Texas - Nature #2 (Water Bodies, Deserts, Forests, Mountains)

A while ago we brought to you a blog article that was the first part of showcasing the local nature in the upcoming Texas DLC. Back then we were basically on flat, even ground, however, this time around you should prepare for an exciting up-and-down journey!

You may remember that we have covered some of the local mountains in a blog dedicated to rock formations, but there is still more to be shown. After all, Texas can be considered to have three major climate types, which, in addition to Continental and Modified Marine ones, also include a Mountain type. And even though it’s hardly possible to squeeze all 2,164 named mountains, peaks, and hills into our in-game scale, we’re sure the distinctive shapes of the mountain ranges will always provide the right immersion when passing them by in your mighty trucks!

Not only are deserts and forests like night and day, but in Texas, they are also prominently featured mostly on opposite sides of the state. While you will be able to drive through the vast Chihuahuan desert in the west, the east will tell a completely different story with its thick forest of pines. These ecosystems do have one characteristic in common though, as both are places that provide their own unique qualities, such as materials, wildlife, or flora.

The real-world state’s area consists of more than 7,000 square miles (18,129 square kilometers) of water surfaces and there will be plenty of lakes, rivers, and shoreline views in the map expansion. The Gulf of Mexico is probably the absolute winner in this particular sub-topic, but there are still plenty of interesting water bodies to be found all around the state, such as the Fork Red River, Brazos River, and more!

We hope today’s short trip wasn’t too steep. If you are looking forward to exploring all the different biomes of Texas DLC, make sure to add the expansion to your Steam Wishlist. Also, to not miss out on anything important, you can follow our social media profiles (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), subscribe to our newsletter, or check out our microsite dedicated to this project.

Something BIG is coming... 🐫

The old saying goes that "If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow." 

Well, let's see about that, shall we?

#HappyHauloween Event Extended!

Happy Hauloween, Happy Hauloween,
    Happy happy...stop!
        And so it has been said, I’m told,
            That there are some of you so bold
                To speak of one point four six woes
                    For goodness sake, we did not knows
                        That there might be, oh, such a clash!
                            Oh my, oh wow, now we must dash
                                To fix this all and do it fast
                            Extend our Hauloween to last
                        Until such time that you’re all done
                    With testing of our beta one
                Point four six, yes! That is the feat,
            Then hauling treats for all to eat!
        It’s cool, it's great, and all will see
    What fun that Hauloween can be!

To our #BestCommunityEver, we would like to offer our sincere apologies if we caused any concerns to those who are currently testing our Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator 1.46 Open Beta. We now realise that for many of you, reverting back to your 1.45 game saves in order to take part in our Happy Hauloween event was far from a desirable solution and, moreover, was an avoidable consequence that should not have happened. In this way, we intend to extend the event well past the 1.46 Open Beta testing closure date, so that everyone will be able to continue to take part in the event using 1.46 also.

The event will conclude on Monday the 14th of November at 23:59 UTC.

Thank you all for your guidance and valuable feedback!

Texas - Route 66

If you ever plan to motor west, get your kicks on route 66! This Historic Highway was one of the first to span across the Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest; and is arguably the United States' most famous stretch of road. So buckle up! It's time to take a trip down a portion of this iconic route in our upcoming Texas DLC for American Truck Simulator.

One of the first stretches of Route 66 can be found alongside the I-40 between San Jon and Glenrio, which is around 15 miles long. This section of the route is mostly dirt road, featuring historic relics of the past along the way, including old wooden bridges and the now ghost town of Endee. The off-road portion of the route ends in the now empty town of Glenrio; which until the 1970's, was a popular stop for travellers, until the newer highway bypassed the town. It now remains home to only the critters and the blowing tumbleweeds of the vast prairie. 

Continuing further east, travellers will come across one of the most famous locations of Route 66, the midpoint marker which can be found in the town of Adrian in Texas. From this point, it is the same distance to Chicago (Midwest) as it is Los Angeles (West Coast). Here you can also find the Midpoint Cafe, which today is still a famous stop-off point for many weary and hungry travellers. 

