The haul to Europe is booked, and the destination looks more picturesque than ever.
SOEDESCO has officially announced Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection, the newest entry in its long-running trucking series.
Developed in collaboration with Kyodai, the game is set to launch this autumn on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, and promises a new era for the franchise.
Revealed with a new announcement trailer, this latest instalment leaves America in the rear-view mirror, offering players an authentic trucking journey through an open world inspired by the Netherlands and other prominent European countries.
A Franchise in Need of a Fresh Route
The Truck Driver series has had a long and bumpy road on Xbox. The original Truck Driver from 2019 was a game we felt had “solid foundations to build on” but was a “case of a game releasing too soon.”
More recently, its successor, Truck Driver: The American Dream, earned a disappointing 2/5 score from us, with our review noting that while the “story adventure styling is good,” the “mechanics could do with some polish” and its “crazy high” price tag was a major issue.
With The Dutch Connection, the series has a crucial opportunity to finally deliver on its long-held promise. A brand-new setting, a new narrative focus, and a leap to Unreal Engine 5 could be exactly what this franchise needs to win over both long-suffering fans and skeptical newcomers.
Welcome to the Netherlands
This new chapter takes players to a fictional world reminiscent of the Netherlands, capturing the charm of its iconic landscapes and culture. You’ll cruise through a vibrant open world, past traditional Dutch windmills turning in the breeze, as you take on jobs in a thriving trucking industry where AI dispatchers work alongside human drivers.
At the heart of The Dutch Connection is a brand-new, character-driven narrative. The game follows the intertwined journey of two memorable new characters: Lucas, a newcomer eager to prove his worth, and Felix, a veteran driver with over 30 years of experience behind the wheel.
Together, they will navigate busy schedules, tough loads, and their own personal struggles, forming a unique father-and-son bond along the way.
European Trucking Life
You will once again be tasked with taking on a variety of hauling jobs, but for those who just want to enjoy the scenery, the relaxing Freedom-to-Roam mode allows you to embrace the European trucking life at your own pace.
Built on a New Engine
Signaling a major potential leap in quality, Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection is being built with the latest technologies provided by Unreal Engine 5 and will support ray tracing. This should result in a significant visual upgrade, bringing the new Dutch-inspired landscapes to life with a new level of detail and realism.
The next long haul is scheduled, but the question remains: can this new journey finally deliver the premium trucking experience the series has been striving for? With a fresh setting, a promising new story, and a powerful new engine, we are cautiously optimistic.
We’ll find out if the delivery is on time when Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection arrives on Xbox this autumn.
