Project Benelux Rework: Port of Rotterdam

Looking forward to trucking in the reworked Benelux in ETS2? Although it is a little early for that, as this project is still a work in progress, we are happy to show you a glimpse of the work our map designers have done so far. Today, we would like to share our work on the Port of Rotterdam!

The port is located in the second-largest city of the Netherlands, and from its beginnings as a fishing port in the 15th century, it turned into the biggest seaport in Europe! The area it covers is impressive in itself - over 40 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide. The port accommodates around 130,000 river ships and approximately 30,000 oceangoing ships every year.

In 2022, the port handled 467 million tons of freight. And this is where you come in, because you will be tasked with transporting it from there to all over Europe! Truckers will be able to drive to the container port, the refinery, and the general logistics area. And if you're transporting a load from Rotterdam to the UK or vice versa, you'll also find ferry services conveniently available right at the port.

The whole area will captivate you because of its unique infrastructure filled with lifting bridges, tunnels under canals, and a complex road network. Our map designers recreated some of its landmarks such as the Thomassentunnel, Calandbrug bridge, Harmsenbrug bridge, and the ferry terminal at Europort.

"It's a really gigantic area, over 40 kilometres long. So we are hoping that we have managed to capture it sufficiently in our scale," says the lead of the Benelux Rework Project, Honza.

We look forward to sharing more news about this project in the future, but please keep in mind it is still a work in progress, so we dare not give you even an estimate of when it may be released. Until then, be sure to keep up to date with the latest updates by following us on Twitter, Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, and Instagram, and by subscribing to our newsletter! Until next time, we wish you safe travels.

Project Scandinavia Refresh: Road Network

Earlier this year, we announced our Scandinavia Refresh project for Euro Truck Simulator 2, aiming to bring major improvements to one of our earliest DLCs. Since then, we’ve shared a Meet the Team blog to introduce the workforce behind the project, but today, we’re excited to share with you a look at some of the road networks we’ve been working on!

Before we get into the details, please keep in mind that everything you see here is still very much a work in progress and is subject to change. That said, let’s have a closer look at some of the refreshed road networks, shall we?

When the original Scandinavia DLC was first created, most of its junctions were built using the same prefabs, meaning that many of the intersections players drove through felt very similar. For the Refresh, we decided to take a much more detailed approach; all the old prefabs have been removed, and in their place, we’ve built custom-made junctions based on real-life layouts.

A lot of this incredible work was led by our externist Maarten (known in the community as Mandelsoft), whose expertise and passion for road design made a big difference across the refreshed areas.

First stop: Denmark! Our team has been hard at work refreshing the road network here. One major area of change is the E20 and E45 junction, which has been completely rebuilt. In reality, this junction, located near the city of Kolding, consists of three different junctions spread about 8 km apart. However, to better fit the scale of our map, our team has reimagined it as one large, triangular interchange.

Moving north, drivers can travel on the impressive Nørresund junction near Aalborg, which has been recreated on an almost 1:1 scale! We’ve also included the gas station and truck stop, which is located along the E45 between Aalborg and Aarhus. Whilst we’re still working on in-game branding, we are sure this will become a popular stop for truckers.

Over at the Germany-Denmark border, drivers will find a reworked border crossing that now includes proper border control setups, matching the details of their real life counterparts. We have also created two new inland routes, Road 16 and 26, which connect through the town of Viborg where you can find a new gas station too! Finally, the iconic Oddesund drawbridge has also been fully reworked, including a working bridge lift and detailed surrounding landscape.

Next stop, Sweden! This region has also seen significant improvements, particularly around the city of Gothenburg. This busy hub has undergone a partial rework, with special attention given to the dense network of highways around the E6/E20 corridor. As a result, the connections between the E20 and Road 40 have also been updated to reflect their real-world layout.

Along the E4, one of Sweden’s main arterial routes, four of our already existing truck stops have been reworked. One notable example is a famous truck stop featuring a candy shop shaped like an aircraft. Previously, this landmark could only be seen from the highway in Euro Truck Simulator 2. However, we are now pleased to share that we have reworked it into a fully functioning truck stop with a gas station, much like its real-life counterpart.

In the area of Brahehus, not only has the gas station been improved, but also the nearby castle ruins. This area will not only serve as a landmark and rest point, but also a depot! The truck stop located nearby Nyköping has also received a similar treatment.

