SCS Blog

We have another exciting episode of the SCS On The Road series for you! This time, we will take you to the Scania Electric Battery Assembly Plant in Södertälje, Sweden, where Nemiro and Henrik Grankvist, the Senior Project Manager at Scania Group, will tell you all about this facility. Scania's battery assembly plant marks a significant leap forward in their quest for a more sustainable future. Tucked into the landscape of electrification and emissions reduction, this facility stands as a beacon of Scania's dedication to innovation and eco-consciousness. This episode was recorded almost a year ago when this facility was still being finished. Now come along as we take a look behind the scenes of this assembly plant and find out how Scania assembles the batteries there! We hope you've enjoyed this episode! We will surely bring you more of these in the near future so make sure to follow us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for all the latest news. Until then, we'll see you on the road! View the full article

Today is the day, engines at the ready! The Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator releases today and we can't wait for you to get haulin'. Are you ready to explore Cornhusker State and that it has to offer? Let's get get cruising! The Nebraska DLC Releases Today at 10:00am PDT / 12:00pm CDT / 7:00pm CEST / 9:00pm GST 1:00am SGT ⁺¹ / 3:00am AEST ⁺¹ / 5:00am NZST ⁺¹ We cannot wait for your to embark on your first journey into Nebraska. Our team has been working hard to ensure everything is running smoothly for its release. From bug smashing to putting in additional polish on the map, we're ready for you to explore and deliver across the State! Take your time and enjoy every moment as you discover these features:Deliver to 12 explorable cities including Lincoln, Omaha, North Platte, or Grand IslandSee several landmarks unique to Nebraska such as Carhenge, Scott Bluff National Monument, Archway Monument, McConaughy Lake, and many other memorials and iconic muralsBecome a trucker transporting goods to Nebraska's key industries – RV dealers, Utility Vehicle Factory, Soybean factories and various custom made farmsDeliver cargo to the Sugar Beet Factory located in Scottsbluff, with its iconic tall storage silosExperience the brand new dynamic loading & unloading feature while delivering to selected agricultural depots Play a crucial role in one of America's major agricultural states. Transport corn, soybeans, sugar beat, grain and other produce that sustain Nebraska's farming legacyPick up cargo at the world’s largest train yard, the Baily Yard in North Platte and become a direct link to the state’s expansive railroad networkEnjoy trucking through 20 scenic towns (settlements)Drive through expansive prairies, providing unforgettable viewsDiscover hidden treasures of Nebraska’s countryside, viewpoints, easter eggs, and follow the historic Oregon Trail From cities large and small to the handcrafted unique agricultural industries found across the region, Nebraska has something new to explore around every corner. The Great Plains Calling! Steam Bundle The Nebraska DLC is also being added as a part of The Great Plains Calling! Bundle on Steam. It's a convenient way to fill in the gaps in your DLC collection for American Truck Simulator. Dive into the diverse landscapes of Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and now Nebraska - all part of the package we've crafted for truckers looking to long haul across the States! This bundle operates on a "Complete the set" basis, ensuring you only pay for the DLCs that are not already in your library. Be sure to take a look and not to miss out on any discounts! Special Transport DLC - New Cargoes Drivers looking for a challenging delivery can find 2 new Special Transport cargo options. Located in the city of Lincoln, the Motor Manufacturing Factory produces a range of consumer products, as well as Rail Cars for public transportation systems. Owners of the Special Transport DLC will have the opportunity to haul these unique cargoes in Nebraska. This includes the transport of a Metro Wagon from the Motor Manufacturing Factory, as-well as covered Train Wagon from other locations. Think you can take on this oversized load through the Cornhusker State? Be sure to keep an eye for its listing on the Job Market. Looking to help deliver oversized loads? Check out the Special Transport DLC for American Truck Simulator on Steam. Release Live Stream Can't wait to get trucking in Nebraska? Join Petr & Alex for our Nebraska DLC Release Live Stream! Featuring Special Guests involved in the development of this new expansion, a chance to WIN the Nebraska DLC + Sports Paint Job Pack, and more! Don't miss out, Tune in at our official Twitch or YouTube channels from 4:00 PM CEST onwards. Cruising Nebraska Event Excited to get driving? Don't forget, you can also join in on the #CruisingNebraska World of Trucks event, where you can earn unique in-game rewards! We are asking you, our #BestCommunityEver to help contribute and complete the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargo to or from any city in Nebraska. You can also complete a personal goal to earn yourself a WoTr acheivement and a hanging Box Turtle ornament. You can read more about this event in the dedicated blog post. We also have another unique gift for you. If you take any External Contract or External Market job TO or FROM the city of Lincoln, you'll earn the lovely Archie the Mammoth plush, which can be used as a cabin accessory. Standing at 14 feet tall, it's real life counterpart can be found on display at the State University in Lincoln. This giant is somewhat a of a mascot in town, so you should definitely consider having this smaller one to ride along with you during your long journeys in Nebraska. Sports Paint Jobs Pack But that's not all! With the release of Nebraska, we are also excited to release the all-new Sports Paint Jobs Pack alongside the Nebraska Release at 7pm CEST today. Slam dunk onlookers with eye-catching designs that scream team spirit! From the court to the ring, these paint jobs will have your truck looking like a heavyweight champion in no time. Each one of the designs included in this DLC has been handcrafted by our talented artists & vehicle teams to turn your Truck & Trailer into the ultimate sports enthusiast rig. Ready to hit the road with style that'll make even the toughest coach give you a high-five? Let's take a look at what this pack has to offer. With 5 matching Truck & Trailer paintjobs, this pack is sure to turn heads on the road! Included in this pack are the paintjobs: Touchdown! Slam Dunk!King of the RingHome RunGoal for Glory Be sure to be team player and share your screenshots or videos of your Sports themed rig with us on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok once you get your hands on it. We look forward to seeing our #BestCommunityEver come together and share their passion and love for their favourite sports. View the full article

Please join us on Thursday, the 16th of May, as we celebrate the release of our new Nebraska DLC, by taking part in our World of Trucks event – Cruising Nebraska! Through expansive plains, past golden fields and tranquil rivers, you'll explore the rich landscape and economy of the amazing Cornhusker state. We are asking our #BestCommunityEver to achieve the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargoes to or from any city in Nebraska. As you're #CruisingNebraska and taking in the sights and sounds of this historic state, you'll enjoy the opportunity to view the famous Oregon Trail railway line, or roll through the peaceful streets of some delightful towns such as Ansley, Auburn, Alma and Barnett to name but a few. Nebraska also proudly hosts beautiful wildlife such as the white-tailed deer, ornate box turtle, sandhill crane and is where you can find the stunning blue agate gemstone. And, don't forget, it is also famous for the world's largest Columbian mammoth skeleton, affectionately named 'Archie'. As you participate in the Cornhusker state's booming economy, you'll get to see some interesting new industries, such as recreational and utility vehicle dealerships, agriculture processing factories, and a wide array of train yards, farms and construction warehouses. And, during your travels, you can look forward to many spectacular views and highlights such as: Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir, referred to as "Big Mac" by locals.Golden Spike Tower, iconic landmark in North Platte, adjacent to the Union Pacific's Railroad Bailey Yard, one of the largest rail yards in the world.Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, architectural landmark symbolizing the gateway to the American West.Scotts Bluff National Monument, offering panoramic views of the North Platte River Valley.As with past cruising events, you can use your own trailer and experience all these in the external market! Nebraska DLC offers 12 fabulous new cities to explore, and we're offering a special reward for completing your personal goal, which will require you to deliver a job to or from all of them. All jobs for the event need to be 100 miles each (161 km) or more. Take part in this breathtaking journey through the Great Plains and cruise through Nebraska's diverse landscapes while contributing to its robust and historic economy of agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. All aboard for a trip through the Cornhusker state! Rules Using External Contracts or External Market, with a World of Trucks-connected profile in American Truck Simulator, the community goal is to drive 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargoes to or from any city in Nebraska. When a player completes a delivery to or from 12 different Nebraska cities, they will achieve their personal goal. All jobs for the event need to be at least 100 miles each (161 km), or more. You can check if your recent deliveries met these conditions using your Log Book in your World of Trucks profile. Rewards Personal: Players that deliver cargo to or from 12 Nebraska cities will gain a personal World of Trucks Achievement and a Mighty Mammoth themed ATS truck paint job Steam inventory item. Community: When the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) during deliveries to or from any city in Nebraska is met, and if the player has also achieved their personal goal, then they will receive a hanging Box Turtle ornament Steam inventory item. The event will be concluded on Sunday, the 14th of July at 23:59 UTC. We look forward to hearing from you about your adventures and we're sure you'll love cruising the amazing Cornhusker State! So, please share your screenshots and videos with us using the hashtag #CruisingNebraska on our Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram profiles and we will share our favorite ones (we may even feature some of them in a future blog post!). View the full article

