Iowa DLC Release

You don’t need the eyes of a hawk to see what’s coming, the Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator officially releases today! Get ready to explore everything that the Hawkeye State has to offer.

The Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator releases at
10 AM PDT, 1 PM EDT, 6 PM BST, 7 PM CEST, 9 PM GST, 
1 AM SGT⁺¹, 3 AM AEST⁺¹, and 5 AM NZST⁺¹

It’s been quite the journey since we first revealed that Iowa was in development, and today, we're thrilled to finally share it with our #BestCommunityEver. With expansive road networks, charming towns, and plenty of jobs across the heart of the Midwest, there’s a lot to look forward to behind the wheel. We're also updating the Farm Machinery DLC and launching a new World of Trucks event, so be sure to read the full blog to catch all the details surrounding this release.

Make the most of your visit to the Hawkeye State and enjoy every moment as you:

• Truck through 12 cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Burlington, Iowa City, and more!
• Discover beautifully recreated landmarks like the Iowa State Capitol, Historic Cedar Covered Bridge, Tree in the Middle of the Road, or the world’s largest grain bins.
• Deliver cargo to or from new depots – the agricultural factory and agricultural dealer.
• Visit the biggest truck stop we have ever built in ATS on Interstate 80!
• Become a vital part in transporting farm produce from the Hawkeye State all over the USA.
• Explore more than 15 scenic towns (settlements) on your travels such as Spencer, Clear Lake, Dyersville, Oskaloosa, or Traer!
• Pick up and deliver equipment and goods to the Aluminum Factory, a brand-new prefab depot featuring custom-designed assets.
• Admire the state’s stunning expansive hills with terraced fields and picturesque farms.
• Keep goods flowing in and out of Iowa’s huge ethanol plant depots, supporting its lead in U.S. ethanol production.
• Uncover Iowa’s hidden gems, find hidden roads, viewpoints, and more!

Cruise through lively river cities and quiet farming communities as you discover the diverse scenery of Iowa, from elevated prairie hills to expansive fields lined with silos and wind turbines. This map expansion brings detailed landmarks like the Iowa State Capitol and iconic bridges spanning the Mississippi. With a road network featuring major interstates, rural highways, and small-town streets, Iowa offers a unique and immersive journey for any driver!

Farm Machinery DLC Update

With the 1.55 update, we introduced a new cargo addition to the Farm Machinery DLC, the Windrower! This essential piece of agricultural equipment is used to gather and align crops into neat rows for drying and harvesting, and now it’s your job to haul it where it’s needed most.

The Windrower will be available on the job market in two color variants: a classic green and a yellow version branded with OWL, one of our in-game farming equipment manufacturers. Designed for lowboy trailers, it’s a wide and impressive load that brings more variety to your agricultural deliveries.

You can find the full details about this update here.



Iowa Freight & Fields Bundle

Get ready to haul big cargo in style with the Iowa Freight & Fields Bundle for American Truck Simulator! Celebrate the release of the Iowa map expansion, the heart of America's agricultural industry - with this special bundle which includes four DLCs: Iowa, Special Transport, Farm Machinery, and the Retrowave Paint Jobs Pack.

Haul farming equipment across Iowa with the Farm Machinery DLC, from the iconic I-80 to the capital city of Des Moines, and through charming towns along the Mississippi River, and put your driving skills to the test with oversized cargo from the Special Transport DLC.

Top it all off with bold, retro flair drive in vibrant ‘80s style with the Retrowave Paint Jobs Pack as you cruise through the Hawkeye State.

Release Live Stream

Don’t miss our special Release Live Stream for the Iowa DLC, kicking off today at 4 PM CEST! Join us live from the SCS Software studios as we haul cargo across the Hawkeye State and celebrate this exciting new expansion together.

We’ll be joined by several special guests who played a key role in bringing Iowa to life! Be sure to tune in and stick around, because towards the end of the stream, we’ll countdown and officially release the Iowa DLC live on stream! 