And this is just the beginning! There are still lots more we’d love to share with you in the future as development continues, so stay tuned! Be sure to keep up to date with the latest news by subscribing to our newsletter or by following us on our socials on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. Until next time, keep on truckin’!

Iowa: Ethanol Plant

As we continue to work on the upcoming Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator, we’re excited to share more about a new and important industry that will be featured in this upcoming map expansion. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Did you know that Iowa is the largest producer of ethanol in the United States, making around 4.5 billion gallons each year? That’s nearly a quarter of all the ethanol produced in the country! So, what is ethanol used for? A lot more than you might realize, including solvents, perfumes, toiletries, disinfectants, preservatives, and polishes. It’s also used in the manufacturing of plastics, rubber, and pharmaceuticals, and it is increasingly being used as a biofuel.

Ethanol is made from corn, and this industry uses about 40% of Iowa’s corn supply. That’s why trucking is so important here! Drivers bring corn to the plants and then deliver the finished product to many other industries across the states. Also with recent rule changes allowing ethanol-blended fuel to be sold all year in several states, the demand for ethanol, and truck transport keeps growing.

On your travels across Iowa, you’ll be able to deliver to three new large ethanol plants located near the cities of Burlington, Fort Dodge, and Mason City. Each one has been faithfully recreated with buildings, silos and equipment modelled after their real life counterparts. Each has its own layout and style, with tall tanks, pipes, and loading zones.

At the ethanol plant located in Mason City, you’ll find the world’s largest free-span grain bin, it’s huge! Measuring in at over 155 feet tall and 165 feet wide, it can hold a whopping 2 million bushels of corn. It’s so big that you could fit a whole Boeing 767 airplane inside! And recently, they built another one right next to it!

The creation of this new industry was no small feat, either! In fact, 12 new chemical-related assets, such as large tanks, silos, and more, were created just for these locations. That’s the largest number of unique assets made for a depot in this DLC!

This depot will also feature our dynamic unloading feature of bulk corn inside the large unloading shed. Speaking of cargo, the main category delivered here is ADR cargo, followed by large structural parts for the plant, and of course, bulk corn.

Additionally, we’ve taken our depot scenes technology to the next level with these ethanol plants. All the assets at the depot are inserted separately, allowing them to adjust their level of detail (LOD) independently. This greatly helps with optimization and performance and helps our map designers use these assets around the depot to create a more immersive and seamless connection between the plant and its surroundings.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about this new industry coming to the Iowa DLC! If you’re excited to hit the road in the Hawkeye State, be sure to add Iowa for American Truck Simulator to your Steam Wishlist. Your support truly means a lot to us. Until next time, keep on truckin'!

Nordic Horizons: Andenes

Ready for a trip up north? Today, we take you to Norway for a brief visit to the picturesque town of Andenes, which will be included in our upcoming Nordic Horizons map expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Let's see what's in store!

This beautiful town is located on the northernmost part of the Andøya island and boasts a population of around 2,500 people. Once an important fishing hub, Andenes has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years, thanks to its breathtaking landscape - green mountains and rolling hills on one side, and the vast, beautiful sea dotted with dozens of small islands on the other.

Andenes is also home to the large Andøya Air Station, which first opened in the 1950s and is still operational today. When you arrive in this town, make sure to keep an eye out for its huge port and charming coastline with the iconic lighthouse built in 1859, which is Norway's fourth-tallest lighthouse. There will also be some notable landmarks to see, such as the local church constructed in typical Nordic style.

Looking to stay busy? There's no shortage of jobs to take on across various industries in town. You can try the logistics depot in the port area, transporting a wide range of goods in and out. You'll also have the opportunity to make deliveries to the local supermarket, as well as a material store found in the southern part of town.

A visit to Andenes is a must for anyone cruising in Norway when the Nordic Horizons DLC releases. Until then, make sure to add this map expansion to your Steam Wishlist! Stay tuned for more updates from this map expansion by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube, or by signing up for our newsletter. We will see you on the road!

Louisiana: Building Louisiana with Lukas

Today, we have a special blog for you! We interviewed Lukáš, our DLC Asset Producer, who is currently working on the Louisiana map expansion for this American Truck Simulator state. Let's jump straight in!

"Louisiana is one of the most interesting projects I've been a part of. Its architecture stands out for its rich blend of cultural influences, vibrant history, and distinctive styles. From the elegant French Quarter in New Orleans to the charming Creole cottages and plantation homes along the Mississippi River, the state showcases a fascinating mix of French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean elements. One of the most notable architectural features of Louisiana is its impressive bridges. Louisiana is also home to several unique technical landmarks related to water management, including the flood barriers around New Orleans," Lukáš told us about the Pelican State.

