Modelling Long Distance Coach with Vitalii

With the introduction of long-distance buses in Euro Truck Simulator 2, the Coaches DLC brings a fresh perspective to the game's world. We spoke with Vitalii, one of the vehicle artists behind this exciting update, to learn more about the creative process, technical challenges, and the immersive details players can look forward to when stepping into the driver’s seat of a coach.

As a Senior 3D Artist on the Coaches project, Vitalii plays a central role in crafting the visual identity of the new long-distance buses being added to Euro Truck Simulator 2. “I'm essentially in charge of bringing these vehicles to life visually,” he explains, “handling everything from the 3D modeling of both their exteriors and interiors, to creating the detailed textures and materials that define their appearance.” His responsibilities also include developing all necessary animations and closely collaborating with production and research teams to ensure each coach is recreated as authentically as possible.

When asked what his work on Coaches entails, Vitalii emphasizes the balance between technical artistry and realism: “It's about combining technical artistry with precision to deliver a realistic experience for our players.”

On the topic of research and scanning, Vitalii shares that while he usually relies on reference material gathered by a dedicated team, the Coaches project was a unique opportunity. “I actually had the opportunity to go on a business trip myself to see the real coaches firsthand,” he says. “This was incredibly valuable, as it allowed me to personally observe and capture all the necessary details I needed to accurately recreate them in the game.”

Speaking about what excites him most about the project, Vitalii reveals, “I'm most excited about seeing my work truly come to life within the game world.” Watching his models, textures, and animations in action, and more importantly, seeing how players respond, is what truly motivates him: “Knowing that my efforts contribute to fulfilling a long-standing community wish and providing them with a fresh, immersive experience is what really motivates me.”

When asked how he feels about the overall addition of long-distance buses, Vitalii is enthusiastic: “This has been a top request from our community for many, many years, and seeing it finally come to fruition is incredibly exciting.” He believes it goes beyond adding a new vehicle – it's about expanding gameplay and deepening player immersion. “It's about showing our dedication to listening to what our passionate community wants.”

In terms of the tools used, Vitalii describes a well-curated workflow. “I mainly use Blender for the modeling phase,” he shares, appreciating its flexibility and community support. “For creating my own custom tileable textures, I rely heavily on Substance Designer,” due to its procedural capabilities. Photoshop plays a role in editing textures, while Maya is used to integrate assets into the game engine through custom exporters. “I sometimes use Marmoset Toolbag to generate precise light maps,” he adds, which enhances the realism of coach lighting.

Reflecting on similar projects, Vitalii mentions his past experience with major truck reworks, particularly interiors. However, Coaches presented a new level of complexity. “Coaches are significantly more spacious than trucks,” he says, “and inherently contain a lot more geometry and detail.” This posed a technical challenge: “figuring out how to optimize such a large and intricate space... while keeping the performance impact low.”

Discussing what he’s enjoyed most, Vitalii highlights the novelty of the project. “It's always refreshing to tackle a new type of vehicle,” he notes. “Creating the various animations for the coaches presented a fun challenge,” one that pushed him creatively while being immensely satisfying.

Addressing the challenges faced, Vitalii reiterates that optimization was a primary hurdle. “We really had to figure out new approaches to keep the visual quality high while ensuring polycounts remained low,” especially given the scale of coach interiors. Additionally, “implementing the animations required a different philosophy compared to trucks,” prompting the team to rethink their usual methods.

When asked about interesting details players can expect, Vitalii hints at the depth of immersion. “We've paid close attention to the atmosphere inside the coaches,” he says. “Players might notice intricate details on the interiors and passenger areas that really bring the space to life.”

Finally, in response to what players will enjoy most, Vitalii believes the shift in gameplay pace is key. “The core focus of this update is exploration,” he says. “Players shouldn't miss out on taking the time to appreciate the scenery and discover landmarks.” The Coaches experience, he explains, offers a new lens through which to enjoy the game's expansive world: “It encourages a slower pace, letting them see the game world from a new perspective, which I think will be very rewarding.”

We're excited to reveal more about the upcoming Coaches DLC as the development continues! For the latest updates, be sure to follow us on our social media channels on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok, or sign up for our newsletter. If you're looking forward to hitting the road in style, don’t forget to add the Coaches DLC to your Steam Wishlist!