Exciting news! The 1.50 update for American Truck Simulator has officially rolled out and is ready for download on Steam. Packed with bug fixes, adjustments, and fresh content, this update promises an enhanced experience for all players. Check out the detailed features below and dive right in! A huge shoutout to all who contributed, shared feedback, and reported bugs during the Experimental Beta phase. Your invaluable contributions have enabled us to fine-tune, refine, and eliminate bugs that slipped through the cracks initially. Now, it's time to reap the rewards of your collective efforts and release the 1.50 update as we have other projects (like the Nebraska DLC) coming that will be based on this version of the game. Happy trucking! Renderer Changes - (still based on DirectX 11 API for now)We're consistently working on improving our rendering system. It's been a key focus for us lately, and although it's a project for the long run, we already have some new content available for you. So in version 1.50, we are introducing these highly requested improvements to the graphics of our games: TAA, or Temporal Anti-Aliasing, sets itself apart from other anti-aliasing techniques that aim to smooth images to reduce jagged edges or flickering through higher-resolution rendering. Instead, TAA harnesses the timeline, particularly previous frames, to calculate color values as if from a higher resolution, providing a smoother result.Cascaded shadow changes: Smooth transition when blending between cascades, smoother and better-stabilized shadow edges.Soft particles: Particles and light flares smoothly fade out when near geometry, eliminating harsh intersections for a more seamless visual experience.Lit/shadowed smoke: Smoke particles with enhanced volume perception and shading from sunlight, providing a more realistic and immersive atmosphere.Far shadows: Ever-present shadows from distant large objects like factory halls, skyscrapers, and road overpasses, with the option to toggle them off in the Options menu.Optimized light computation: Dynamic lights are evaluated in a single pass, known as clustered lighting, improving performance in night scenes.User Interface ReworkWe are introducing substantial UI updates to enhance player interaction and accommodate more features. The redesign adopts a flatter, minimalistic design with tooltips and layered navigation, ensuring easier accessibility. For most UI screens, the visible changes are just an evolution of the previous look, though functionally, a lot of work was invested into making them work more comfortably with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard. The biggest change is the Home screen redesign, a new Status Bar sitting atop many various UI screens, the Quick Menu shortcuts, new fonts, icons, and much more. This results in a clearer look on 2K and 4K resolutions, with all the changes contributing to a more streamlined gaming experience. California Rework - Phase 3The third phase of the California rework makes its debut in the 1.50 update for American Truck Simulator, with a primary focus on central California. This region encompasses key cities starting from the north, such as San Francisco, Oakland, and Stockton, and extends southward to Santa Maria and Bakersfield, although the latter two are not included in this rework phase. Six cities have undergone a complete rework: San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, Santa Cruz, Huron, and Fresno. We have also added two brand-new cities, San Jose and Modesto, which will replace Oakdale in our game. All roads in the area have received a complete overhaul, including major routes such as CA-1, US-101, I-5, CA-99, US-395, and more. The beautiful Yosemite National Park also underwent significant enhancements as part of this update! You can watch our trailer for this phase of California rework below. International LT S13 & International LoneStarWith the 1.50 version, the International LT receives revamped interior and exterior options, and the LoneStar gets a refreshed interior. The International LT's exterior sees significant enhancements with new features, customizable options, and adjustments to existing parts, including the addition of the S13 model with its Integrated Powertrain. Additional accessories such as new chassis fairing extenders, bumper and grille options, FlowBelow fairings, blindspot detectors, and a shorter day cab chassis have been introduced. The interiors of both trucks have also undergone a complete overhaul with new models, updated textures, customizable interior cabinets, and functioning cabin physics, fulfilling a highly requested feature. We already released a separate blog dedicated to this topic which you can read here. Options TooltipsPlacing your mouse over each setting option will display helpful information, including explanations of what the options do. You will now effortlessly grasp the purpose of every adjustable option in the settings, enabling you to easily fine-tune your experience. Lane AssistantAfter implementing various driver assistance features, developing a lane assistant was the next step for us. This system features different modes that make it work well with various ways people control their vehicles, including steering wheels with force feedback. Now, truck drivers can enjoy simply turning it on along with adaptive cruise control, and letting the truck do more of the driving. Western Star 49X - New ExhaustsThe Western Star 49X now boasts an exclusive edition featuring specially crafted official exhaust systems for both the daycab and sleeper variants. Elevating its premium status, these exhaust shields are engraved with striking Western Star lettering, ensuring your truck makes a bold statement on the road. Changelog Map California Rework – Phase 3 Vehicles International LT S13International LoneStar (interior) and LT (exterior & interior) reworkLane assistant feature addedNew exhausts added for Western Star 49X UI Substantial UI design update (Home screen redesign, persistent Status Bar, Quick Menu, new fonts, icons and more)Settings options show information about what they do Visual Improvements in the rendering systemTemporal Anti-Aliasing feature addedCascaded shadow updatesSoft particles Lit/shadowed smoke Far shadowsOptimized light computationFrame rate limiter added Sound Brake squeaking sounds addedWe hope you are excited to try out all the new content! Remember to follow us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) so you won't miss out on any news from the world of American Truck Simulator. We'll see you on the road! View the full article

