SnowRunner - Surface Physics

According to the developers, SnowRunner will be evolutionary in many ways, including the interaction aspect and surface physics. Their goal is to develop the best surface physics and ensure the most efficient interaction with existing vehicles.

Screenshots are placed according to the points.

---

Base Viscosity

An interesting innovation in the game is base viscosity. Let's start with the fact that surfaces in SnowRunner will be of two types: deformable and non-deformable. For example, deformable surfaces include sand, mud, grass, and so on, while the second category includes concrete, asphalt, and other solid surfaces. This was also present in other games. However, now deformable surfaces will have their own level of viscosity. This means that the chance of getting stuck changes depending on the surface. Thus, the chance of getting stuck in mud or sand is higher than the chance of getting stuck while driving on grass. A sensible innovation, since in Mudrunner all surfaces had the same viscosity.

Moreover, in SnowRunner, identical surfaces can have different viscosities. For example, in lighter mud, the chance of getting stuck is lower than in darker mud. The darker the surface, the higher the chance of getting stuck.

For map developers, an interesting feature called "Deformation Data" has also been added. Regular players will not be able to see it. However, thanks to this feature, map developers can create various types of swamps, mud, and other places where players can easily get stuck. Such areas are painted using a special brush.

Yes, something similar could be found in Mudrunner. However, in SnowRunner, hidden deformations on certain surfaces cannot be too deep. That is, now everything is much more realistic, and driving on certain surfaces has become more predictable and easier.

A completely new feature in the new game is wet surfaces. Map developers will be able to make desired surfaces wet using a special brush. Previously, all surfaces in games looked dry. The new feature is called the "wetness mask" and adds a really cool capability. The wetness mask strongly affects the surface viscosity, since the wetter the place, the higher the chance of getting stuck. This can be used for various purposes.

---

Driving on Snow

SnowRunner has snow, lots of snow. At the same time, driving on snow differs from driving on mud. The depth of snow varies in different areas, and in some places, it will be easy to drive through, while in others, you will have to try hard. Map developers will be able to select the snow depth using a brush. Depending on the depth, the vehicle's behavior changes significantly.

Snow depth affects both gameplay in general and visual effects. For example, if the snow level is low, the wheels will dig into the mud, and in the case of a large amount of snow and high snow clumps, snow will fly out from under the wheels, and the vehicle's behavior will change significantly. Off-road tires will greatly facilitate driving on snow.

The color factor does not affect snow, which is quite reasonable, as with other viscous surfaces. That is, if the snow color is darker in certain areas for various reasons, it is unlikely to affect passability. At the same time, the wetness mask does not work on snow, meaning snow has a fixed "wetness."

If the maps are winter-themed, applying the wetness mask to non-deformable surfaces will turn these surfaces into ice. That is, vehicles will start sliding on this area unless certain types of tires are used.

The vehicle's weight also greatly influences many things. If the vehicle is heavily loaded or weighs a lot, passability will be significantly lower. That is, the vehicle will get stuck more easily in mud, snow, swamps, and so on. Consequently, you will constantly have to monitor the weight of your equipment so as not to complicate your progress.

---

Driving on Water

As in Mudrunner, in SnowRunner players will have the ability to drive on water. At the same time, the mechanics are almost identical. The heavier the vehicle, the less chance of various types of damage: flipping over, and so on. However, in SnowRunner, vehicles can be equipped with snorkels. Thanks to snorkels, the maximum depth at which the vehicle will not suffer any damage is determined.

---