Cruising Iowa World of Trucks Event

Right with the release of this map expansion, we are also introducing the #CruisingIowa World of Trucks Event for you to enjoy! We challenge our #BestCommunityEver to achieve a collective goal of driving 125,000,000 miles while delivering cargo to or from any city in Iowa. The personal goal is to deliver cargo to or from all 12 cities in the Hawkeye State, with each job being 100 miles or more. You can read more about the event here.

Unique rewards await those who complete the challenge! Truckers who achieve their personal goal will earn the Golden Flight ATS truck paint job and a World of Trucks Achievement.

When the community goal is met, and if you’ve also completed your personal goal, you’ll receive the beautifully crafted Porcelain Wild Rose hanging ornament for your cabin.

But that’s not all, truckers who complete a job using External Contracts or the External Market TO or FROM Iowa City will be rewarded with the Happy Hog cabin plush! Soft, snuggly, and full of Midwestern charm, this cheerful piglet pays tribute to Iowa’s proud farming heritage and is sure to keep you company on your travels! 

We can’t wait for you to start trucking through the Hawkeye State. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and videos using the hashtag #CruisingIowa on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,and Bluesky. If you’re enjoying your time #CruisingIowa, we’d really appreciate it if you left a review on the Iowa DLC Steam store page. We thank you for all your support and until next time, keep on truckin'! 

Coaches: Meet the Team

A few weeks back, we officially announced that our teams are already working on the Coaches expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Before we are ready to share more with you from this upcoming DLC, we would like you to meet the team behind it!

The team consists of eight people, with some other members of our company contributing from time to time as well, from programmers, game designers, and 3D graphic designers, to testers. Let's meet them!

Dominik - Producer

"You may know me from Nordic Horizons - Meet The Team, where I wrote about my history in SCS and my current role. While working on Nordic Horizons, I started dedicating one day a week to the Coaches side-project, which had been running for a long time but had no production coverage. Gradually, I managed to build a team, collaborated to get licenses, and the small side-project became almost a full-time job. Even though it doesn't seem like it, the knowledge from running a map DLC is very useful now, because even in the Coaches project, there is a lot of map work; modified bus stations, bus stops, and border crossings. I'm very happy that an excellent, dedicated team has been assembled and that this project is moving forward at the speed it deserves."

Petr - Senior Tester

"When I started out as a bus driver, I never imagined that one day I would be testing buses for a computer game. As someone who has spent years behind the wheel of real buses, I know how an automatic transmission should behave, what a vehicle does under hard braking, or what a hill start looks like with a fully loaded machine. And it's this experience that I try to bring into testing to make the bus driving in ETS2 as close to reality as possible. But testing is also about checking all the functional details. Whether it's the behaviour of the vehicles, the controls, the sounds, or the graphical details. This connects my real world with the virtual one and gives me the opportunity to contribute to making the bus experience as authentic as possible for players around the world."

Josef - Junior Researcher for Game Development

"I have been working in the Research & Game Development department at SCS for a year and a quarter, and from the very beginning, I started participating in the Coaches project. For my colleagues, I prepare materials and references, for example, for building real-life bus terminals in our game, and I have also worked on redesigning those we already have in the game. Since I spent a lot of time playing our studio’s older game, "Bus Driver," I am really looking forward to the coaches in ETS2."

Marek - Senior Programmer

"I've been working as a programmer at SCS Software for nearly 12 years. My journey began with developing our map editor and various internal tools, supporting the core of our game development process. Over time, I transitioned into working on gameplay features, which allowed me to directly contribute to what players experience behind the wheel. Now, I'm excited to be part of something entirely new - bringing coaches into the game. This addition opens up fresh possibilities for gameplay, and I'm really happy to have the opportunity to help shape this new direction. Looking forward to seeing how players enjoy the new challenges coaches will bring."

Vitalii - Senior 3D Graphic Designer - Vehicles

"I started working at SCS almost 6 years ago, joining the Road Department as a 3D Artist. After two years, I transferred to the Vehicle team. I began by modeling AI vehicles, then worked on cargo, and gradually moved on to helping with trucks. Currently, I'm a Senior Vehicle Artist focusing on coaches. This is the first project where I'm not just helping out, but actually planning and executing both the exterior and interior myself, from start to finish. It's been a great challenge, and I'm working alongside an amazing team of specialists. I really hope you'll enjoy our upcoming DLC once it's ready."

