Illinois: Murals

Illinois is home to a wide variety of public art, and many of its towns and cities proudly display colorful murals that celebrate local culture, history, and community pride. For our upcoming Illinois DLC for American Truck Simulator, our map and asset teams have recreated several of these works so that drivers can come across them while traveling across the Prairie State. In today's blog, we'd like to highlight some of the murals you may spot on your journeys!

Chicago

As one of the largest cities in the United States, Chicago is well known for its thriving art scene. Murals can be found throughout many of the city's neighborhoods, decorating building walls with bold colors, detailed imagery, and unique designs. As you navigate the streets of Chicago, keep an eye out for these impressive works that help bring even more character and authenticity to the city.

These large-scale artworks reflect the creativity and diversity that Chicago is famous for. From colorful patterns and community-inspired pieces to striking portraits and imaginative compositions, they add life to the urban landscape and make each street feel a little more distinctive.

Springfield

As the capital of Illinois, Springfield is rich in history and culture, and its streets also feature a variety of murals that bring color and character to the downtown area. As you explore the city, you may notice several of these artistic pieces adorning building walls along your route.

These murals often celebrate the heritage and stories of the region, helping to create a sense of place for both locals and visitors alike. Including them in the Illinois DLC allows players to experience another layer of authenticity while traveling through the state.

Rockford

Located in northern Illinois, the city of Rockford is another place where you can spot several murals while driving through town. These artworks decorate a number of buildings and add vibrant colors to the streets, creating memorable sights for anyone passing by.

Public art like this plays an important role in highlighting the identity and culture of local communities. By recreating these murals, our teams aimed to capture the atmosphere and personality that make each Illinois city unique.

Quincy, Champaign, Macomb & Marion

Murals are not limited to just a few locations, however. As you continue your journey across Illinois, you may also discover colorful murals in cities such as Quincy, Champaign, Macomb, and Marion.

From large walls covered in vibrant illustrations to smaller artistic pieces that celebrate local culture, these murals help make every city feel more alive. Our teams enjoyed researching and recreating these details to ensure that each location feels authentic and full of character.

We hope you enjoyed this look at some of the murals featured in the Illinois DLC! Be sure to add the Illinois DLC to your Steam Wishlist, and don't forget to follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and YouTube to stay up to date with the latest news from American Truck Simulator. You can also subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a future update. We look forward to sharing more with you soon! Until next time, happy haulin'!

ETS2 1.59 Update: Volvo Trucks Experience Center

Today, we’re excited to give you an early glimpse of something special arriving in Euro Truck Simulator 2 with the upcoming 1.59 update! In partnership with our friends at Volvo Trucks, you’ll soon have the opportunity to test your trucking skills at the renowned Volvo Trucks Experience Center, situated in Gothenburg, Sweden! 

Located in Gothenburg, the home of Volvo Trucks, the Volvo Trucks Experience Center brings together brand presentation spaces and a purpose-built driving facility created to showcase the performance and engineering of Volvo Trucks’ vehicles. While visitors can explore Volvo’s latest innovations, technology, and heritage on site, the center’s standout feature is its dedicated driving circuit.

This carefully designed track incorporates sweeping bends, tighter technical corners, elevation changes, downhill stretches, and varied road layouts. Together, these elements allow drivers to assess vehicle behaviour in a controlled environment, highlighting stability, braking precision, handling characteristics, and overall driving comfort in ways that go beyond everyday road conditions.

In Euro Truck Simulator 2, the Volvo Trucks Experience Center (VTEX) has been recreated almost entirely on a 1:1 scale. Players will be able to drive the full circuit and explore the surrounding areas of the facility. Our teams paid close attention to detail to faithfully capture the layout and atmosphere of the real-world location, including all of the parking areas that form part of the center, delivering an experience that closely mirrors its real-life counterpart.

Drivers wanting to check out this special area will need to venture around the roads near Gothenburg, to discover an entrance that is not yet discovered on your GPS, which leads into the facility. And just a friendly reminder, as it is located in Sweden, you will require the Scandinavia DLC to be able to visit it.

Last year, we had the fantastic opportunity to visit the Volvo Trucks Experience Center ourselves, where we got up close to the facility and even behind the wheel of the Volvo FH Electric, Volvo FH16 780, and Volvo FH I-Save. During our time there, we gathered detailed photographic references and captured authentic sound recordings to support our ongoing projects. We also documented the visit as part of our SCS On The Road series on YouTube; you can watch the episode below!



