ATS 1.51 Update: I-44 and more in Oklahoma City

"Well, we rolled up Interstate 44, like a rocket sled on rails..." ♫ Today we are happy to share some news on the Oklahoma DLC for American Truck Simulator, which will be receiving an update. The missing link of the I-44 has been frequently requested by our community, so we are glad to be able bring this new content as part of the upcoming 1.51 update for ATS. 

Currently in the Oklahoma DLC, the middle section of Interstate 44 through Oklahoma City is missing, however in the 1.51 update, we are happy to bring that in, which connects the western and eastern sections, completing I-44 in Oklahoma. This will of course, come as a free update to all current owners of the Oklahoma DLC. 

That is not all however, the I-44 will also include two new depots for players to deliver to and from; a furniture store and a construction site. Along with this addition, players will also be treated to 2 new truck stops on the I-40, which are located nearby the Arkansas border, which is a U.S State also in development for American Truck Simulator. We believe this will be an ideal point for truckers to explore the new addition to Oklahoma and the state of Arkansas once it is released, so be sure to take note! 

Once 1.51 releases, be sure to check out Oklahoma again and travel on the new section of the I-44. Until then, make sure to keep an eye on our official social media channels and this blog for the latest news on all our upcoming projects and more! 

Arkansas - Little Rock

Welcome to Little Rock! In today's blog we take you on a tour of our American Truck Simulator version of the capital city of the Natural State, so buckle up and let's explore this gem which you will be able to drive through in the upcoming Arkansas map expansion.

The city celebrated its bicentennial not so long ago as it was established in 1821. Now, it is not only the state capital but also the most populous city in Arkansas with over 200,000 citizens. It is located right in the center of the Natural State along the Arkansas River which actually played a big part in forming its name. Little Rock was named for a stone outcrop on the bank of the river which was used by travelers as a landmark.

The Arkansas River also plays a huge role in our version of this city as we will have a riverport located there as a depot truckers will deliver cargo in and out of. There will of course be other important depots such as the local airport, an aviation service, and an intermodal depot.

Truckers will have the best view of the city and its downtown from the Arkansas River Bridge, which cuts through the heart of the capital. From there, they will be able to spot notable Little Rock landmarks such as the Simmons Bank, the First Security Amphitheater by the river, the William J. Clinton Library and Museum, and the William E. Clark Presidential Park.

On the other side of the river, truckers will see the Simmons Bank Arena. And of course, we could not leave out the two pedestrian bridges on both sides of the Arkansas River Bridge, the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and Junction Bridge, which both add to the scenic panorama.

We believe you will appreciate this preview of the Arkansas capital, but keep in mind that it is still a work in progress at the moment. If you are excited about the Arkansas DLC, make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Stay tuned for more updates on the development of the Natural State and other ATS-related news by following us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Until then, drive safely!

ATS Missouri: Kirksville

Kirksville welcomes you! This charming small city located in the north of Missouri offers visitors a welcoming stop with its mix of historical architecture, charismatic main street and its surrounding natural beauty. Today we're happy to share with you more about this area, which our team has recreated in our upcoming Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator.

On your travels through the city, take a moment to admire the well-preserved Victorian-era buildings that dot the downtown area, showcasing the city’s rich architectural heritage. The County Courthouse stands as a testament to 19th-century craftsmanship and is a must-screenshot landmark! 

Other notable landmarks which our team have recreated include the local church, the bank, a monument to Dr Andrew Taylor Still, the Veterans Memorial Plaza, and more. Be sure to take a moment to appreciate and enjoy them as you travel into, or through, Kirksville. 

Of course, there will also be plenty of job contracts available for drivers looking for work. Kirksville will feature several depots which players can deliver to and from, including a Supermarket, a Homestore, Warehouses, a Construction Garage and a Chemical Distribution Centre. 

Whilst it's not the biggest of cities in Missouri, it certainly has charm! We hope you'll enjoy visiting Kirksville, and much more in this upcoming DLC. If you like what you see, be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist by clicking on the widget below. Until then, keep on truckin'! 

1.51 Update: New Title Screen

With the upcoming 1.51 update for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, one of the first and most prominent changes players will encounter is a complete redesign of the Title Screen. 

Whilst keeping in line with our recent user interface rework, we wanted a design which is easy to navigate and understand for all players. First and foremost, one of the main difference you'll notice about the new Title Screen is the focus on a truck in the centre of the screen.

On the left side, you'll find the menu which allows easy access to the more important features of the game, such as Options, your Profile Manager, or other sub-menus such as the DLC Browser or Mod Manager which are now located under the 'Extras' part of the menu. You will also find the current version of the game displayed in the bottom left corner. If an update is available for the game, text above the version of the game will appear to notify you of that.

On the right side of the menu, you can find a widget featuring your currently selected profile and current trucker level. Hovering over this widget allows you quick glance at your profile statistics. In some cases, additional widgets may appear on the right side, for example, if your current profile is not connected to World of Trucks or if you are using a 'Open Beta' version of the game. 

On the bottom right, you'll find our carousel of small banners, which gives players quick and easy access to the latest news from our official blog and features graphics presenting our newest releases.

Functionally, we have also made navigation more comfortable with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard from the moment you launch ETS2 or ATS. This design also leaves us space to make tweaks and changes where needed, as-well as make additions in the future.

We hope you that enjoy this new look and overhaul of the Title Screen in the upcoming 1.51 update. Be sure to keep an eye our on our social media channels (X, Instagram, Facebook) for more news on other changes and additions found in this update. Until then, keep on truckin'!

Arkansas - Custom Made Depots

Custom depots made their debut in American Truck Simulator in the Kansas map expansion and also appeared in the Nebraska DLC. Today, we would like to share with you a preview of the custom-made depots that our map designers have created for the Arkansas DLC. Let's take a look!

These depots are not the usual prefabricated ones made by our asset makers, which truckers often encounter in various locations. Each depot is individually designed and assembled by our map designers, making them completely unique. Every time truckers enter a new depot, they will need to explore it anew.

As in our last DLC, the custom-made depots consist of farms and grain elevators. On top of that, we are adding two new types of depots - river ports and timber harvests which are both typical for Arkansas. There will be a total of eleven custom depots in this upcoming map expansion. All of them will have specific loading and unloading spots for each cargo you will deliver there for greater realism.

In the US, river ports primarily function as transshipment hubs where cargo from ships, trucks, and trains converge. As a result, they feature a wide variety of different types of cargo which will help us boost the in-game economy. In Arkansas, truckers will encounter them mostly on the Arkansas River.

Logging is an important industry in Arkansas and we wanted to reflect that. Players will deliver in and out of the timber harvest depots near the cities of Hot Springs, El Dorado, and Harrison. Each of those is modeled to fit into the surrounding area and will be completely different, so truckers driving there will come across various demanding terrains and roads.

We hope you have enjoyed this preview of the hubs where you will deliver cargo in Arkansas. Looking forward to exploring them yourself? Then be sure to add the Arkansas DLC to your Steam Wishlist. Until then, follow us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, so you won't miss out on any ATS news!