Vladimír - 3D Graphic Designer - Vehicles

"I started working at SCS as a 3D graphic designer almost three years ago, in the outsourcing department, where I was responsible for the quality of 3D assets for map DLCs. About a year ago, I fulfilled my dream and joined the vehicles department. The first project within my new position was the MAN Lion's Coach model. I am very excited about this new direction of our game and the actual model I am working on. I hope the players will enjoy this DLC, and I am already looking forward to their first reactions."

Vojta - Game Designer

"My career started by teaching how to make games. Then, I began trying to create them in the evenings. After many evenings spent this way and several broken teams, I came to terms with the fact that I'd be working on someone else's games. I never expected to find such a wonderful company culture at SCS, nor a company so open to finding the best possible place for its talents. My suggestions were heard. So, I came up with new game features for the map, proposed innovations for our map editor, designed new gameplay features, significantly contributed to Driving Academy, and created UX and UI design features. Now, I have the opportunity to contribute to a "game within the game" - I'm designing game mechanics, UX, and UI for the coaches. We have great freedom, limited only by the constraints of our game itself, and once again, it's all very fresh and exciting."

We hope you liked the insight view of the team that is currently working on this expansion for ETS2. Don't forget to add the Coaches DLC to your Steam wishlist to show this team your excitement! If you want to keep track of future updates, make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube, or sign up for our newsletter. Until next time, we wish you safe travels!

Cruising Iowa World of Trucks Event

Join us on Thursday, the 10th of July, to celebrate the release of our new Iowa DLC, by taking part in our World of Trucks event - Cruising Iowa! Get ready for an unforgettable ride through the heart of the Midwest and explore the rural beauty of the Hawkeye State, while on the job.

We're calling on our #BestCommunityEver to achieve the goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargo to or from any city in Iowa.

While #CruisingIowa, you'll enjoy losing yourself in beautiful scenic farms and crop fields. But don't forget to also visit Iowa's biggest cities Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or Davenport - especially at night, when the city lights create a magical atmosphere as you drive across its iconic bridges.

The Hawkeye State is well known for its agricultural wealth and stands at the top in production, especially of corn, hogs, eggs, and ethanol. As you contribute to the state's economy by hauling not only farming goods but also machinery, you'll have the chance to explore new agricultural factories, dealerships, and ethanol plants along the way.

While travelling through Iowa, you'll encounter breathtaking views and memorable highlights, including:

• Burlington, offering riverfront charm and historic streets in beautiful scenery
• Dubuque Lock & Dam 11, vital to navigation and water control on the Upper Mississippi
• Cedar Rapids, where innovation meets Midwest charm in the City of Five Seasons
• Baseball Field, a legendary Iowa ballfield where dreams and nostalgia still echo

As with past cruising events, you can use your own trailer and experience all the fun using the external market!

Explore 12 incredible cities in the Iowa DLC, and unlock a uniquely crafted reward by achieving your personal goal of delivering to or from every one of them. All event jobs need to be 100 miles (161 km) or longer.

Are you ready to hit the road? Join us in #CruisingIowa and let's explore the Hawkeye State's endless prairies, crop fields, unspoiled nature and historic cities.

Rules

 

Using External Contracts or External Market, with a World of Trucks-connected profile in American Truck Simulator, the community goal is to drive 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargoes to or from any city in Iowa.

 

When a player completes a delivery to or from 12 different Iowa cities, they will achieve their personal goal.

 

All jobs for the event need to be at least 100 miles each (161 km), or more.

 

You can check if your recent deliveries met these conditions using your Log Book in your World of Trucks profile.

 

Rewards

• Personal: Players that deliver cargo to or from 12 Iowa cities will gain a personal World of Trucks Achievement and a Golden Flight ATS truck paint job Steam inventory item.

• Community: When the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) during deliveries to or from any city in Iowa is met, and if the player has also achieved their personal goal, then they will receive a Porcelain Wild Rose hanging ornament Steam inventory item.