We’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to our good friends at Volvo Trucks for their support and collaboration in bringing this special location to Euro Truck Simulator 2 for our players to explore and enjoy. 

We look forward to sharing more news about upcoming updates, DLCs, and other exciting developments soon. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so that you don't miss a thing, and until next time, keep on truckin’!

SCS On The Road: Our Visit to Bobcat EMEA HQ

In today's episode, we're heading to Dobříš, a small town in the Czech Republic, and home to the Bobcat EMEA headquarters. Alongside a behind-the-scenes look at how the models for our games were created, we also got a walkaround of some of the machines to learn more about them.

When we visited Bobcat last year to gather reference materials for our Bobcat Cargo Pack DLCs for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, we also had the chance to record this episode while capturing the scanning process with our vehicle department and exploring more of Bobcat's product range. 

We would like to thank Bobcat for the invitation and smooth collaboration, as well as Matúš Gejdoš, their Product Manager for Portable Air Compressors, and Zdeněk Brůžek, the Field Product Trainer, for sharing their time and knowledge with us about these impressive machines. Without further ado, let's watch!

If you would like to transport these machines in our games, make sure to get the Bobcat Cargo Pack DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and the Bobcat Cargo Pack DLC for American Truck Simulator on Steam. You can also buy the bundle to get these DLCs for both games for half the price!

Don't forget to give Bobcat a follow on their Facebook and Instagram. Also, make sure to stay connected with all the latest news and upcoming episodes by following us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and YouTube, or by subscribing to our newsletter. Until next time, happy haulin'!

Illinois: Gameplay Preview

Buckle up and get ready to roll, because today we’re excited to share a brand-new gameplay preview from our upcoming Illinois DLC for American Truck Simulator!

The Prairie State is a place where busy industry meets wide-open farmland, and where historic routes connect vibrant cities. Our team has been hard at work recreating this diverse state, bringing its highways, landscapes, and atmosphere to life for drivers to experience behind the wheel.

In this preview, you’ll get a first look at a journey through Illinois as we travel from Quincy all the way to Chicago, driving along major interstates and rural highways alike. Along the way, you’ll pass expansive agricultural fields and grain facilities before gradually approaching Chicago's dense urban skylines and underground.

Join us as we take a drive through a selection of locations across the state and showcase some of the roads and environments our map team has been crafting. As always, please keep in mind that everything you see in this gameplay preview is still a work in progress and subject to change as development continues.

We hope you enjoyed this gameplay preview of Illinois and the trucking opportunities it will offer in American Truck Simulator! If you like what you see, be sure to add the Illinois DLC to your Steam Wishlist. Don't forget to also follow us on our X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and YouTube or sign up for our newsletter. Until next time, happy haulin'!

SCS On The Road: Bobcat Manufacturing Plant Tour

Ever wondered how the Bobcat equipment you’re hauling with our Bobcat Cargo Pack DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator is created? In today’s SCS On The Road episode, you’ll find out exactly that!

Last year, we had the privilege of being invited on a guided tour of the Bobcat Manufacturing Plant located in Dobříš, Czechia. Join Petr, one of our Community Managers, and Vincent Frank, Plant Director at Bobcat, as they step inside the factory and show us how Bobcat products are created and assembled. The facility employs over 900 people from across the region and produces approximately 20,000 machines annually for customers throughout the EMEA region. Some of the machines built here are also exported to North America, Asia, and other markets around the world. 

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our friends and partners at Bobcat EMEA for inviting us and giving us the opportunity to share a behind-the-scenes look at areas the public wouldn’t normally be able to see, and share it with you, as part of our SCS On The Road series! 



We hope you enjoyed this episode! If you did, be sure to leave a like and a comment, and follow Bobcat on their Facebook, Instagram and YouTube! 

If you’d like to transport these machines in our games, you can check out the Bobcat Cargo Pack DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and for American Truck Simulator, which are both available on Steam. 

And don’t forget to follow us too on X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube, so you won’t miss any future SCS On The Road episodes. You can also sign up for our newsletter to stay informed even when you’re not checking the blog or our social channels.

Isle of Ireland: Meet the Team

Today, we’d like to shine the spotlight on the team working on the upcoming Isle of Ireland map expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2. This brand-new DLC will take drivers across the island of Ireland, from lively urban centres to quiet coastal roads and rolling green countrysides. As with every map expansion we create, bringing a new region into the world of ETS2 requires a passionate group of developers working together to carefully craft every road, city, and landmark.