Exciting news! The 1.50 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 has officially rolled out and is ready for download on Steam. Packed with bug fixes, adjustments, and fresh content, this update promises an enhanced experience for all players. Check out the detailed features below and dive right in! A huge shoutout to all who contributed, shared feedback, and reported bugs during the Experimental Beta phase. Your invaluable contributions have enabled us to fine-tune, refine, and eliminate bugs that slipped through the cracks initially. We hope that you'll enjoy the new features, changes and more than come with this update. Happy trucking! Renderer Changes - (still based on DirectX 11 API for now)We're consistently working on improving our rendering system. It's been a key focus for us lately, and although it's a project for the long run, we already have some new content available for you. So in version 1.50, we are introducing these highly requested improvements to the graphics of our games: A new feature was added - TAA, or Temporal Anti-Aliasing, which sets itself apart from other anti-aliasing techniques, that aim to smooth images to reduce jagged edges or flickering through higher resolution rendering. Instead, TAA harnesses the timeline, particularly previous frames, to calculate color values as if from a higher resolution, providing a smoother result.Cascaded shadow changes: Smooth transition when blending between cascades, smoother and better-stabilized shadow edges.Soft particles: Particles and light flares smoothly fade out when near geometry, eliminating harsh intersections for a more seamless visual experience.Lit/shadowed smoke: Smoke particles with enhanced volume perception and shading from sunlight, providing a more realistic and immersive atmosphere.Far shadows: Ever-present shadows from distant large objects like factory halls, skyscrapers, and road overpasses, with the option to toggle them off in the Options menu.Optimized light computation: Dynamic lights are evaluated in a single pass, known as clustered lighting, improving performance in night scenes. User Interface ReworkWe are introducing substantial UI updates to enhance player interaction and accommodate more features. The redesign adopts a flatter, minimalistic design with tooltips and layered navigation, ensuring easier accessibility. For most UI screens, the visible changes are just an evolution of the previous look, though functionally, a lot of work was invested into making them work more comfortably with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard. The biggest change is the Home screen redesign, a new Status Bar sitting atop many various UI screens, the Quick Menu shortcuts, new fonts, icons, and much more. The result should be a clearer look on 2K and 4K resolutions, with all the changes contributing to a more streamlined gaming experience. Switzerland ReworkThe eagerly awaited Switzerland Rework project is set to debut in the upcoming 1.50 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2. You can look forward to a complete redesign of Switzerland, including its major cities such as Geneva, Bern, and Zurich. Alongside these enhancements, the economy has been finely tuned to reflect reality, featuring additions like a chocolate factory depot. But that's not all – the road network receives substantial upgrades too. Prepare to navigate the newly added sections of the A9 motorway and the challenging N19 road. Moreover, fulfilling the longstanding desire of many truckers, the A40/E25 route from Geneva to Aosta, Italy, promises an exhilarating journey beneath the majestic Mont Blanc. You can watch the trailer for this project below or find all the blogs about the rework here! The team behind the huge Switzerland Rework is already engaged in another rework project; which we will share more about when the time is right. Germany Rework - RhineFor the 1.50 version, we have reworked the Rhine region as part of the Germany Rework project. In total, four cities were completely rebuilt - Dortmund, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg. Not only did we revamp the cities, but their surroundings as well so this whole region has been reimagined from the ground up. We also added a part of Autobahn 3 from Cologne to Frankfurt. You can find out about this rework project in more detail in this blog dedicated to the cities in this region or another blog about industry and intersections in this part of Germany. This is surely not the last time you will hear about the Germany rework project as the team is already working on another part of the country! Scania Demo CentreThe Scania Demo Centre in Södertälje, Sweden, which we developed in collaboration with Scania, is going to make its debut in the 1.50 version. This facility was established in 1995 and serves multiple purposes in real life. Mostly, Scania uses it to demonstrate their vehicles, both trucks and buses. The facility hosts up to 14 thousand visitors every year from universities to engineers and also allows drivers with a Category B license to try out Scania vehicles. In-game, players will have the opportunity to navigate the meticulously recreated test track, featuring asphalt, forest, and gravel roads, offering diverse terrain challenges. This in-game circuit is an exact replica of the real one on a 1:1 scale. Remember, you need to own the Scandinavia DLC to be able to visit the Scania Demo Centre. Want to learn more? Read our dedicated blog all about the Scania Demo Centre! Wielton Trailer Pack DLC UpdateIn cooperation with Wielton Trailers, we are introducing the new Container Master trailer series to the Wielton Trailer Pack DLC. Featuring a super lightweight and durable chassis, this update offers two lengths for added versatility. The first being the Wielton Container Master NS3 P20 SL TANK, which measures 8305mm (27ft) in length and is especially created for the safe transport of Chemical Tank Containers (ADR). The second length we are introducing is the Wielton Container Master NS3 P40 SL, which is designed for the transport of a 40ft container or 2x20ft containers. Both of these trailers will also have a range of options available for them. You can read more about it here. Options TooltipsPlacing your mouse over each setting option will display helpful information, including explanations of what the options do. You will now effortlessly grasp the purpose of every adjustable option in the settings, enabling you to easily fine-tune your experience. Lane AssistantAfter implementing various driver assistance features, developing lane assistance was the next step for us. This system is more complicated because it has to work well with the different ways people control their vehicles. Making it work well with steering wheels with force feedback was particularly important, even though it was challenging because of possible problems like control-force feedback loops and other details. Also, the lane assistant features different modes, each serving distinct purposes, making it more complicated. Now, truck drivers can enjoy simply turning it on along with adaptive cruise control, letting the truck do more of the driving. Changelog Map Switzerland ReworkGermany Rework - Rhine regionScania Demo Centre Vehicles MAN TGX UpdateLane assistant feature addedWielton Trailer Pack DLC Update UI Substantial UI design update (Home screen redesign, persistent Status Bar, Quick Menu, new fonts, icons and more)Settings options show information about what they do Visual Improvements in the rendering systemTemporal Anti-Aliasing feature addedCascaded shadow updatesSoft particles Lit/shadowed smoke Far shadowsOptimized light computationFrame rate limiter added Sound Brake squeaking sounds addedWe hope you are excited to try out all the new content! Remember to follow us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) so you won't miss out on any news from the world of Euro Truck Simulator 2. Until next time, Keep on truckin'! View the full article

Switzerland has undergone an amazing revitalisation with the 1.50 update, and what better way to celebrate than to take part in our latest World of Trucks event: Trade Connections – Switzerland! The fun starts soon, on Tuesday the 14th of May, nearly 6 years since our last trade connections event, and we think it's the perfect opportunity to kick-start the great new Swiss economy while experiencing all the fantastic updates! The task at hand for our #BestCommunityEver is to achieve the community goal of delivering 20,000,000 tonnes of cargo, either to or from Switzerland. The connecting country can be any. This accomplishment will boost Switzerland’s imports and exports to all neighbouring countries including even those from afar. As you help build Switzerland’s international trade connections, you will begin to experience the wide array of changes and additions that were so painstakingly and lovingly worked on. In particular the reworked cities of Bern, Geneva and Zurich, their connecting roads, highways and historical areas, not to mention the magnificent Alps, with some challenging routes to discover and incredible views. And, since the Swiss consume more chocolate per capita than any other European country, it seems fitting that we’ve added the new Charmey chocolate industry, as part of the new and more realistic economy. The list goes on... Don't forget that you can also use your own trailer and experience the event in using the external market! Rules Using External Contracts or External Market, with a World of Trucks-connected profile in Euro Truck Simulator 2, the community goal is to deliver 20,000,000 tonnes of cargo to Switzerland from any other country or vice versa. Players will achieve their personal goal by completing cargo deliveries between Switzerland and 10 different countries. All jobs for the event need to be at least 200 km, or more. You can check if your recent deliveries met these conditions using your Log Book in your World of Trucks profile. Rewards Personal: Players that complete 10 or more deliveries, of any cargo, will gain a unique World of Trucks Achievement, a Matterhorn cabin item and 3 random country pennant drops, including a rare Switzerland pennant, as Steam inventory items for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Community: When the community goal of achieving 20,000,000 tonnes of cargo to or from Switzerland is met and if the player has also achieved their personal goal, then they will receive a Saint Bernard plush as a Steam inventory item for their cabin. The event will be concluded on Sunday the 14th of July at 23:59 UTC. We hope you enjoy our reworked Switzerland and all that it has to offer, and we look forward to seeing all your photos from your journey's during the event. Please share them using the hashtag #TradeConnectionsSwitzerland on our Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram profiles and we will share our favourite ones (we may even feature some of them in a future blog post!). View the full article

Are you ready to ride through the Cornhusker State? Mark your calendars and get ready to hit the road, because we're excited to announce that... Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator will be released on May 16th, 2024! We're just as excited as you are, and to keep the anticipation going, we've released the official trailer for the Nebraska DLC on our official YouTube channel! Created by our talented Video Team, this trailer will give you a preview of the beautiful landscapes, rolling hills, cities & towns, landmarks, and industries that await you in this map expansion. Take a watch of it below! We cannot wait for you to embark on your first journey into Nebraska. Our team has been working hard to ensure everything is running smoothly for its release. From bug smashing to putting in additional polish on the map, we're on the final stretch! From cities large and small to the handcrafted unique agricultural industries found across the region, Nebraska has something new to explore around every corner. Are you ready? If so, be sure to add Nebraska to your Steam Wishlist! It really helps support our work and notifies you of its release. We thank you for your support and we look forward to welcoming you across the state border very soon. Until then, keep on Truckin'! View the full article

Are you ready for another preview of the upcoming Arkansas DLC? Today, we want to show you some glimpses of the beautiful city of Hot Springs that truckers will be able to explore in this map expansion coming to American Truck Simulator! Hot Springs, Arkansas, nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, boasts a captivating history intertwined with its natural thermal springs. Revered for their healing properties, the springs drew European settlers in the 19th century, transforming the area into a bustling resort town. The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked its peak, with Hot Springs earning the moniker American Spa. Today, Hot Springs remains a haven for relaxation, anchored by the splendid Hot Springs National Park. Perfectly restored bathhouses now provide modern spa experiences in the Bathhouse Row, the city's historic and well-preserved downtown. Beyond its thermal springs, Hot Springs draws adventurers with plenty of outdoor activities, from hiking through the national park to leisurely cruises on nearby lakes. An array of events and festivals throughout the year ensures there's always something to captivate visitors in this enchanting Arkansas gem. Truckers are in for a treat as they traverse the city's historic streets, passing by iconic landmarks steeped in history and charm. The journey might begin with a glimpse of the majestic Arlington Hotel, the city's most iconic historical landmark that has welcomed guests for over a century. Then you can spot the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum, and the Maurice Bathhouse, a testament to Hot Springs' heyday as a premier spa destination. Not to be missed are the picturesque Central Baptist Church, the stately Hot Springs High School, the former U.S. Navy Hospital, and the historic First United Methodist Church. But that’s not all, you will surely discover more landmarks in this city once the Arkansas DLC is released! This beautiful spa resort is full of historical monuments, fountains, promenades, parks, and many depots for you to deliver into. Keep in mind that this DLC is still a work in progress. If you are excited about the Arkansas DLC, make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Stay tuned for more updates by following us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. View the full article

