American Truck Simulator: 1.53 Update Release

We are excited to reveal that the 1.53 Update for American Truck Simulator is now released and available on Steam for you to enjoy! This free update contains some new content that you can read about below.

We want to express our gratitude to everyone who took part in the Open Beta, shared their feedback, and reported bugs. Your contributions were invaluable in helping us fine-tune this update, implement improvements, and address issues that might have slipped through earlier. Thanks to your efforts, we hope you can now fully enjoy the results of your hard work!

California Rework - Phase 4

Phase 4 of the California Rework project focused on the southern region of California and includes 10 cities, 3 of which are entirely new to the world of American Truck Simulator. Drivers working in this region can make deliveries to and from the cities of Bakersfield, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Mojave, Barstow, Indio, Blythe, Los Angeles, San Diego, and El Centro. Similar to previous phases, much of the original base map was removed and reworked entirely from the ground up including the cities' surrounding areas.

Our team also focused on reworking key routes, including major coastal highways such as the US-101, CA-1, and I-5. In addition, several other important routes have been revamped, such as the CA-58, CA-14, and CA-99, along with interstates I-10, I-15, I-40, and I-8, which serve as vital connections to neighboring U.S. states. You can read about this phase of the rework project in more detail in a dedicated blog post.

Dynamic Cargo (Un)loading Update

Since the 1.50 update, we have implemented and then further expanded the dynamic cargo loading and unloading feature. So far, truckers have been able to experience this feature when hauling a grain hopper, a chip van, or a bolster logger. When using the logger, truckers were able to transport logs and enjoy the animated loading and unloading only in Arkansas. With the 1.53 update, this feature is available throughout the whole USA!

Driving Academy Fifth Generation Cascadia

In the 1.53 update, The Fifth Generation Cascadia from Freightliner was implemented into Driving Academy, our brand new game module introduced in 1.52. This state-of-the-art truck is the newest addition to the ATS truck roster, and now you can try it out in various challenging scenarios in Driving Academy!

Options QoL improvement

We're happy to introduce a feature that we believe many players will find helpful, especially those who often adjust their settings to fine-tune what is best to their liking and setup. When changing an option with a default value, players now have a visual indication of when a setting has been moved or changed from its default state.

Settings that have been adjusted from their default value now appear with a small visual indicator alongside that setting. We hope this helps users find which settings have been altered from default.

Smooth and Auto Camera Centring

Another new feature that we are happy to include with this update is Smooth and Auto Camera Centering! Players can enable this new option to return their camera to the central position automatically after moving it. When activated by the player or by moving forward, the smooth centering feature becomes noticeable as it gently transitions the camera to the central position.

This addition comes with a range of personal preference options, including three options for speed, which controls how fast or slow the camera returns to the center; as well as the option to set how many seconds of delay there should be before re-centering occurs.

For players who use a third-party head-tracking solution or prefer to adjust the position of the camera manually, there is the option to disable this feature altogether.

Special Transport Update

We have also updated the Special Transport DLC. As part of the California Rework project, we have added a new route for truckers to haul oversized cargo - between the rebuilt cities of Los Angeles and San Diego via the I-5.

But that's not all. In response to community feedback, we've decided to raise the maximum speed limit for special transport deliveries. Escort vehicles and transport trucks themselves can now travel at speeds of up to 55 mph, an increase from the previous limit of 40 mph.

Sliding Tandems Update

We have also introduced a new sliding tandems feature. Previously, players could only set trailer axles in a fixed forward or rear position. Now, select trailers come with updated chassis, allowing players to slide the axles freely to optimize the weight distribution for their load.

But be cautious! To make this feature as realistic as possible, if the trailer's rear axle's distance exceeds 40 feet from the kingpin, you risk receiving a fine at Californian weigh stations and, in some cases, directly from the police.

Changelog 

Map

• California Rework - Phase 4 release

Gameplay

• Dynamic cargo loading & unloading of logs available throughout the USA
• New Special Transport route from Los Angeles to San Diego
• Raised speed limit for Special Transport jobs from 40 mph to 55 mph

Vehicles

• The new Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia® added to Driving Academy
• Fully functional sliding tandems and fines system

UI

• Visualization of changed options in the settings
• Smooth and Auto camera centering

We hope you are excited about 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, and share screenshots and videos with us featuring new content. Drive safe!

Nordic Horizons - City Landmarks

Another blog on the Nordic Horizons DLC is here! Today, we will show you some of the stunning city landmarks that can be found in this upcoming map expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2.

Along your journey through the northernmost part of Europe, you will come across plenty of historical buildings, beautiful sculptures, and other stunning structures. One of them is the Gävle Theater, a hallmark of Swedish theater architecture. Located in the heart of Gävle, a charming port town on Sweden's east coast, this historic building was completed in 1878 and remains a testament to the city's cultural heritage.

On the shores of the vast lake of Storsjön in Sweden's midlands, you can come across the picturesque city of Östersund and its rådhus, or as we would call it, its city hall. The construction of this beautiful building, which was built in a national romantic style, began in 1909 and was finished three years later.