In this edition of Meet the Team, you’ll get the chance to learn more about some of the people behind the project. The developers featured here have prepared short introductions along with a few small insights into what they’ve been working on so far. We hope you will enjoy getting a closer look at the team helping to build this exciting new destination.

Honza - Map DLC Lead

"Hi. It has been six years since I joined SCS. It has been a great journey ever since. I grew from being a junior map designer to map lead, and now I enjoy leading such a talented group of people.

We're finishing up the Benelux rework project, and I hope truckers will enjoy driving on highways there soon. Meanwhile, we have started with the next project, the Isle of Ireland. This will be my first regular DLC, which is exciting. The Emerald Island is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful pieces of land on the whole continent. Green pastures, wild western coast, lively, colourful cities and towns. Oh, and not a lot of highways! We'll give it our best to do it justice.

Little about me: I have a Polish wife, a new baby and a neurotic dog. My favourite pastime: Having a nice beer while watching campy horror movies."

Eliška (foxxy) - Senior Map Designer

"Hi, I'm Eliska, a former filmmaker turned map designer. My journey with SCS Software started nearly 5 years ago during the pandemic and has been enjoyable and fulfilling ever since. I had never before imagined that I would be able to start a brand new career in my forties, based on what I loved to do in my free time my whole life - building imaginary digital worlds in games.

I am grateful that SCS accepted me without any prior professional experience, helped me grow and learn, and landed me where I am today, a senior specialist on a great team in one of the most peaceful games in the world. And that would not be possible without our incredible players. Thank you."

Kristián - Map Designer

"I have been working at SCS Software for four years, during which I have contributed to several map expansions, including the Benelux rework project. Within this project, I worked on the cities of Rotterdam and Antwerp, as well as the Europoort area. I specialise in creating ports and ferry terminals, but I also work on city design and the surrounding areas, focusing on their layout, atmosphere, and functionality within the game world.

For the Ireland DLC, I am responsible for the creation of cities and ferry terminals, including Waterford, where I continue to bring these urban environments to life through detailed design. I hope players will enjoy exploring them as much as I enjoy creating them."

Veronika  - Junior Map Designer

"Pine trees lining German highways, small marinas in Nordic Horizon, water channels in Benelux. These are projects for which I had the opportunity to create maps. And now we are starting on the mysterious, cosy Ireland, which I associate with peat bogs and fairytale views of the countryside. I am especially looking forward to those in the heart of Ireland, around the town of Athlone, where I will be building. You can also look forward to lots of roadside art sculptures on your way."

Anis - Map Designer

"I spent years studying academic painting and drawing at two different universities. Over time, surrounded by theory, technique, and countless books on the history of art, I became convinced that I understood what "Art" truly meant. My education gave me structure, discipline, and a sense of certainty, but certainty can be limiting.

Now, six years into my journey at SCS Software as a Senior Map Designer, I see things differently. From shaping the quiet suburbs of Iberia and the rural roads of Slovenia to working on major cities and crafting unique custom depots, I’ve learned that art isn’t confined to canvas or theory. It lives in scale, in detail, in atmosphere – in everything we do, putting our heart into our work."

Marek - Junior Map Designer

"I joined SCS less than a year ago as a junior map designer. Immediately after my probation period, I started working on a section of Galway in Ireland, which was later featured in the teaser for the Ireland DLC. I’m really happy about it and grateful to have joined SCS Software at this time, with the opportunity to work on Ireland. Given the country’s diversity, ranging from dense urban centres to rugged, hilly terrain, the role of a map designer here allows me to work on an exceptionally wide and engaging variety of locations. We hope you enjoy exploring the Isle of Ireland as much as our team enjoyed creating it!"

Libor - Map Designer

"I have been working as a Map Designer for four years and have contributed to the West Balkans, Greece, and Nordic Horizons DLCs. Each country has its own unique vibe and atmosphere, and I truly enjoy bringing that into our game. Our work is not just about recreating well-known landmarks. Often, it’s a small, cosy street recreated 1:1 that you probably wouldn’t see in any other game, yet it adds that special touch and makes you truly feel like you’re driving in a specific country.

Every DLC starts with detailed research, from the distinct look of architecture, roads, signs, and sidewalks to small details like wildflowers that may grow only in one particular country. I love the attention to all these geeky details in our company, and I believe this is what makes our games unique. My main focus on the Ireland DLC is Killarney National Park and the town of Killarney. The nature of this region and the town itself are absolutely stunning, and I’m doing my best to bring that beauty to your screens. I also believe these roads will be perfect for upcoming coaches, as it is primarily a tourist region with only a small amount of industry. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this DLC will be received and to reading your honest and motivating reviews."

