will determine how the vehicle looks. I was able to use much better texel values with a minimum number of textures. M-ATV is more detailed than many of my other mods. Many details were hand painted. For example rust, scratches, dirt etc. At this point, I tried to do my best by examining the Snowrunner vehicles one by one to get the closest quality to the vehicles in the game.





I believe this is great work. Stay tuned, much more is coming soon.

[h3]What’s your all-time favourite real life vehicle? What about SnowRunner vehicle?[/h3]
Kenworth W900. When I was traveling between cities as a kid, there was a big Mobil Delvac Engine Oils billboard with the W900 image on the road. Whenever I passed that road, I would eagerly wait to see the billboard. It has been my favorite vehicle ever since.

The upcoming Tatra Phoenix for Snowrunner is my absolute favourite. It has unique add-ons and suspension from the vehicles. I always wanted to see European manufacturers in Snowrunner and previous games.

[h3]Wildcard Question: Nutella Pizza. Thoughts?[/h3]
You can't buy happiness. But you can buy Nutella Pizza.

[h3]Thank you so much Rng3r![/h3]
[h2]Check out and play Rng3r's mods on mod.io.[/h2]

[h2]Hello SnowRunners![/h2]

The July Mod Creator Awards are here, SnowRunners! Among the multitude of mods that came out in July, the devs have selected their 5 favorites.

The mods are split into four categories:

1. Vehicles: for this category, two vehicles created by the community are selected. The two main criteria for selection are the vehicle’s appearance and handling.
   
2. Map Design: This category awarded the most enjoyable maps, with interesting tasks and missions.
   
3. Map Environment: the most beautiful and impressive maps are awarded in this category.
   
4. Unique: the category for the most fun, strange and subversive mods. Let your imagination run wild!
   

[hr][/hr]
[h2]Vehicle #1[/h2]

Iceberg101's Delta Patriot

Dev comment: "Another great truck from Iceberg101. This Patriot truck is highly detailed, customizable, and drives perfectly."



[h2]Vehicle #2[/h2]

Gaskellgames' Lupus

Dev comment: "It may be the most diverse mod in terms of customization options in our memory. So many combinations to experiment with!"



[h2]Map Design[/h2]

MADMartinQc's RC Backyard Racetrack

Dev comment: "This map brings back good old memories when we were playing RC games with friends. Great idea, fantastic execution."



[h2]Map Environment[/h2]

DerEggen's Kodar Desert

Dev comment: "Very cool combination of different unique terrains on a single map. And objectives are super interesting to complete."



[h2]Unique[/h2]

CanuckRunner's Heritage 54 Ramp Truck

Dev comment: "Pretty cool small old-school evacuator truck. We had a lot of fun experimenting with it."



Congratulations to the winners! It's always so impressive to see how talented our community is.

We are so grateful to the modders, who contribute to the success of the game, and we're glad we can award the top creators with this monthly award. Keep up the good work and your mod may be featured in future Mod Creator Awards!

Till next month, stay safe!
The Focus, Saber, and mod.io staff

[h3]Hello SnowRunners![/h3]

We hope you’ve all been having a fantastic summer! Work on the Year 2 Pass is still in full swing, and we’re excited to give you a little sneak peek into its content in today’s community update.

Let’s dive in!

[h2]Public Test Server[/h2]

[h3]PTS on Steam[/h3]
PC players can now test crossplay on the public test server (PTS) for the first time on Steam. We’re incredibly thankful for all the feedback we’ve received so far.

Please keep in mind that the PTS is unstable, as its purpose is to test new features and work in progress. At the moment, on Steam, there is a compatibility issue between save files from the PTS and the live version, so make sure to back up your save if you’re going to try the PTS on Steam.

Currently updated to version 15.1, the Steam PTS will be updated on a regular basis.

[h2]Season 5[/h2]

Season 5 launches this summer and will bring new features to the game.

For Year 2 Pass owners:

• two new TATRA trucks
  
• the Don region: two new zones with new contracts and missions.
  

Free for all:

• new customization options
  
• immersive mode
  
• PC crossplay (work in progress)
  

We're making very good progress on PC crossplay, and we're hopeful to soft launch it alongside Season 5 on our way to full crossplay support between all platforms. More information on this will come before the launch of Season 5.

[h3]DON 71 x Don Region[/h3]
To celebrate the launch of the Don Region, a new region coming in Season 5, the DON 71 will get a new, unique skin available for free to all players!

The Don is one of Russia’s largest rivers, so to blend in the environment the DON 71 will display a massive fish on its sides. You’re welcome!

Here’s what it looks like in-game.

The DON 71 roaming the Don region.

A carp, a salmon… a bass? No. It’s the Don, a car. The fish on the side isn’t real.

[h3]Dynamic Ramp Addons[/h3]
After popular community demand (that’s you!), we’re super excited to announce the Dynamic Ramp Addons coming for free in Season 5. These will allow you to transport vehicles far more easily.

https://store.steampowered.com/sub/575628/

[h2]Community Content[/h2]
[h3]“Meet the Modder”[/h3]
We’re excited to introduce you to “Meet the Modder”. Starting next week, this weekly article will be featuring a new modder each time.

This will be the opportunity to learn more about their background, their experience as a modder and their plans for future mods.

We are super grateful to the modders for making this game even better and more enjoyable. Thanks a bunch guys
[h3]Community’s finest[/h3]
Let’s show some appreciation to our community by sharing some of its finest content.

Some of the best screenshots are featured on our official Instagram account! Don’t hesitate to share your screenshots on our Discord server for a chance to be selected.

Blackcat’s Chevrolet Kodiak C70 - July 20

VanquishedUncle’s Tayga 6436 - July 9

battleborn’s TUZ 16 "Actaeon" - June 29

See you guys around,
The Focus, Saber and mod.io teams