Nebraska - Scenic Towns

Embarking on a virtual journey in the upcoming Nebraska DLC promises not just highways and byways but a scenic exploration of charming towns. Uncover hidden gems as you navigate the picturesque landscapes of the Cornhusker State. Let's take a look at some of the towns you will drive through on your way!

Alma, a picturesque town, sits nestled along the Republican River. It's a small town that greets players upon arrival from Kansas. It's home to the great Harlan County Lake and also some nice historic sites.

Ansley, another delightful destination, welcomes truckers with its small-town charm. Surrounded by the stunning Nebraska landscape, it offers a refreshing break from the open road. Ansley, like Basset, is on Route US-183 and that opens up an opportunity for us in the future to consider some other important roads in Nebraska.

Auburn, with its vibrant atmosphere, showcases the heartland spirit. As players roll through its streets, they'll encounter a blend of modern amenities and classic Midwestern warmth. You can find several colorful Honeybee sculptures there which is an unmissable landmark.

Explore the charm of Bartlett, a quaint town that invites truckers to wander its peaceful streets. With its small-town atmosphere, Bartlett offers a scenic break from the open road.

As you cruise through Bassett, revel in the beauty of its wide-open spaces and take a moment to appreciate the simplicity of rural life. This town, surrounded by the picturesque Nebraska landscape, promises a peaceful driving experience that encapsulates the heartland spirit.

Beatrice, a town with a rich history, invites players to discover its unique blend of the past and present. From historic architecture to modern buildings, Beatrice provides a delightful mix for those looking to immerse themselves in the region's diverse culture. We hope truckers will appreciate plenty of historic landmarks typical for this town, especially some of its beautiful churches.

When you go to Brownville, you can't miss the iconic scenic river views. Thanks to its close proximity to the Missouri River, truckers can travel there to take a look at the dredging boat. This settlement could also serve as one of the entrances to the state of Missouri in the future.

Nestled in the Sandhills along Nebraska's Highway 2, Hyannis boasts serene landscapes and occasional lakes, offering truckers a peaceful respite to enjoy the beauty and unwind from the highway.

As the Irish capital of Nebraska, O'Neill proudly showcases its Irish identity at every turn. Green shamrocks adorn the ground and walls, while signs and landmarks paying homage to Irish culture are abound, creating a distinctive and vibrant atmosphere as you drive through.

Ogallala, situated on the edge of the Sandhills, offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty. The nearby Lake McConaughy adds to the allure, creating a lovely setting that captures the essence of Ogallala's colorful past.

Red Cloud, the birthplace of renowned author Willa Cather, invites players to discover its literary heritage and explore the town that inspired some of Cather's most beloved works. Drive through the streets that echo with history and experience the connection between literature and the Nebraskan landscape.

Situated along the same route as Hyannis, Thedford bears the imprints of its fascinating past. Established as a crucial stop along the cattle-driving trail during the late 19th century, the town's roots are deeply intertwined with the Old West. Today, Thedford presents its Western heritage through well-preserved landmarks and remnants of structures that echo the town's pioneer spirit.

Lusk, Wyoming, joins the American Truck Simulator map as a crucial connecting point to Nebraska. This quaint town, set against Wyoming's picturesque backdrop, serves as a gateway between the two states. Explore Lusk's charm, from its small-town hospitality to the vast landscapes, as it becomes a notable addition to the Wyoming experience with the release of the Nebraska DLC.

Keep in mind that the photos you see here are still a work in progress. We hope you are excited to see the whole map once it's released. Don't forget to follow us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) so you won't miss out on any news about the Nebraska DLC or other projects. And if you haven't already, make sure to add the Nebraska DLC to your Steam Wishlist. We'll see you on the road!

Germany Rework - Rhine-Ruhr: Industry & Intersections

Today we are happy to share with you some more insights into the work being undertaken by our Germany Rework team! With roads & industries being amongst the most important and familiar aspects for a trucker, this blog focuses on the changes being made to the Industries & Intersections of the Rhine Region. 

The Rhine-Ruhr region in Germany is often known as the industrial heartland of the country. Encompassing major cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Duisburg, the region is characterized by its rich history and dynamic urban network along the banks of the Rhine River.

The team behind the Germany Rework wanted to reflect the importance of this area by boosting the in-game economy. To achieve this, cities such as Cologne now has six new depots for players to deliver to and from, a big change from the existing two! 

You'll find a variety of industries from car factories to rail depots, scrapyards and river ports. Also new to the region is the addition of Germany's 4th busiest airport, located in Düsseldorf, which you will be able to deliver to and from. You may even spot the addition of the well-known airport SkyTrain when you visit. We hope that you will enjoy the range of new and reworked depots you will find in this region.