Jitka - Map Designer

"I've been enjoying creating landscapes and exploring the possibilities of our game since joining the team in 2022. After some of the most challenging roads in Switzerland and the verticality of Luxembourg city, I started working on Ireland.

Ireland is more than just green. It's mist rising over dark hills on the horizon, spreading across endless heather moorlands. It's a sunlit coastline and a road weaving ahead of you through open land. It's the little villages, where time has stopped.

Ireland's landscape has its own unique way to pull you in. And I can't wait for you to see more of what we are creating."

Radek - Junior Map Designer

"I have been working at SCS for a year and a half now. My first project was the Benelux rework, where I gained valuable experience that I put to good use as I started working on the Ireland DLC. As part of the team, I focus on vegetation and on helping the map feel as authentic and true to real references as possible. I am very excited to be part of this, as it feels like a long-missing piece of the Europe map. Ireland’s landscapes and colour palette will enrich the overall map with their lush, green, vegetation-rich environment."

Dimi - Junior Map Designer

"Hi, my name is Dimi, and ever since I was younger, I dreamed of creating video games in some sort of artistic way, so here I am! I became part of the SCS team about a year ago, and since then, I have participated in two of our upcoming projects. I took a small part in the creation of Benelux Rework and now Ireland, which I’ve really taken a liking to.

My favourite landmarks I had the pleasure of creating are the Giant's Causeway, together with its surroundings and Ben Bulben, which appeared in our teaser. After spending my time observing various locations, I have fallen in love with the landscapes and nature of Ireland, and I am more than happy to be a part of its creation. I will do my best to recreate that beauty in our game, hoping it will bring you the same happiness it has brought me along the way.

Bíodh lá maith agaibh!"

Jirka - Junior Map Designer

"Hi, my name is Jirka. I have been working at SCS for over a year and a half, and I really enjoy it here. I previously participated in the Benelux project, and now I am working on Ireland with the same great team of inspiring colleagues. I think that you will enjoy the diverse landscape full of beautiful views and diverse paths that beautifully reflect the character of the landscape, just like I do."

Tereza - Junior Map Designer

"Hello, I've recently celebrated two years at SCS. I started working on Germany and continued on Benelux. I'm still fixing bugs in Benelux for you, but I'll be moving to Ireland soon. While working on the flat environments of the Netherlands rework, I was also helping out on the Nordic Horizons DLC, where there were lots of beautiful landscapes.

I've already had a look at what awaits me, and it seems cosy. No more big highways and complicated junctions, just cities and roads. I have to say that left-hand traffic was a problem for me at first, but I quickly got used to it.

What I like most about Ireland are the colour-coded sheep. I just love them! Irish people, tell me, wouldn't it be cheaper to tag them on their ears, like we do in the Czech Republic? Just kidding, you make the world more colourful. Thanks."

That’s it for today’s blog! We’d like to thank everybody for sharing a little about themselves and their work on the Isle of Ireland. It’s always a pleasure to give our community a glimpse behind the scenes and introduce the talented people who help shape our projects.

We look forward to sharing more news and previews from the Isle of Ireland in the future, so be sure to keep an eye on the blog for upcoming updates. Don’t forget to add the expansion to your Steam Wishlist and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our newsletter. Until next time, safe travels!

Community Help: Vehicle Preproduction Researcher

In today's blog, we'd like to reach out to our #BestCommunityEver, as we're currently looking for an external Vehicle Preproduction Researcher to collaborate with our team on a paid, full-time basis or task-based cooperation. So if the idea of working with SCS Software sounds exciting to you, keep on reading for more details!

As you know, vehicles are at the core of what we do in Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator. Every truck we bring into the game starts long before the modeling phase – with proper research. And that is exactly where we'd like to strengthen our team.

This role focuses on researching real-world vehicles and their components according to our internal specifications, verifying the accuracy of the information, and preparing clear, well-structured materials that our vehicle team can directly use. Beyond collecting data, it's also about understanding which details truly matter for a simulation game and what level of depth makes sense within the technical limits of our engine.

We are looking for someone who has hands-on experience with real vehicles, such as truck drivers, people working in logistics or the automotive industry, vehicle servicing professionals, or vehicle manufacturing specialists. If you've worked with trucks or heavy vehicles in real life and you understand how they function beyond just the surface, that's exactly the kind of background we're interested in. And of course, experience with our games is a huge plus!