Truckers driving through Louisiana will find that the classical and modern architecture in this southern state blend perfectly together, creating its unique atmosphere. "New Orleans and Baton Rouge have also embraced modern architectural styles, including striking skyscrapers and contemporary buildings that define their urban landscapes. Louisiana, therefore, is not just home to historical architectural gems but also a space for innovative modern constructions that address the challenges posed by its natural environment. And this is exactly the feel we would like to bring to our players. Finding the right balance between an optimized asset and a visually appealing one is never easy, and it has been especially challenging in the case of large bridges within cities featuring prominent skylines and complex surroundings," he says.

Lukáš has been working in SCS Software for six years now, and he explains why he likes it here: "I have been playing video games since my childhood, so when I needed a change in my life, SCS seemed to be a perfect place to go. Now I can say that was the best decision. I've not only been given the opportunity to work on interesting projects, but I've also met cool people. Although the company has grown a lot since I joined, I can still feel that SCS preserves its unique atmosphere, and I probably won't find another place like this. This atmosphere allows great freedom in personal time management, which helps me reduce stress. This autonomy allows for better focus, more effective work, and a healthier balance between professional and personal life."

Since his first days in our company, he has worked on multiple projects, as he shares here: "I started with larger industrial areas for the Iberia DLC. Later, I was asked to take care of our externally produced procedural rocks and the rework of our huge deposit of ground textures. I've contributed to many projects, including map reworks, Colorado, Iberia, Montana, Nebraska, the West Balkans, Wyoming, and Texas, and I have always had a drive to improve things and move things forward. Nebraska was the first DLC for which my role changed, and instead of rocks and ground textures, I've been asked to manage the production of landmark assets while overseeing deadlines for other types of assets like generics and depots. Currently, I'm responsible for assets for four simultaneously running projects - Iowa, Louisiana, and two other, not yet announced projects."

And what are his tasks now? "My main responsibility is the on-time delivery of all assets. During the initial project phase, this includes asset list finalization and processing of new tasks, which means that I have to approve every single task for production, and subsequently, to distribute tasks internally and externally. During the production phase, I'm constantly in contact with all the teams involved in the DLC production, solving any issues that may arise, coordinating technical solutions if needed, and identifying any possible risks that could endanger deadlines. During the later stages of every project, I have to check every single asset from both the asset and map perspectives, and provide feedback on anything that doesn't meet our standard or has not been fixed during the production phase," Lukáš says, and continues:

"Due to the fact that every project needs hundreds of new assets and the vast majority of our assets are being produced externally, I have to closely cooperate with our outsourcing department led by Václav P. and his growing team, currently composed of Andrej, Inga, Kevin, Marek, Radek, Tomáš, and Veronika. They do an astounding job controlling and giving feedback to all the externally produced assets from landmarks and generics to vehicles and depots. Without them, it wouldn't be possible for us to run so many projects simultaneously," he says about our outsourcing department.

Creating assets can be a challenge as we are not only trying to recreate real places, but we are also limited by the map scale, which allows us to choose only a limited number of places and a limited number of landmark assets. "Our responsibility is to choose assets that will make every place recognizable by players who are familiar with the area and visually interesting for every player. Before a final asset list is approved for every DLC, in cooperation with our map and research teams, we have to spend hundreds of hours researching the whole area and considering what will be possible within our limitations. This is not easy, as we do our best to recreate the feel of every region and make it as interesting for our players as possible," Lukáš has told us.

It makes sense that he also collaborates with Davido, our map DLC lead for Louisiana, as they have to coordinate assets and map production. "Not only due to the necessity to meet deadlines, but also in order to support our marketing team. Marketing presentations are one of the most important parts of every DLC production, as they allow us to show all the love and care we put into the projects, and it's one of the keys to success. Davido is a true professional, and I always look forward to collaborating with him and his great team on new projects," Lukáš says. You can read about Davido and his team in a separate blog post.

As we near the end of today's blog, Lukáš has a short message for our #BestCommunityEver. "We truly enjoy working on the project, giving it our maximum effort and passion. We believe that with the same energy and dedication we put in, players will enjoy it just as much as we do."

And that's it for today! Remember to add the Louisiana DLC to your Steam Wishlist and don't forget to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok a follow as you'll receive updates about our games straight to your feed! We look forward to sharing more with you down the road.