In this episode of the SCS On The Road series, we take an in-depth look at one of Tirsan’s flagship products, the SCS Multi Ride trailer! Today’s episode is hosted by our colleague SiSL, who had the privilege of interviewing Mert Erdoğmuş, the former Product Manager at Tirsan. Tirsan, renowned for its groundbreaking solutions in the transportation sector, has consistently raised the bar in trailer design. The SCS Multi Ride trailer stands as a testament to their commitment to innovation and efficiency. You can also get this trailer in Euro Truck Simulator 2 by owning the Tirsan Trailer Pack DLC! A huge shout-out to Mert Erdoğmuş and our friends at Tirsan for their collaboration and support in bringing this episode to life. Stay tuned for more captivating journeys with SCS On The Road by following us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)! Don't forget to follow our friends at Tirsan on their Facebook and Instragram. Until next time, keep on truckin'. View the full article

Today, we are happy to share with you a look at two of the biggest cities (by population) that will be featured in our upcoming Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator. While both of them share some similarities, each are unique in their own way. Let's take a closer look, shall we? Omaha Welcome to Omaha, Nebraska, a bustling city with a variety of industries, landmarks, and sights waiting to be explored by truck drivers traversing America's heartland. Situated at the crossroads of major highways and surrounded by key industries, Omaha offers a unique blend of urban excitement and Midwestern charm for drivers passing through or making a stop. As the largest city in the State, Omaha will offer drivers a range of depots to deliver to and from. You'll find several different industries such as a large Cement Plant south of the city and a mill which may be a little tricky for some truckers to find. You'll also find a lovely view of the Missouri River & Omaha's Zoo from the Train Yard, which is located in the urban area of the city, where several other in-game depots and companies are based. Drivers navigating around the city will be able to travel on some pretty major Interstate and Highway routes including the I-80, I-680 and US-75. As you navigate Omaha's streets, keep an eye out for a number of landmarks that showcase the city's vibrant culture and heritage! Whether you're passing through or making a pit stop, Omaha welcomes truck drivers from across the US to come and visit. Lincoln With its blend of Midwest charm, rich history, and diverse industries, Lincoln beckons visitors from across the State and beyond. As the Capital City of Nebraska, it has a lot to offer for truck drivers. In the North of the city you'll find a Vehicle Factory to deliver to and from, and in the East, you'll find a variety of industries and in-game companies including a Rail Yard and Agriculture Depot. As you navigate Lincoln's streets, you'll encounter a mix of modern architecture and historic landmarks, along side the famous Memorial Stadium located in the heart of the city. You'll be able to experience all of them up-close as you travel on the US-6, which travels right through the centre of the city. From its bustling highways to its cultural gems, Lincoln offers something for every traveller on the road. We hope you'll take the time to explore all that this Capital City has to offer. Be sure to let us know what you're looking forward to seeing the most! We're looking forward to sharing more news on Nebraska in the near future. You can keep up-to date with all the latest news and announcements right here on our blog, or on Twitter/X, Facebook or Instagram. If you are excited to about checking out this State, then also don't forget to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Until next time, keep on truckin' View the full article

Step into Columbia, Missouri, where history meets natural beauty in a charming fusion. We're excited to offer you a sneak peek into the efforts of our team as we recreate this vibrant city in our upcoming Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator. Columbia, Missouri, affectionately referred to as "CoMo" by locals, is a dynamic city brimming with history and culture. Founded in 1818, it serves as the county seat of Boone County and stands as the fourth-largest city in the state. Renowned for its vibrant arts scene, Columbia is a haven for creativity, boasting numerous galleries, theaters, and music venues that showcase local talent and attract visitors from far and wide. This vibrant city nestled along Interstate 70, boasts a unique blend of urban charm and natural beauty. Driving through the city, you will be able to see some of its architectural marvels such as the iconic Jesse Hall Auditorium and the stately Memorial Student Union, along with the Boone Hospital Center, which offer a glimpse of the city's rich heritage and academic prominence. In the midst of the city's hustle and bustle, there's also a little creek that winds its way through, right where Interstates 70 and US 63 come together. Navigating through Columbia's landscape, one encounters a tapestry of suburban tranquility and industrial prowess. Truckers can look forward to delivering to many depots in this city, including the Columbia Mall, construction site, warehouse, gas chem distribution center, car parts factory, International Trucks dealership, or even a custom farm on the outskirts of the city, and more. We hope that you enjoyed this preview of what is to come in this upcoming map expansion. Looking forward to the release of the Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator? Be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Remember to follow us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) so you won't miss out on any news! Until next time, keep on truckin'. View the full article

With the development of the Nordic Horizons DLC in full swing, we would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the hardworking team involved in the creation of this upcoming DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2. We hope you enjoy reading each of their messages, all of which have been written just for you, #BestCommunityEver!Dominik - Producer "My journey with SCS games started long before I joined the company. I worked on map mods for 18 WoS: Haulin' and Euro Truck Simulator 1. After high school, I was deciding if I wanted to try to start a career in game development with SCS and I’m glad I did! My first tasks were on DLC Italia and it was a pleasure to learn from more experienced colleagues. My current role is as a producer, so my responsibility is to deliver the DLC with the highest quality possible, but also as quickly as possible. That’s not an easy task, if you consider how big an area we are trying to cover. We have a great team of talented developers, so I’m confident that we won’t disappoint you. I can’t wait to see your reactions and reviews after the release." Petr - Map DLC Lead "Hi. My name is Peter and I recently celebrated my 5 year anniversary at SCS Software! I started as a junior map designer, helping to complete the Road to the Black Sea DLC. Then I worked my way up and was presented with the opportunity to be one of two leads for this huge new project, the Nordic Horizons DLC. My biggest enjoyment comes from communicating with my super talented team and with other departments to solve various issues and challenges. We hope to create beautiful and vast sceneries that the northern countries have to offer but also provide fun driving challenges for players all around the world." Ivo - Map DLC Lead "When I became part of the SCS Map team back in 2018, it was a dream come true for me. As I rose through the ranks and as the giant scope of the Nordic Horizons project became apparent, the opportunity presented itself for me to become one of the leads on the project, which I gladly took. This allowed me to be with the project from the preproduction phase, visiting the northernmost parts of Europe in-person, helping to shape it and balancing our urges to include every charming piece of landscape (which are innumerable) within our scale, consistency and production limitations. Our wonderful team is doing its best to capture the stunning beauty and vastness of the region. From the deep forests to the magnificent fjords, we aim to give our players the feeling of driving long distances through sparsely populated areas and thus adding a different spin to their virtual trucking experience. Mark my words: It's gonna be huge!" Andrea - Map Designer "I joined SCS in 2022 and since then I have gained a lot of skills, which are further enhanced with each new task. So far, I've been working mostly on Finland and after exploring reference images for my tasks, I want to visit this country in real life. Especially Lapland, where I had a lot of fun creating its beautiful landscapes, which I hope players will like. I'm so glad I can be a part of this team, knowing this DLC will be epic while admiring the creations of my talented colleagues." Ashley - Map Designer "At the end of 2022, I moved from my home city and joined SCS, which was one of the best decisions of my life. Back then, I was stuck in a difficult place in life and SCS gave me a chance to lift myself back up. I have always loved video games and to be able to work on one is a dream come true. All my colleagues are really cool and talented people who I enjoy working with. My job as a map designer is to create scaled-down parts of the world for a player to explore. I always try my best to make every area fun to drive through, and the environment exciting to see. So far I mostly worked on Finland which I find to be very beautiful. I wish I could write more about everything I have worked on so far, but unfortunately, that is going to have to stay a secret for now. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's reactions to the DLC when it's finished since I know how much passion everyone is putting into making it." Michael - Map Designer "I was a player and big fan of ETS2 long before I joined SCS Software. Now, being here for almost a year and a half, I can really say that this is a dream come true. I’ve been part of the Nordic Horizons DLC since the early beginning and the countries I work on are Sweden and Norway. One of my many tasks in Sweden is to build the city Kiruna, which is known for its iron ore mine and also for the fact that parts of the city are being moved east, because the city is overmined and is slowly sinking to the ground. It’s challenging city, but I’m sure players will love it. This DLC is so far turning out great, I can't wait until we show you more!" Adam - Map Designer "I never thought I would be working on games, but here I am, four years later. Previously I worked in a sweet shop serving coffee, so this is an interesting change. I am currently working on some of the road network in Sweden, I hope I will do them justice, as the scenery is gorgeous. I also spent a few weeks learning the creation of Special Transport routes last year, so I’m looking forward to working on them for Nordic Horizons DLC too." Lucie - Map Designer "I wanted to work on games long before I finished my education and while I haven't played many games in the simulator genre, I am incredibly happy to be a part of the SCS map designer team. After assisting with the finalization of the West Balkans DLC, namely in the south of Podgorica and north of Banja Luka, I am excited to be able to work mostly on the countries of Sweden and Norway. The infinite views over valleys and fjords are challenging in a good way and the serpentine roads of mountains are a joy to create. I am really excited to share our work with our players and I hope we'll do these countries justice." We hope you enjoyed meeting the team members behind the Nordic Horizons DLC, who are working very hard to deliver a great map expansion. We can't wait to share more of their ongoing work with you in the future. If you are excited about this upcoming DLC, be sure to add it your Steam Wishlist! Until next time, keep on truckin'. View the full article

