The ultimate off-road simulation game returns to Western Asia for a season focused on agricultural revitalization, sustainable energy, and tourism. Here is everything you need to know about the new maps, vehicles, and the start of Year 5.
The engines are rumbling, the mud is churning, and the winch cables are pulled taut. Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive have officially released the latest major content update for their blockbuster off-road simulation, SnowRunner. Titled “Season 17: Repair & Rescue,” this update marks the beginning of the highly anticipated Year 5 Pass, proving that even half a decade after its initial release, the appetite for conquering extreme terrain is stronger than ever.
Available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, Season 17 invites players to a brand-new region in Western Asia, tasking them with a mission that feels distinctly modern: rebuilding a region not just with steel and concrete, but with sustainable agriculture and tourism.
Welcome to Zurdania: A Region in Recovery
For veteran SnowRunner players, a new region is always a cause for celebration (and mild anxiety about flipping trucks). Season 17 introduces the fictitious region of Zurdania, located in Western Asia.
The update introduces two large new 4 km² maps. Unlike the frozen tundras of Amur or the flooded swamps of North Carolina seen in previous seasons, Zurdania features rugged, mountainous terrain that promises to test suspension systems and driver patience in equal measure.
The narrative context for this season is one of rehabilitation. Zurdania has been battered by a “bad streak of adverse weather and crop failures,” leaving the local economy in shambles. Players aren’t just delivering logs to a mill this time; they are the spearhead of an economic rescue package.
The environment is described as arid yet mountainous, suggesting a mix of rock-crawling gameplay and treacherous, narrow mountain passes where a single misstep could send a cargo of precious solar panels tumbling into a ravine.
A New Gameplay Loop: Farming and Tourism
SnowRunner has flirted with agricultural mechanics before (most notably in Season 8: Grand Harvest), but “Repair & Rescue” appears to be doubling down on the concept of land rehabilitation rather than just harvesting.
The press release highlights a focus on “sustainable development.” Players are tasked with improving soil fertility and introducing new farming techniques to the region. This implies a gameplay loop that involves specialized trailers and equipment designed to treat the land, rather than simply extracting resources from it.
Perhaps the most significant addition to the infrastructure contracts is the construction of a new solar farm. This marks a thematic shift for the franchise, which has traditionally focused on oil drilling, coal mining, and heavy timber. Hauling delicate, high-tech solar components up a muddy mountain track adds a layer of “fragile cargo” tension that fans of the game love to hate.
But it isn’t all work and no play. The second pillar of Zurdania’s economic recovery is tourism.
Once the fields are rehabilitated, players will focus on the region’s cultural heritage. Contracts will involve renovating historical monasteries perched high in the mountains and constructing a major hotel complex to welcome future visitors. This blend of heavy industrial hauling (for the hotel) and precision delivery (for the monasteries) suggests a balanced approach to mission pacing.
The New Fleet: Voron G-5352 and Jangsu RX600
No SnowRunner season is complete without new toys for the garage, and Season 17 adds a duo of distinct off-roaders to the roster.
1. The Voron G-5352. The Voron family of trucks has long been a staple of the SnowRunner meta. Known for their Russian durability and “always-on” differential locks, they are workhorses. The new Voron G-5352 is described as a Heavy Duty-class multi-purpose truck. “Able to withstand any challenge you throw at it,” the description suggests a vehicle that balances power with versatility. While it may not have the sheer tire size of a Kolob, the Heavy Duty class usually offers better maneuverability and speed, making the G-5352 a likely candidate for the winding mountain roads of Zurdania, where a massive super-heavy truck might get high-centered.
2. The Jangsu RX600. On the lighter side of the spectrum is the Jangsu RX600. This is an Off-Road class truck, but the developers emphasize its agility and fuel efficiency. In SnowRunner, fuel efficiency is often more valuable than raw horsepower, especially on large 4km² maps where fuel stations can be scarce. The RX600 is billed as a “support specialist” or a hauler for light and medium cargo. This makes it an ideal choice for monastery renovation projects, which likely require reaching hard-to-access peaks where a heavy hauler would struggle to maintain grip. Its description suggests it could also serve as a potent scout vehicle capable of carrying its own repair supplies.
Five Years of Mud and Glory
The launch of Season 17 is significant not just for its content, but for what it represents: the start of Year 5.
In the modern gaming landscape, few non-MMO titles receive five full years of substantial post-launch support. SnowRunner has quietly become a juggernaut of the simulation genre, retaining a massive, dedicated player base through a steady drip-feed of content.
Saber Interactive’s commitment to the game has resulted in a physics sandbox that has grown exponentially since its 2020 launch. From the original three regions (Michigan, Alaska, Taymyr), the world map has expanded to cover everything from the Yukon to Scandinavia and now Western Asia.
“Repair & Rescue” is automatically available to all Year 5 Pass owners. For newcomers looking to dive into the deep end, the 5-Year Anniversary Edition is also available, bundling the base game with the massive backlog of content updates.
Community and Feedback
With the launch of Season 17, Focus Entertainment is also pushing its community engagement platform, Focus Together. Players are encouraged to join the platform to share feedback on the new maps, report bugs (physics glitches are part of the charm, but game-breaking bugs are not), and earn exclusive rewards.
This feedback loop has been crucial for SnowRunner. Over the years, community requests have led to features like New Game+, immersive mode tweaks, and specific truck buffs. As Zurdania opens for business, the developers will likely be watching closely to see how players navigate the new sustainable energy contracts.
Availability
“Season 17: Repair & Rescue” is out now. Whether you are playing on a high-end PC, a next-gen console, or dragging a log trailer on an Xbox One, the update is live.
Check your steering wheel and tire pressure. The mountains of Zurdania are waiting, and that solar farm isn’t going to build itself.
Watch the Season 17 Overview Trailer here: YouTube Link