Another stop which hungry travellers making along this route is The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, world famous for its 72oz (2kg) steak challenge. Since its opening in 1960, the Big Texan has become a must stop on Route 66. With its distinctive architecture, it was originally placed along the mother road, but had to make the decision to relocate closer to the I-40 when the historical highway was bypassed. Today it still stands decorated with old Route 66 signage and photos and is visited by thousands of passing travellers.

And for our final stop, come and visit the one and only Cadillac Ranch! Step right up and see ten vehicles buried nose-down in a field at the same angle as the Pyramids of Giza. Confusing travellers in since 1974, it continues to be a popular attraction for many. Since it's opening, visitors have been encouraged to contribute to the public art by spray painting their own designs on the Cadillacs; thus creating an ever changing art piece. Today, spray paint can be found as far as the road itself, making the whole area quite colourful! 

Won't you get hip to this timely tip, when you finally make that Texas trip? What might you find on this old road of the nation, from restaurants to art installations. Enjoy the ride as you pass buildings with old bricks, and we are sure, you'll have a great time when you get your kicks, on route sixty-six. 

Happy Hauloween Event

Join us tomorrow, October 25th, as we celebrate our latest World of Trucks event - Happy Hauloween!

It’s time to start your rigs tonight,
    Begin to haul with bumps of fright,
        For Hauloween is in the air,
            And there’s no time to flee nor dare
                To hide away from all the treats
                    That wait for you, but not to eat,
                        NO, they must be hauled, delivered quick,
                            Then parked away, now that’s the trick!

We would love for you, our #BestCommunityEver, to join the fun festivities by delivering yummy Halloween Treats for everyone across all trucking territories - a community goal of 666,000 deliveries in total in fact! We've a terrific looking Halloween themed trailer that will carry your special event cargo...

...and this is also a great chance for you to create a matching paint job with your truck for that extra element of fun and immersion, especially if you happen to own the Halloween Paint Jobs Pack DLC for either ETS2 or ATS.

Your #HappyHauloween has another surprise waiting for you in the form of a new Desktop Background Theme this year. It's something new, a nice short term change of scene, that we have created for the duration of the event to help you get more into the Halloween spirit - we hope you like it!

Your personal goal requires 13 deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo, and we've got some really superb rewards on offer, including a World of Trucks Achievement. All jobs for the event will be 100Km each (62.1 mile) or more, and don't forget to check out the rules.

Rules

Using External Contracts, with a World of Trucks-connected profile in Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator or both, the community goal is to achieve 666,000 deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo, from any city in any trucking territory.

When a player completes 13 deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo, across any trucking territories in either game, it will complete their personal goal.

Rewards:

• Personal: Players that complete 13 or more deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo, will gain a unique World of Trucks Achievement, as well as a very cute, but spooky, Swinging Bat dashboard toy as a Steam inventory item for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.

• Community: When the community goal of achieving 666,000 deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo from any city is met and if the player has also achieved their personal goal then, they will receive a scary, but happy, Pumpkin Head hanging toy as a Steam inventory item for their cabin.

Note: In order to qualify for any community reward, you must complete at least your personal goal in Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator or both. Each reward will be a Steam inventory item for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator. Once completed, claim your reward in the Events page on your World of Trucks profile.

The event will be concluded on Monday the 14th of November at 23:59 UTC.

 

This is going to be a really fun event, held across both of our games, American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2, with deliveries counted in both games, so why not share this experience across both sides of the Atlantic this year using the hashtag #HappyHauloween on our ATS / ETS2 Facebook pages, Twitter, and Instagram profiles, we can't wait for your pics!

West Balkans - Religion

Religion is an integral part of society and it has been accompanying us in different shapes and forms for thousands of years. While the West Balkans are one of the most religiously diverse regions in Europe, these beliefs became such an integral part of the local countries that our upcoming DLC has to reflect their touch in a certain way.

When you will be driving across the map expansion and observing your surroundings, the local religious architecture will most definitely stand out. Whether it is the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina or King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Mosque in Tuzla, you will always feel the unique imprint the respective religion has left in the particular location.

Although sometimes the lines tend to blur, as you may find a church, cathedral, or mosque, in the same city or area, which once again hints towards the incredibly diverse and dynamic local culture.

We can’t wait to show you more content from this upcoming project and we hope you're already excited enough to add West Balkans DLC to your Steam Wishlist. Also, stay in touch by following us on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) to not miss out on anything interesting.