If you venture further north, you can spot the Akkats Hydroelectric Power Station, which is said to be the gateway to the "Great Lakes" and Laponia. This small dam is also a popular tourist destination as it is adorned with monumental paintings that symbolize the Sami lifestyle and culture.

Moving on to Finland, you can discover the Sea Eagle - Finnish Aviation Monument in the city of Vaasa on the west coast. This impressive statue symbolizes freedom and the spirit of flight and stands as a testament to the country's rich aviation history.

In the Käpylä field alongside the National Highway 5, you can find roughly a thousand peat-headed characters standing still. The Silent People were created in 1988. What do you think is the meaning behind this art project? Well, you will have to figure it out yourself as the creator refuses to provide any answer, but it is a captivating sight nonetheless.

Another city landmark can be found in the middle of a roundabout in the Finnish city of Kuusamo which is located near the country's eastern border. This sculpture is called The Surge and depicts a powerful wave.

Let's go back to Sweden for a bit. Our talented map designers have also recreated the beautiful Umeå City Church. It can be found in the center of the city. The church was inaugurated in 1894 in a place where two other churches were destroyed previously in history.

We hope you have enjoyed this little sneak peek into the making of our upcoming map expansion for ETS2. If you are as excited about the Nordic Horizons 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.

Euro Truck Simulator 2: 1.53 Update Release

We are excited to share with our community that the 1.53 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 is now officially released! Packed with new content, reworked content, quality of life improvements and more, let's dive in and take a look at what's in store.

Before that, we have to give a huge shoutout to everyone who participated in the Open Beta phase, shared feedback, and reported bugs. Your invaluable contributions have allowed us to fine-tune content and eliminate bugs that slipped through the cracks initially. We hope that you will enjoy the new features, changes, and more that come with this update! 

Germany Rework

As part of our Germany Rework project, we are excited to present the cities of München, Mannheim, Leipzig, Dresden and Germany's largest city and capital, Berlin. Each of these cities has been completely reworked from the ground up and is included for free as part of the 1.53 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2. 

With the help of advanced map techniques and technologies, our team has been able to rework each city and its surrounding area in great detail, including accurately represented industries in the area, new and improved road networks, and famous local landmarks! 

We encourage you to explore each of these cities yourself, and discover what each one has to offer; you'll never know what you may find! If you're interested in learning more in more detail about each specific city, be sure to check out our dedicated blogs on the Germany rework, which you can find here. 

Volvo FH Series 4 Rework

We're excited to announce that the Volvo FH Series 4 has undergone a complete rework in the 1.53 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2! We know the community has been eagerly awaiting news on this highly requested update, so without further ado, let's take a closer look at the changes made to this iconic truck. 

Let's start with the cabin, which has been completely reworked both inside and out. Thanks to newly provided CAD data, we have been able to accurately improve details and the accuracy of external parts including front and rear fenders, bumpers, roof deflectors, and more.

The same goes for the interior too, which now features more accurate textures and materials that meet the new Volvo standard. Drivers will also have the option of choosing between different interior trims, customisable seats, and steering wheel.

The chassis of the Volvo FH Series 4 has also been completely remodelled and improved in terms of details, including new textures for a better overall appearance. 

However, that isn't all! The Volvo FH Tuning Pack has also received a rework as a result of the Volvo FH Series 4 being overhauled. Owners of this DLC Pack can expect reworked tuning parts, including the front and rear fenders, bumpers, roof deflectors, and more.

Drivers can also find an option to paint their cabin in the special 25 Years of Volvo FH paint livery! It's the perfect way to celebrate the rework of the Volvo FH Series 4 in style. 

We look forward to hearing your initial reactions on the rework of this iconic truck, which our team has worked hard to enhance with new details and improvements. Be sure to share your comments, screenshots, and videos with us across our social media channels!

Options QoL improvement

We're happy to introduce a feature that we believe many players will find helpful, especially those who often adjust their settings to fine-tune what is best to their liking and setup. When changing an option with a default value, players will now have a visual indication of when a setting has been moved or changed from its default state. 

Settings that have been adjusted from their default value will now appear with a small visual indicator alongside that setting. We hope this helps users find which settings have been altered from default. 

Smooth and Auto Camera Centring

Another new feature that we are happy to include with this update is Smooth and Auto Camera Centring! Players can now enable this new option to return their camera to the central position automatically after moving it. When activated by the player or by moving forward, the smooth centring feature becomes noticeable as it gently transitions the camera to the central position.

This addition comes with a range of personal preference options, including three options for speed, which controls how fast or slow the camera returns to the centre; as well as the option to set how many seconds of delay there should be before re-centring occurs.

For players who use a third-party head-tracking solution or prefer to adjust the position of the camera manually, there is also an option to disable this feature altogether. Happy trucking! 

Changelog

Map 

• Germany Rework project - München, Mannheim, Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin

Vehicle 

• Volvo FH Series 4 Rework

UI

• Visualization of changed options in the settings
• Smooth and Auto camera centring