Despite their niche appeal, the MudRunner and SnowRunner games are hugely popular, racking up over 15 million players. Publisher Focus Entertainment has announced the next entry in the off-road driving series.
Revealed during Gamescom Opening Night, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is the follow-up to MudRunner SnowRunner. As the name suggests, Expeditions is taking the MudRunner series in a new direction that will “push the boundaries of the franchise’s iconic off-road experiences.”
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game announced
Developed once again by Saber Interactive, Expeditions retains the hallmarks of MudRunner and SnowRunner from challenging terrains to realistic driving physics. This time, there’s an emphasis on off-road adventuring. Expeditions sees players utilise high-tech vehicles equipped with gadgets and work with a crew exploring landscapes and discovering landmarks.
“It's not just about conquering your environment; it's about exploration, innovation, and venturing into the unknown," said Saber COO Tim Willits. "We are deeply committed to staying true to what makes MudRunner special while continually expanding and enriching the gameplay."
"Whether you are a veteran of the muddy trails or a curious newcomer ready to take on the wild, this latest entry in the MudRunner franchise promises to be an unparalleled experience."
The reveal trailer showcases a variety of environments to explore from dense rainforests to muddy canyons. Whereas the previous games focused on massive utility trucks, Expeditions sees you exploring the wilderness in rugged 4x4s judging from the trailer. More vehicle types could be in the final game, however.
Vehicles can be equipped with gadgets such as drones and scanners to scout out landscapes, anchors to climb steep slopes, and echo sounders to assess water depth. The trailer also shows a vehicle equipped with a metal detector. You can also manage a base camp, where you can build research structures and hire a team to improve your skills.
You can watch the Expeditions: A MudRunner Game announcement trailer below:
Release date
Expeditions looks like an interesting new take on off-road simulation driving. There’s no release date yet, but Expeditions is set to arrive in 2024.
As for platforms, the off-road adventure game is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. It will be the first game in the series since 2020’s SnowRunner, the sequel to 2017’s MudRunner.