Nicknamed the “Cornhusker State”, Nebraska is renowned for agriculture. Today we're happy to share with you some of the Depots you'll be able to visit, as well as some of the crops and produce you'll be able to deliver in our upcoming DLC for American Truck Simulator. Plus we're excited to give you a first look at a new loading/unloading feature! Let's take a closer look shall we? Nebraska is no stranger when it comes to agriculture, in fact it's one of the top states in the U.S. when it comes to agricultural production. Some of the most popular produce you'll find grown in the region includes Corn, Soybeans, and other grains which you'll be able to deliver in-game. Another popular produce grown in Nebraska is Sugar Beet! On your travels through Nebraska, drivers will be able discover the Sugar Beet Factory located in Scottsbluff, with its iconic tall storage silos. Whilst driving in Nebraska, you may also notice there is quite a lot of cows! In fact, there are so many that there are more cattle than people living in this part of the US, resulting in a ratio of 3.31 cattle per person. Because of this, harvesting grass in fields and even along the side of the road is commonplace, as fresh grass remains in high demand due to the amount of livestock. You may also notice plenty of hay around too, especially on farms! Speaking of farms, we are proud to share that each one of our farms created in our Nebraska DLC has been handcrafted and do not use a generic prefab. This means you'll experience a unique depot, that vary in looks, size and delivery points! From these farms, you'll be able to haul a range of different produce, including livestock and even farm equipment to and from different farms and industries across the State and beyond. We are also excited to announce that Nebraska will be the first DLC to feature a brand-new dynamic loading and unloading feature, which you will be able to experience at select agriculture depots across the State. Please keep in mind that this feature is still in its first phase. We hope to continue to develop and build upon this first iteration in the future. Drivers using an ownable Grain Hopper trailer, delivering Corn, Soybean, Grain, Sugar Beet, Pelleted Animal Food, Potatoes or Cotton Seed will be able to experience loading or unloading their produce through the load/dump shed. Upon arrival for loading, the tarp from your trailer will be removed and the location of the hopper or silo will be marked on your GPS. After you arrive at the designated area and you pull your trailer into the correct position, your trailer will begin to fill up with the product that you are hauling. Drivers using trailers with multiple compartments will need to fill both of them evenly. For example if you have two compartments, the first will become full once it reaches 50 %, then after repositioning your trailer to fill the second container, the loading will continue until it is fully loaded at 100 %. After you have completed loading, your trailer will be re-covered with a tarp and your GPS will be updated to your destination. After arriving at the depot, select the 'Where do you need it?' option and head to the unloading point, where your trailer will be emptied! Want to see this new feature in action? Then head on over to our Social Media Channels (Twitter/X, Instagram or Facebook) to see an exclusive video showcasing some of the Agriculture depots and this new loading/unloading process. Can't wait to get trucking in Nebraska? Then be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! We look forward to sharing more development news in the future until then, keep on truckin'! View the full article

We have another sneak peek of what the upcoming Greece DLC will look like! This time, we would like to share with you some of the new assets and building models you will encounter in this map expansion. Keep in mind that these models showcased here are not the only new assets our map designers have been working on, and that this DLC is still a work in progress. Now without further ado, let's take a look at them! Our dedicated team of researchers, mappers, and asset designers have created over 150 brand-new Greek buildings, each one a unique gem in its own right. From cosy village cottages to bustling town shops and warehouses, the array of structures adds a splash of life and colour to the surroundings. What's more, most of these assets boast added variability, offering an array of different variations and colours. But it doesn't end there! Alongside these architectural wonders, they've sprinkled in smaller new models like fences, walls, and delightful details such as benches, baskets, stalls, and twinkling lamps, ensuring that every corner is bursting with character and charm. Just a friendly reminder: this DLC is still a work in progress, so there may be some changes to these models before the final release. If you are excited about the Greece DLC, make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Stay tuned for more updates by following us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. View the full article

Today, we bring you another preview of what is to come in the 1.50 update for American Truck Simulator. In cooperation with our friends from International Trucks, we are excited to reveal that we will bring new interior and exterior options for the International LT and a refreshed interior for the LoneStar! Excited? Let's take a look at the exterior of the International LT which will now get a major update! Not only did we add new features and customizable options to selected parts of the truck, but we also adjusted and polished some of the existing parts and reworked the base geometry of the truck. The biggest upgrade coming is the addition of the S13 Integrated Powertrain which includes a new engine, the T14 transmission, and new accessories. These new accessories include more options for chassis fairing extenders and more bumper and grille options. We also added FlowBelow fairings, an APU, blindspot detectors, and a completely new shorter day cab chassis. But it doesn't end here! If you look closer, you will surely spot some smaller details that have been adjusted as well. The interiors of both the International LT and International LoneStar have undergone a complete overhaul. Truckers can look forward to new models, updated textures, and interior materials. We also added a entirely new feature in the form of customizable interior cabinets. Last but not least, both trucks now have functioning cabin physics, which is a highly requested feature by our #BestCommunityEver! We hope you are excited for this update to come as much as we are. Remember to follow us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) so you won't miss out on any news from the world of American Truck Simulator. Also don't forget to follow our friends at International Trucks on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Until then, we'll see you on the road! View the full article

Today, we would like to invite our #BestCommunityEver to take another journey with us in this episode of SCS On The Road. This time, we head to Greensboro in North Carolina, USA, to take a close-up look at the stunning Volvo VNL 860! A few months back, we had the pleasure of visiting the headquarters of Volvo Trucks North America, nestled in the scenic surroundings of North Carolina. During our visit, we had the fantastic opportunity to record an exclusive walk-around of the beautiful Volvo VNL 860. Guiding us through the details of this remarkable truck was none other than Jason Spence, the Product Strategy Director, who has been working with Volvo for an impressive 25 years. We want to thank Jason and the entire Volvo team for granting us this invaluable experience. And now, without further ado, join us as Nemiro and Jason will tell you everything about this amazing truck in today's episode below! We hope you have enjoyed this episode of SCS On The Road. If you did, you can also check out another episode we did with Volvo Trucks North America a few months back about how they are designing their trucks here. Don't forget to stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and TikTok. Happy trucking! View the full article

Buckle up, it's time to hit the road! Today, we're excited to share with you the very first gameplay preview from our upcoming Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator. Join us as we drive from the city of Valentine, Nebraska to an Agriculture Facility just below North Platte. Please keep in mind that what you see here is still a work in progress and does not represent the final product. From cities to scenic byways, Nebraska has plenty left yet to be discovered. If you like what you see, be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! We thank you for your continued support and look forward to reading your comments and first impressions on the Cornhusker State in American Truck Simulator. View the full article

Known for its scenic beauty, clear lakes, and abundant wildlife, it's easy to see why Arkansas has earned the title of the "Natural State". In our upcoming Arkansas DLC for American Truck Simulator, our team has been hard at work re-creating the various trees, vegetation and more you'll come across on your travels. Let's take a closer look, shall we? Did you know Arkansas has its own State tree? Designated in 1939, the Loblolly Pine can be found across a majority of the state, and continues to remain the most significant timber species. These trees can reach heights of up to 100ft, with its pines growing between 6 to 9 inches long, which is makes it the ideal species for lumber and pulpwood, in which Arkansas is the leading producer in the United States. When you see a pine in Arkansas, it’s probably a loblolly! You'll be sure to spot plenty of them on your travels. Another tree you'll be sure to see is the Bald Cypress. Commonly found in swampy or wetland areas, they are well-suited to the diverse wetland ecosystems found throughout the state. Often found across the South-eastern United States, particularly in areas like the Mississippi River; Bald Cypress trees contribute to the scenic beauty of Arkansas with its unique shape and and iconic "knees" – woody projections that emerge from the roots. However, not every plant or tree you'll find in Arkansas is native to its homeland. The Kudzu Vine is a fast-growing, invasive vine native to Asia which has found its way into the States in 1876, where it was touted as a great ornamental plant for its sweet-smelling blooms and sturdy vines. However, they forgot to mention the rapid growth rate of the vine, which is capable of growing up to a foot (30 cm) per day under ideal conditions. It climbs by twining around trees, poles, and other structures, often forming dense mats that can shade out native vegetation. In Arkansas it is commonly found along roadsides, in forest edges, and in undisturbed areas such as abandoned fields and vacant lots. Another such example is the Silk Tree, an ornamental tree species native to Asia, particularly Iran, Korea, and Japan. Its elegant fern-like foliage, vibrant flowers, and overall graceful appearance make it a popular choice for landscaping and ornamental purposes. While the Silk Tree undoubtedly adds aesthetic value, its ability to spread its seed rapidly, means it often outcompetes native vegetation and disrupts local ecosystems. These are just a small handful of the various new vegetation species you'll find in our upcoming DLC. Those who are familiar with different species of trees will spot the likes of the Smooth Sumac, Black Oak and many more. We urge you to look out for them and maybe a take a minute to learn about them when you have are taking a rest! We hope you enjoyed this little insight into the vegetation side of things, and we look forward to highlighting the natural beauty of the state in the near future. Until then, be sure to add Arkansas to your Steam Wishlist and to follow us on Social Media (Twitter/Facebook/Instagram) for all the latest news. View the full article