If you are interested in this position and have the required background, you can apply and find more information about this role here.

We're looking forward to seeing your applications and perhaps even finding our new colleague within our own community. Until next time, we'll see you on the road!

SCS On The Road: Volvo Construction Equipment Museum Tour

If you ever find yourself near Eskilstuna, Sweden, be sure to visit the Munktell Museum! In this episode of SCS On The Road, we had the pleasure of doing just that after being invited by Volvo Construction Equipment for a guided tour of this remarkable museum.

Home to more than 90 exhibits, the museum showcases an impressive collection of machines that trace the rich heritage of Swedish industrial history - a fascinating experience for anyone interested in engineering or heavy machinery. And for the occasion, we had the very best guide imaginable: Jannicke Serneberg, Head of the Munktell Museum.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Volvo CE for the kind invitation and to Jannicke for the enthusiastic, insightful, and truly expert tour she gave us. Now, without further ado, let's watch the episode!

We hope you've enjoyed this glimpse inside the wonderful Munktell Museum! There's so much more to discover beyond what we've shared, so if you're a fan of impressive, heavy machinery and industrial history, be sure to add it to your must-visit list. Make sure to follow them on their Facebook page for future news!

And if you would like to transport the Volvo CE machines in our games, you can check out the Volvo Construction Equipment DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 here, and for American Truck Simulator here.

Don't forget to also give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, TikTok, and YouTube a follow, as you'll receive updates about our games and new SCS On The Road episodes straight to your feed! Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. See you on the road!

South Dakota: Custom Depots

Excited to get truckin' in The Coyote State? This post is for you! Today, we're happy to share a look at some of the Custom Depots you'll be delivering cargo to and from in our upcoming South Dakota DLC for American Truck Simulator. Let's hit the road!

Unlike standard prefabs, these depots have been carefully assembled by our map designers using a variety of assets, giving each one a distinct look and feel. Many of them are based on real-world locations, which perhaps some of you might recognise if you live locally or visit South Dakota often.

On your travels, you’ll quickly see just how central farming is to South Dakota’s identity. As the 13th largest agricultural exporting state, there’s certainly no shortage of work to be done! Our talented map and asset teams have recreated farms found across the state to represent this important industry in-game.

One thing we couldn’t miss adding alongside these custom farm depots was the Great Plains Shelterbelt. This large-scale windbreak project began in the 1930s in response to the Dust Bowl, when millions of trees were planted in long belts across the Plains to reduce wind speeds and combat soil erosion.

For farms, the Shelterbelt play an important role, in helping to protect exposed agricultural soils, shielding buildings and livestock from harsh prairie winds, and even improving growing conditions by reducing moisture loss. With only around 4% of South Dakota covered in forest, these purposeful lines of trees stand out across the open landscape, becoming both a practical tool for farmers and an iconic part of the region’s rural scenery. 

Farming ain't the only big business in town, though! In the Black Hills, you’ll discover a region rich in history and natural beauty. Best known for its Gold Rush era, natural hot springs and historic railway, this area offers a completely different feel compared to the open plains. It’s also home to carefully managed timber operations that form another part of South Dakota’s working landscape, and one which is represented by our custom depots! 

While timber harvesting does take place in the Black Hills, much of the area is protected as National Forest, meaning forestry work is highly regulated and carried out on a smaller scale. Rather than focusing on one specific real world site, our timber depot captures the spirit of these operations, representing the industry as it exists within this unique and historic region.

It's not just what's above ground, but also below! This upcoming DLC will also feature a Quarry in Sioux Falls which is uniquely located within the city, and surrounded by highways and the suburbs. Here, they extract hard metamorphic rock and pink quartzite used in construction, one which has helped shape much of Sioux Falls’ architecture.

Across South Dakota, you'll also spot a familiar sight, Grain Elevators! These specialized agricultural facilities store and handle large quantities of harvested crops. Standing tall as iconic landmarks across the prairie, you won’t travel far without seeing one, and we’re sure you’ll make quite a few deliveries to and from them as well!

Liked what you read today? There's more to come! We look forward to sharing even more from this upcoming DLC for American Truck Simulator in the future, right here on our blog. If you're excited to be haulin' in the Mount Rushmore State, be sure to add South Dakota to your Steam Wishlist, your support means a lot to us. Until next time, happy haulin’!