Like previous areas we've reworked, this entire region has been rebuilt from the ground up, which includes the road network. We also want to highlight some of the new intersections you'll come across on your travels through the Rhine Region. 

One such addition is the Kreuz Kaiserberg, a spaghetti junction that is quite large and complicated. Our team has worked hard to represent this well-known intersection as best as possible within the size and scale limits of the area. We have also created more realistic junctions in the city, as these built up areas often feature a range of different intersections types to deal with high volumes of traffic. 

As we continue to progress with this phase of the rework, we look forward to sharing more news on its development and the changes you can expect to see in a future free update! Until then, be sure to let us know your thoughts on the work undertaken here, as our team would love to hear from you.

Missouri - Meet the Team

Not so long ago, we announced a new DLC coming to American Truck Simulator, the Missouri map expansion. Now seems like the right time to present the heroes working hard to deliver the DLC to our #BestCommunityEver as soon as possible!

We trust you'll appreciate this showcase of the SCS map designers and DLC asset lead who are currently involved in the Missouri DLC and their brief messages to the #BestCommunityEver.

Patrik

Immediately after the research was done, it was obvious that Missouri is an interesting state with many things to offer for our game. As a leader and recent visitor to Missouri, I'm keen to deliver a beautiful DLC full of foresty nature, hills, nice views, and interesting cities. We are finally near the Mississippi River which was always a big milestone for me. 

So far we are trying to come up with ideas on how to squeeze so much beauty into our scale and not omit anything important. I watch forum discussions pretty often to see what players expect and I try to find optimal solutions with others. We try our best, Missouri deserves it.

Pavel

It's been three years since I started working at SCS Software as a map designer. Today, I'm facing the biggest challenge of my career. St. Louis, which is a really big city. However, I've grown to love it because I've been there in real life and I've seen everything I'm creating with my own eyes. What I enjoy most is the technical side of the work and the ability to go deep into the engine, get to its limits, and pass on the experience to new colleagues. I enjoy cities and truckstops the most because they are technically challenging tasks.

Lukáš

My journey in SCS Software began during the Colorado DLC, where I experimented with my first country roads and small cities. Since then, I've been a part of the Texas and Kansas map teams. I'm always seeking new challenges. Right after Amarillo, Corpus Christi, and some parts of Houston, it was Kansas City that I enjoyed the most so far. In the upcoming Missouri DLC, I'll be working on something unique in terms of custom depots which you can look forward to!

Dubak

I have been working for the company for six years and every year the work gets more interesting. I worked on the Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, and Kansas DLCs where I focused more on cities and depots. In Missouri, I will be working on Springfield, where you can look forward to many interesting areas.

Jakub

After Kansas, the Missouri DLC is my second project as a map designer in SCS. Although now I feel much more comfortable in the process of creating an interesting environment for the player, I am still trying to challenge myself and push the boundaries of what is possible to achieve. In Missouri, I really hope that I can capture the spirit of US-36 and the city of Saint Joseph, and bring you the hidden beauty of these inconspicuous places in a way that will do them the justice they deserve.

El

It's been a little over 4 years since I joined SCS as a map designer back in 2019. My main responsibility for Missouri is the city of Joplin and its surrounding roads. Outside of the map, I also focus on selecting generic models that would be best for our DLC, which are later created by our amazing 3D graphics team. What I enjoy creating the most are smaller cities and settlements as they usually have very unique architecture and atmosphere.

Jakub

I am very keen on working on Missouri as it is almost contrastingly different from what I worked on before. To add to that, I will have to wrestle with making a city for the first time. so I am excited to see the result of that. I still look forward to working on interstates and highways, as that is what I think I'm most skilled at.

Falda

I am responsible for half of the custom depots for Missouri. I made some of them for Kansas and then for Nebraska but now I am working on several depots which were not announced yet. These new depots will bring new challenges and new experiences for players. That is the part that I love most about this job because creating challenging layouts makes me think about how will players react to everything that I prepared for them.

Filip

In Missouri, I'm looking forward to creating Cape Girardeau, an unmistakable city on the Mississippi River. I hope to translate the genius loci of the riverside town both in the more industrial areas as well as in the urban part of the city.

Seki

I celebrated 8 years in SCS this month. As a DLC asset lead, I have the opportunity to influence what awesome landmarks, industries, statues, murals, and other buildings will make it into the expansion. I'm responsible for the perfect condition of these 3D models like the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Jefferson Capitol, or Springfield Underground that you come across on your travels. I am most looking forward to the new opportunities that this state will allow us to bring into our game. I won't talk about specifics so I won't take the surprise away from you. Our team will do everything possible to deliver the DLC at least as good as the previous one.

We hope you've enjoyed meeting the team working on the Missouri expansion. Remember to follow us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) so you won't miss out on any news coming in the future. If you are excited about Missouri, add it to your Steam Wishlist!