We're back in Eindhoven, Netherlands, for another exciting episode of our SCS On The Road series! Join Nemiro and Henk Meeuwis as they take you through the amazing DAF Museum which shows the whole history of this automotive company. Get ready for our longest episode yet! We're diving deep into DAF's history, milestones, and more. And we believe our community will love learning about it all. We have to express huge thanks to Henk Meeuwis for guiding us through the museum with his wealth of knowledge, as he has been working for DAF for 47 years! And a big shout-out also goes to the DAF Museum team and our friends at DAF, Tim Gerth, and Koen Damen, for helping us make this episode happen. Now, without further delay, let's dive into it! We hope you've enjoyed the tour of the DAF Museum, but there is surely more to explore than we showed, so if you happen to be in Eindhoven, visit it yourself! Don't forget to follow us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok so you won't miss out on any news and future episodes of SCS On The Road. View the full article

The intricate network of roads and highways in Nebraska plays a pivotal role in connecting its communities, industries, and travellers alike. Stretching across the expansive plains and rolling landscapes, these thoroughfares serve as vital links for commerce, transportation, and tourism. Today we are happy to share with you a preview into some of the Road Networks you'll find in our upcoming Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator. Whilst there will be plenty of roads to explore, one major Highway you'll come across is the famous I-80, the longest Interstate in Nebraska! Along this crucial route you'll find plenty of places to stop if you need a break or some extra fuel, such as Rest Stops and Truck Stops both large and small. Prior to the 1900s, travelling across Nebraska was extremely difficult and roads were few and far between. During the late 19th century, various interest groups began putting pressure on the Federal Government to create a larger Road Network, and by 1904, the State had created thousands of miles of roads to travel on. Today, Nebraska has hundreds of thousands of miles worth of roads, many which our team have re-created for our upcoming DLC. From major routes to backroads, there will be plenty to explore. You may even find yourself a scenic viewpoint or a route that is not on your GPS! Whilst we are still working hard behind the scenes on the road network, we hope you enjoy the previews of the routes you'll be travelling on in the future. Let us know if you recognise any of the roads, highways or areas by commenting below, on our official forums or one of our social media channels (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook). Looking forward to driving through Nebraska for yourself? Then be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! We are excited to share more previews with you in the near future, until then, keep on truckin'. View the full article

We have some news for our #BestCommunityEver! Today, we're rolling out the Experimental Beta for the upcoming 1.50 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Why do we call our upcoming beta experimental? We need to manage expectations right from the start. We are starting the beta cycle this time from a rather early stage. The level of polish and stability is not the same as for our usual Open Betas. We believe in transparency with our community, and we also need to gather a lot of feedback early this time, to understand how well the features perform. That's why we're offering this Experimental Beta as a precursor to the Open Beta, giving you a glimpse of what's to come while acknowledging that it's still very much a work in progress. Behind the scenes, our team is working hard on internal projects and releases, all scheduled for version 1.50 of our games. Despite our best efforts, certain aspects of the update are still undergoing refinement. However, we know how important it is to involve our community in the development process, which is why we're making this content available to you in its current state. Your feedback at this stage is invaluable as we strive to deliver the optimal experience. With the Experimental Beta, we invite our dedicated players to join us in fine-tuning, testing, and providing feedback. Your input will assist us in identifying and addressing any issues or imperfections before the Open Beta and ultimately the full version 1.50 release. It's worth noting that this beta may cause instability in certain areas of the game. For those seeking a more polished experience, we recommend awaiting the subsequent Open Beta or the full version's release. We are very committed to delivering high-quality updates. In the days to come, we'll continue to debug and finalize everything that's coming to ETS2 with the 1.50 update. Your patience and support during this phase are deeply appreciated as we work towards a seamless transition to the next chapter of Euro Truck Simulator 2. Without further ado, let's delve into what you can anticipate from version 1.50. Renderer Changes - (still based on DirectX 11 API for now)We're consistently working on improving our rendering system. It's been a key focus lately, though it'll take some time to complete. Until then, you can expect additional content and enhancements in version 1.50, including: A new feature was added - TAA, or Temporal Anti-Aliasing, which sets itself apart from other anti-aliasing techniques, that aim to smooth images to reduce jagged edges or flickering through higher resolution rendering. Instead, TAA harnesses the timeline, particularly previous frames, to calculate color values as if from a higher resolution, providing a smoother result.Cascaded shadow changes: Smooth transition when blending between cascades, smoother and better-stabilized shadow edges.Soft particles: Particles and light flares smoothly fade out when near geometry, eliminating harsh intersections for a more seamless visual experience.Lit/shadowed smoke: Smoke particles with enhanced volume perception and shading from sunlight, providing a more realistic and immersive atmosphere.Far shadows: Ever-present shadows from distant large objects like factory halls, skyscrapers, and road overpasses, with the option to toggle them off in the Options menu.Optimized light computation: Dynamic lights are evaluated in a single pass, known as clustered lighting, improving performance in night scenes. User Interface ReworkWe are introducing substantial UI updates to enhance player interaction and accommodate more features. The redesign adopts a flatter, minimalistic design with tooltips and layered navigation, ensuring easier accessibility. For most UI screens, the visible changes are just an evolution of the previous look, though functionally, a lot of work was invested into making them work more comfortably with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard. The biggest change is the Home screen redesign, a new Status Bar sitting atop many various UI screens, the Quick Menu shortcuts, new fonts, icons, and much more. The result should be a clearer look on 2K and 4K resolutions, with all the changes contributing to a more streamlined gaming experience. We plan to have a separate, more detailed blog on this topic in the near future, so stay tuned. Switzerland ReworkThe eagerly awaited Switzerland Rework project is set to debut in the upcoming 1.50 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2. You can look forward to a complete redesign of Switzerland, including its major cities such as Geneva, Bern, and Zurich. Alongside these enhancements, the economy has been finely tuned to reflect reality, featuring additions like a chocolate factory depot. But that's not all – the road network receives substantial upgrades too. Prepare to navigate the newly added sections of the A9 motorway and the challenging N19 road. Moreover, fulfilling the longstanding desire of many truckers, the A40/E25 route from Geneva to Aosta, Italy, promises an exhilarating journey beneath the majestic Mont Blanc. You can watch the trailer for this project below or find all the blogs about the rework here! The team behind the huge Switzerland Rework is already engaged in another rework project; however, we will keep any additional details to ourselves at the moment. Germany Rework - RhineFor the 1.50 version, we have reworked the Rhine region as part of the Germany Rework project. In total, four cities were completely rebuilt - Dortmund, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg. Not only did we revamp the cities, but their surroundings as well so this whole region has been reimagined from the ground up. We also added a part of Autobahn 3 from Cologne to Frankfurt. You can find out about this rework project in more detail in this blog dedicated to the cities in this region or another blog about industry and intersections in this part of Germany. This is surely not the last time you will hear about the Germany rework project as the team is already working on another part of the country! Options TooltipsPlacing your mouse over each setting option will display helpful information, including explanations of what the options do. You will now effortlessly grasp the purpose of every adjustable option in the settings, enabling you to easily fine-tune your experience. Lane AssistantAfter implementing various driver assistance features, developing lane assistance was the next step for us. This system is more complicated because it has to work well with the different ways people control their vehicles. Making it work well with steering wheels with force feedback was particularly important, even though it was challenging because of possible problems like control-force feedback loops and other details. Also, the lane assistant features different modes, each serving distinct purposes, making it more complicated. Now, truck drivers can enjoy simply turning it on along with adaptive cruise control, letting the truck do more of the driving. Changelog Map Switzerland ReworkGermany Rework - Rhine region Vehicles MAN TGX FaceliftLane assistant feature added UI Substantial UI design update (Home screen redesign, persistent Status Bar, Quick Menu, new fonts, icons and more)Settings options show information about what they do Visual Improvements in the rendering systemTemporal Anti-Aliasing feature addedCascaded shadow updatesSoft particles Lit/shadowed smoke Far shadowsOptimized light computationFrame rate limiter added Sound Brake squeaking sounds added So, do enjoy all these new additions, but please remember: It's only an experimental beta, not an open beta yet or even a stable public version, so you may encounter bugs, instability, or crashes. It's completely okay if you want to wait for the open beta or the final release. But if you're interested in helping us get there faster, we'll appreciate all of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in the dedicated section. Please check our modding wiki to get details pertaining to mods for the game. If you wish to participate in the experimental beta, you can find this version in the public_beta branch on Steam. The way to access it is as follows: Steam client → LIBRARY → right-click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 → Properties → Betas tab → public_beta → 1.50. No password is required. Sometimes you may need to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there. Also, the 1.50 Experimental Beta is currently unavailable for Mac OS users, but it is expected to be released for the platform in the near future. Thank you for your ongoing dedication and feedback. We believe the Experimental Beta will be a valuable stepping stone towards Open Beta and an exceptional 1.50 version. Don't forget to stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Happy trucking! View the full article

