The Winter Update for A Desert introduces a festive overhaul, a brand-new drivable bus, a snow biome, and a large collection of new items, mechanics, and cosmetic changes. This update focuses on atmosphere, vehicle experimentation, and sandbox-style fun in Freeplay. Below is a full, structured breakdown of everything added and how it works.
A Desrt Winter Update – New Bus, Snow Biome
Christmas-Themed Main Menu & Starter House Changes
The main menu has been redesigned with a Christmas theme, setting the tone for the winter update. The starter house now includes festive decorations, subtle environmental details, and texture changes that make the holiday theme immediately noticeable.
Small details like decorative objects, updated bed textures, and new props help make the world feel seasonal without affecting gameplay mechanics.
New Vehicle Added – Bus
A brand-new vehicle has been added to Freeplay mode: the Bus.
The bus is inspired by the BAZ A079 Etalon, although it is not a perfect replica. The front design is slightly different, and the model has been adapted to fit the game’s mechanics and performance limitations.
Key bus details:
- Fuel type: Diesel
- Fuel tank location: Left side
- Battery location: Right side (high-capacity brown battery)
- Gearbox: 5-speed transmission
- Seats: 13 total
- Large wheels with medium tires by default (can be swapped for larger tires)
The bus includes working doors controlled by green buttons:
- Right green button opens the rear door
- Left green button opens the front passenger door
There is also an emergency door that can be opened from inside the bus.
Bus Controls & Lighting System
The bus features functional lighting controls:
- Left black button controls the front headlights
- Right black button controls hazard lights
There is also a fully functional interior light, which activates when the headlights are turned on. Despite some collision issues around the buttons, all lighting systems work correctly once activated.
Bus Performance & Speed Test Results
Using a digital speedometer, the bus was tested for acceleration and top speed.
Performance results:
- Top speed: ~145 km/h
- 0–100 km/h acceleration: ~41.16 seconds
- Performance decreases on unpaved surfaces
Fuel and fluid consumption over 10 km:
- Diesel: ~2.4 liters
- Engine oil: ~1.2 liters
- Radiator water: ~1 liter
Engine specifications:
- Engine capacity: 5 liters
- Radiator capacity: 7 liters
- Engine type appears similar to a V8
Bus Engine Swapping & Vehicle Experiments
One of the most interesting discoveries is that the bus engine can be installed into other vehicles, such as the Lada.
Test results:
- Bus engine + Lada gearbox (4-speed): ~183 km/h top speed
- Bus engine + Gearbox Pro (5-speed): ~257 km/h top speed
Although the engine does not physically fit well due to its size, the experiment shows how powerful the bus engine can be when paired with better transmissions.
New Snow Biome System
A brand-new snow biome has been added.
When entering the snow biome:
- Weather changes to snowfall
- Fog appears, reducing visibility
- Road textures change to snowy asphalt
The fog and snow effects deactivate once you leave the snow biome and enter areas like the desert.
The snow biome is visually detailed and does not include cacti or plants, focusing instead on rocks and terrain variation.
New Tool – Digital Level
A new digital level tool has been added.
This tool measures vehicle tilt and slope, functioning like a real inclinometer. It is useful for testing terrain angles and vehicle balance.
New Food, Weapons & Enemies
New additions include:
- New food item: Tomato
- New weapon: Crowbar
Zombies now wear Christmas-themed outfits.
Crowbar combat results show it takes 6 hits to defeat a zombie.
A rare Santa-themed zombie can also spawn, making encounters more visually varied.
New Vehicle & Cosmetic Items
Several festive and functional items have been added:
- Christmas-themed car seats
- Rear wing (spoiler) with adjustable color and metal level
- Front grille toys (teddy bear and duck decorations)
- Decorative wreaths (replacing expected Christmas trees)
The rear wing cannot be attached to all cars using the F key.
For best results, attach it using the welding tool (Z key), though alignment may be slightly uneven.
New Gifts & Random Reward Items
A new Gift item has been added.
Opening gifts gives random results, including:
- Random props (like toilets)
- NPC enemies spawning inside the gift
- Vehicle engines (example: SMZ small car engine)
Gifts are unpredictable and designed for sandbox-style chaos rather than guaranteed rewards.
New Toys, Fun Items & Fireworks
Additional fun-focused items include:
- Mr. Cookie and Cookie food items
- Party poppers that release confetti and sound effects
- Fireworks that can be attached to vehicles
Fireworks:
- Must be held from the bottom
- Cannot be placed on the ground
- Can only be attached to vehicles
- Produce colorful explosions when activated
New Sled Item
A sled has been added for snow terrain.
However, due to the mostly flat terrain, sledding is currently limited and only works properly on slopes or hills.
The A Desrt Winter Update focuses on experimentation, immersion, and festive sandbox fun rather than structured progression. The new bus is the highlight, offering deep mechanical testing and creative engine swaps, while the snow biome and Christmas-themed items dramatically change the atmosphere.