Note: In order to qualify for any community reward, you must complete at least your personal goal in American Truck Simulator. Each reward will be a Steam inventory item for American Truck Simulator. Once completed, claim your reward in the Events page on your World of Trucks profile.

The event will be concluded on Sunday, the 14th of September at 23:59 UTC. 

We can't wait to hear about your discoveries as you cruise through the beautiful Hawkeye state! So, please share your screenshots and videos with us using the hashtag #CruisingIowa on our Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram profiles and we will share our favourite ones (we may even feature some of them in a future blog post!).

Nordic Horizons: Kristiansund

On the western coast of Norway, you will find the city of Kristiansund. Let's take a look at how our map designers are recreating this beautiful town for the upcoming Nordic Horizons map expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2!

The landscape of this city is really unique as it is situated on four different islands, which makes it stand out. While it is not one of the largest metropolitan hubs in Scandinavia, with over 24,000 citizens, it has a lot to offer and should not be missed.

Let's start with a bit of trivia. Kristiansund isn't just a feast for the eyes - it's also a hotspot for food lovers. The city's history is deeply tied to the sea, particularly through the production of klippfisk - split, salted cod traditionally dried on coastal rocks. This iconic dish is so important to the region that it has its own museum and even an annual festival in Kristiansund. But the culinary delights don't stop there - the city also boasts some award-winning cheeses, including a blue cheese that's been crowned the best in the world!

Now, back to what you can expect while hauling cargo through the area.  As the city is located on an island, you can get there either from the west through the Atlanterhavstunnelen (Atlantic Ocean Tunnel), which is part of the Norwegian County Road 64, or from the south via the Omsundbrua (Omsund Bridge).

When in Kristiansund, keep an eye out for the Kirkelandet Church, widely regarded as Norway's first truly modern church. Consecrated in 1964, it's often hailed as the country's most daring piece of church architecture. Naturally, our map and asset teams made sure to include this striking structure. The city is also full of colorful houses, typical of Scandinavian architecture.

Regarding industries, there will be a number of depots that truckers can deliver cargo to or from, such as a car dealer, a warehouse, a waste transfer station, and the local airport, also faithfully recreated to represent its real-world counterpart.

If you liked this preview, 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. Safe travels!

Illinois: Quincy

Nestled along the majestic Mississippi River, the city of Quincy is full of rich history, stunning architecture, vibrant arts, and beautiful nature. Let's see what it looks like in our upcoming Illinois map expansion for American Truck Simulator!

The seat of Adams County is located on the western side of the Prairie State, right on the border with Missouri. Quincy is also called the Gem City, and it's no wonder, as it features beautiful parks, a scenic riverfront, historic neighborhoods with some of the most stunning houses in the country, and a vibrant downtown.

We just couldn't leave out some of those wonderful buildings found in Quincy and decided to make them as landmarks, recreating them to faithfully represent how you can find them in the real world. These include the historic boat club building, the architecturally stunning church in the city center, the local community center, the museum, the marina, and the water treatment facility. As previously mentioned, the town is home to some lovely parks, so our map team has made sure to include Washington Park right in the heart of the city.

And of course, both the Bayview Bridge and the Memorial Bridge which span the Mississippi River and connect the city to Missouri have also been recreated. Near those bridges, you can also come across a sculpture, a small detail breathing in a little more realism into our recreation of Quincy.

Regarding the industries that truckers can find in this city, there will be plenty to choose from when you are looking for a job! You will be able to deliver in and out of a home improvement store, a parking lot construction site, a garden center, a factory producing superstructures for pickup trucks and similar vehicles, and a grain elevator. You'll also come across two other depots, one of them brand new and currently in development, specifically for this map expansion. We won't spoil the surprise just yet, so stay tuned for future blog posts!

If you enjoyed this preview of the Illinois DLC, make sure to add this map expansion to your Steam wishlist! Remember to stay tuned for more American Truck Simulator news by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. We would also really appreciate it if you could sign up for our newsletter. We will see you on the road!