Exciting times are ahead! We're happy to announce that the very first electric vehicle coming to Euro Truck Simulator 2 will be the Renault Trucks E-Tech T! We're proud to partner with Renault Trucks once more, honoured by their trust in us to introduce their latest state-of-the-art, fully electric truck to our #BestCommunityEver. Make sure to read the whole blog, as there is a lot of important information about this truck and an upcoming design competition you don't want to miss! First, let's take a few steps back and look at our past projects we did in cooperation with Renault Trucks which eventually led to bringing this truck into our game. In Autumn 2023, we were invited to Lyon for a design contest among selected influencers and truckers. Guided by specialists from Renault Trucks, LumiLor and our own talented 2D graphic artist Annie, the group crafted designs featuring the innovative LumiLor paint job – a cutting-edge method that allows layers of colour on any surface to be illuminated by small electric impulses. While we were there, we also toured the Renault Trucks assembly plant, test-drove the E-Tech T, gathered reference materials for our vehicle department, and captured the sounds of this remarkable truck. You read more about it here or watch the video below. In December, two designs were chosen for the public vote in which our community also participated. In an exciting showdown, the stunning Diamond Echo and Lightning Bolt designs went head-to-head in the vote. Ultimately, the Diamond Echo emerged victorious, making automotive history by bringing this unique paint job to life on a truck for the very first time! Later, Renault Trucks invited us to attend and amplify the reach of the grand reveal event on April 9 at their headquarters in Lyon. We took this amazing opportunity and teased what was to come by placing a special truck model under a blue veil in front of selected Renault Trucks dealers in ETS2, which you can read about here. It was a great pleasure and experience to share that grand reveal with our #BestCommunityEver through a live stream directly from the venue which you can replay below. We are incredibly honoured that Renault Trucks has acknowledged our community as a strong and desired audience to share this moment with. Having the President of Renault Trucks, Bruno Blin, the Design Director, Paul Daintree, and the Chief Designer, Vincent Froidevaux, join us in the stream was a source of immense pride. It was exciting not only to witness the E-Tech T but also their entire range of fully electric vehicles. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, our teams were hard at work recreating this truck for ETS2, ensuring that we could bring it into the game for our community to enjoy. We are now proud to announce that this fully electric truck will be the very first EV truck in Euro Truck Simulator 2. Its arrival is close, expected not long after the release of the 1.50 update! The Renault Trucks E-Tech T boasts impressive specifications, including a powerful 540kWh battery that enables it to cover up to 500 kilometres on a single charge when using a DC charger during a one-hour break. Equipped with a 4x2 configuration and a 12-speed Optidriver gearbox, it offers a seamless driving experience. It has a Gross Combination Weight (GCW) of 44 tons, highlighting its impressive hauling capacity. Additionally, its maximum regen rate matches its maximum output, reaching an impressive 490kW. As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of the E-Tech T, it's crucial to address some key considerations. Just like in the real world, transitioning to electric vehicles poses unique challenges in our virtual realm. While our team has worked tirelessly to bring the E-Tech T to ETS2, our in-game infrastructure isn't fully ready to support electric vehicles. Gas stations, initially designed for traditional fuel vehicles, can't easily become electric charging stations without major modifications. Despite these challenges, we're dedicated to promoting electrification within our game. Integrating more EV trucks into ETS2, making them fully customizable and accessible, is our goal. This process will take time as we navigate game development complexities. Currently, we're embarking on an experimental phase, our initial steps toward in-game electrification. That is why the E-Tech T, along with a few other electric trucks planned for the future, will be introduced in a special mode and will be accessible only through the Quick Jobs section. Our cautious approach ensures a smooth experience as we gradually integrate electric vehicles into our virtual world. The introduction of the E-Tech T is a big milestone that marks the beginning of our journey toward in-game electrification - a historic moment for our community. We're incredibly proud of the years of collaboration with various partners, and the continuous growth of our game and community. It's a testament that our game is now recognized as a platform worthy of featuring the latest projects from our partners, including their desire to introduce electric trucks into ETS2. We are happy that the beautiful and technologically advanced E-Tech T is the very first to come and we eagerly await your feedback on its quietness, acceleration, behaviour, and smoothness and hope you will have fun driving it in Euro Truck Simulator 2. But that's not all! Renault Trucks highly values our community and enjoys collaborating on exciting projects with our ETS2 fanbase. Following the remarkable moment when the Renault Trucks team utilized LumiLor's paint technology for the first time in automotive history, and after the grand reveal of the truck adorned in this unique design, we're happy to reveal another exciting opportunity for our community. Although, due to technical constraints, the LumiLor paint job won't be featured in the game with the E-Tech T vehicle for now, we have something special in store for our community. We're partnering with Renault Trucks for another community design contest similar to the one we did here! In this new contest, our community is invited to assist the Renault Trucks team in designing a second paint job for the E-Tech T truck. This design will later be recreated on another fully electric and real E-Tech T vehicle! It's truly an incredible opportunity for our community. You can apply here! Everyone is welcome to participate in this design contest. Whether you're a skilled modder with numerous paint jobs under your belt, a talented graphic artist proficient in software like Photoshop, or someone with a perfect idea for a paint job, you can join in! Simply download images of the truck, unleash your creativity with pencils or colours, and submit a photo of your proposed design. Let's make this design contest an unforgettable experience and showcase the creativity of our amazing fanbase! We strongly recommend that participants carefully review the Terms and Conditions and the rules of the design contest which you can find here. This ensures that their design has a chance to be selected by Renault Trucks as one of the five finalists, from which the community will vote for the best design. The winning design will be revealed in the future, but it remains to be seen when and where. Remember, when creating your design, be sure to paint over the ultramarine blue colour with white, and try to incorporate elements that reflect electrification and electric powertrain. And that's not all! As a token of our appreciation for their creativity and dedication, all finalists will receive an exclusive package of Renault Trucks and SCS Software merchandise, along with exciting gifts from another esteemed partner, Thrustmaster! The winning design will also be included in Euro Truck Simulator 2 when the E-Tech T truck becomes available for players to own in the game! We hope you are as excited as us to try out this electric marvel when it comes to ETS2! Until then, stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. View the full article

Today, we're rolling out something a little different: the Experimental Beta for American Truck Simulator's upcoming 1.50 update. Why call our upcoming beta experimental? We need to manage expectations right from the start. We are starting the beta cycle this time from a rather early stage. The level of polish and stability is not the same as for our usual Open Betas. We believe in transparency with our community, and we also need to gather a lot of feedback early this time, to understand how well the features perform. That's why we're offering this Experimental Beta as a precursor to the Open Beta, giving you a glimpse of what's to come while acknowledging that it's still very much a work in progress. Behind the scenes, our team is hard at work juggling internal projects and releases, all scheduled for version 1.50 of our games. Despite our best efforts, certain aspects of the update are still undergoing refinement. However, we recognize the importance of involving our community in the development process, which is why we're making this content available to you in its current state. Your feedback during this phase is invaluable as we really want to deliver the best possible experience. With the Experimental Beta, we invite our dedicated players to join us in fine-tuning, testing, and providing feedback. Your input will help us identify and address any issues or imperfections before the Open Beta and eventually the full 1.50 version release. It's important to note though, that this beta may cause instability in certain areas. If you prefer a more polished experience, we recommend waiting for the further Open Beta release. Rest assured, our commitment to delivering high-quality updates remains unwavering. In the days to come, we'll continue to debug and finalize everything that's coming to ATS with the 1.50 update. Your patience and support during this phase are greatly appreciated as we work towards a seamless transition to the next chapter of American Truck Simulator. Now, without further delay, let's take a look at what you can expect from version 1.50. Renderer Changes - (still based on DirectX 11 API for now) We're consistently working on improving our rendering system. It's been a key focus lately, though it'll take some time to complete. Until then, you can expect additional content and enhancements in version 1.50, including: A new feature was added - TAA, or Temporal Anti-Aliasing, which sets itself apart from other anti-aliasing techniques, that aim to smooth images to reduce jagged edges or flickering through higher resolution rendering. Instead, TAA harnesses the timeline, particularly previous frames, to calculate color values as if from a higher resolution, providing a smoother result.Cascaded shadow changes: Smooth transition when blending between cascades, smoother and better-stabilized shadow edges.Soft particles: Particles and light flares smoothly fade out when near geometry, eliminating harsh intersections for a more seamless visual experience.Lit/shadowed smoke: Smoke particles with enhanced volume perception and shading from sunlight, providing a more realistic and immersive atmosphere.Far shadows: Ever-present shadows from distant large objects like factory halls, skyscrapers, and road overpasses, with the option to toggle them off in the Options menu.Optimized light computation: Dynamic lights are evaluated in a single pass, known as clustered lighting, improving performance in night scenes. User Interface ReworkWe are introducing substantial UI updates to enhance player interaction and accommodate more features. The redesign adopts a flatter, minimalistic design with tooltips and layered navigation, ensuring easier accessibility. For most UI screens, the visible changes are just an evolution of the previous look, though functionally, a lot of work was invested into making them work more comfortably with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard. The biggest change is the Home screen redesign, a new Status Bar sitting atop many various UI screens, the Quick Menu shortcuts, new fonts, icons, and much more. The result should be a clearer look on 2K and 4K resolutions, with all the changes contributing to a more streamlined gaming experience. We plan to have a separate, more detailed blog on this topic in the near future, so stay tuned. California Rework - Phase 3The eagerly awaited third phase of the California rework is focused on central California. Six cities in this area have undergone a complete rework: San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, Santa Cruz, Huron, and Fresno. We have also added two brand-new cities; San Jose and Modesto, which will replace Oakdale in our game. All roads in the area have received a complete overhaul, including major routes such as CA-1, US-101, I-5, CA-99, US-395, and more. The beautiful Yosemite National Park also underwent significant enhancements as part of this update! You can watch our trailer for this phase of California rework below. International LT S13 & International LoneStarThe International LT will receive revamped interior and exterior options, and the LoneStar will get a refreshed interior. The International LT's exterior sees significant enhancements with new features, customizable options, and adjustments to existing parts, including the addition of the S13 model with its Integrated Powertrain. Additional accessories such as new chassis fairing extenders, bumper and grille options, FlowBelow fairings, blindspot detectors, and a shorter day cab chassis have been introduced. The interiors of both trucks have also undergone a complete overhaul with new models, updated textures, customizable interior cabinets, and functioning cabin physics, fulfilling a highly requested feature. Stay tuned for more updates as we plan to have a separate blog on this topic in the future. Options TooltipsPlacing your mouse over each setting option will now display helpful information, including explanations of what the options do. You will now effortlessly grasp the purpose of every adjustable option in the settings, enabling you to easily fine-tune your experience. Lane AssistantAfter implementing various driver assistance features, developing lane assistance was the next step for us. This system is more complicated because it has to work well with different ways people control their vehicles. Making it work well with steering wheels with force feedback was particularly important, even though it was challenging because of possible problems like control-force feedback loops and other details. Also, the lane assistant features different modes, each serving distinct purposes, making it more complicated. Now, truck drivers can enjoy simply turning it on along with adaptive cruise control, letting the truck do more of the driving.Changelog Map California Rework – Phase 3 Vehicles International LT S13International LoneStar (interior) and LT (exterior & interior) reworkLane assistant feature added UI Substantial UI design update (Home screen redesign, persistent Status Bar, Quick Menu, new fonts, icons and more)Settings options show information about what they do Visual Improvements in the rendering systemTemporal Anti-Aliasing feature addedCascaded shadow updatesSoft particles Lit/shadowed smoke Far shadowsOptimized light computationFrame rate limiter added Sound Brake squeaking sounds added So, do enjoy all these new additions, but please remember: It's only an experimental beta, not an open beta yet or even a stable public version, so you may encounter bugs, instability, or crashes. It's completely okay if you want to wait for the open beta or the final release. But if you're interested in helping us get there faster, we'll appreciate all of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in the dedicated section. Please check our modding wiki to get details pertaining to mods for the game. If you wish to participate in the experimental beta, you can find this version in the public_beta branch on Steam. The way to access it is as follows: Steam client → LIBRARY → right-click on American Truck Simulator → Properties → Betas tab → public_beta → 1.50. No password is required. Sometimes you may need to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there. So, to our community, thank you for your ongoing dedication and feedback. Together, let's make the Experimental Beta a valuable stepping stone towards Open Beta and an exceptional 1.50 version. Don't forget to stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Happy trucking! 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Hey there, truckers! We've got some updates to share about the upcoming Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator. Get ready to explore fresh industries as we venture into the Cornhusker State. With three exciting new companies on the horizon, there's plenty to look forward to in our virtual trucking adventures! One of the standout additions to Nebraska's industrial landscape is the Recreational Vehicle (RV) dealer. You'll find these dealerships sprinkled across cities like Omaha, Norfolk, and Columbus, offering a wide array of recreational vehicles. But it's not just RVs; they've got buggies, ATVs, and UTVs too! We're bringing these dealerships to Nebraska because there are so many beautiful places ideal for camping in the Cornhusker State. These vehicles are a hit not just in Nebraska, but all across middle America! The Utility Vehicle Factory in Lincoln represents another key addition to Nebraska's industry. Here, they manufacture a diverse range of equipment, from UTVs and ATVs to buggies and motorcycles which are then delivered to the RV dealers. However, the crown jewel of this facility lies in its production of subway cars, destined for public transport systems across various states. As players deliver cargo to or from this factory, they may see these subway cars that operate in iconic cities like New York City. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nebraska's economy, with the state being a leading producer of corn, soybeans, beef, and other agricultural commodities. That's why we had to incorporate a few Soybean Factories into its landscape. Located in cities such as Scottsbluff, Alliance, and Lincoln, these facilities specialize in soybean processing, serving both human consumption and animal feed purposes. Apart from those new industries, truckers can expect to encounter a variety of prefab reskins scattered throughout Nebraska. These include revamped versions of road garages, construction warehouses, and farm garages, adding visual diversity and realism to the state's infrastructure. We cannot wait to bring you this map expansion. If you are looking forward to it, make sure to add the Nebraska DLC to your Steam Wishlist! Until then, stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. View the full article

Welcome to Jefferson City, Missouri, a charming destination renowned for its blend of historical significance and picturesque landscape. Today, we are happy to share with you a look into the work our team has undertaken in recreating this city in our upcoming Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator. Situated on the banks of the Missouri River, one of the main attractions of the city is the famous and iconic Missouri State Capitol building. Built between 1913-1917, it was constructed with Burlington Limestone, sourced from the nearby city of Carthage. This impressive structure stands as the main landmark of the city and hosts the State Senate and House of Representatives, as-well as other important government bodies and offices. Drivers in our upcoming Missouri DLC can expect to explore and drive through a part of the downtown area themselves, and those with eagle eyes may even be able to spot some locations our team visited on their research trip previously; Let us know if you do! There are plenty of smaller details and other landmarks to be found too, including the barracks of the Missouri Army National Guard. Across the river, you'll find plenty of work at some of the local industries, which includes an agricultural farm and a construction site. Players entering the city may spot a view of the local quarry too, as well as some of the more residential areas of the city where the locals reside. The city has changed a lot since the times of Thomas Jefferson, the city's namesake and the 3rd President of the United States, but we're sure you'll enjoy trucking through it! We hope that you enjoy all the work that our talented teams have put into recreating this historic city in Missouri. Looking forward to the release of the Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator? Be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Until next time, keep on truckin'. View the full article