American Truck Simulator: 1.60 Update Release

We're excited to announce that the 1.60 update for American Truck Simulator has officially been released and is now available on Steam!

Before we head to the news, we would like to thank everyone who took part in the Open Beta and reported any issues or provided general feedback on our forum. This makes it much easier for our team to fine-tune everything and helps ensure a smooth transition to the full update release.

Game Radio

With the 1.60 update, we are introducing Game Radio, a brand-new in-game radio system designed to make every drive feel more immersive and authentic. Rather than just playing music, Game Radio gives you five stations with their own distinct sounds, identities, and moods, each one built to shape the atmosphere of your journey in a different way.

Players can tune into Rust FM, Escape, PUMP IT!, Pop Gear, and Roadio, spanning guitar-driven rock and American roots music to electronic, pop, and lo-fi. Each station features carefully curated tracks, handpicked to hold up across many hours on the road. Escape is also a radio station designed to help content creators, and we are committed to doing our best to keep it stream-safe.

Game Radio also introduces a new in-game widget displaying station info, track titles, and artist names while driving. Players can customize widget behavior through the Widget Options menu (F6). This update also brings a range of improvements to the existing radio and music player systems.

Game Radio arrives with its musical foundation in place, with more planned for future updates. You can find out more information about Game Radio in our dedicated blog post.

Improved Material System

The Improved Material System significantly improves the lighting and visual quality of vehicle interiors in selected trucks. Its main focus is to enhance how interior materials react to light, which will result in a more readable, detailed, and visually pleasing cabin environment.

During the development of Project Road Trip, we implemented a wide range of visual and technical improvements. One of the most significant changes was a redesign of the materials used in vehicle interiors. As a result, it makes differences between materials such as leather, fabric, plastic, and metal far more apparent, even in low-light conditions. The new solution uses multiple variants of dynamic cubemaps, allowing all materials to reflect their surroundings more naturally and respond to ambient light in a more realistic way.

The entire system was designed from the start with the interiors of trucks in both games in mind, so the base games and their existing fleets will gradually benefit from these improvements as well. The first trucks to benefit from the Improved Material System in ATS are the Mack Anthem and the Western Star 49X. With future updates, we will gradually add this technology for other trucks across both games. You can read more about this feature here.

Light Tweaks

We have carried out minor adjustments to the global lighting, primarily focused on exposure and contrast balancing, along with subtle visual refinements for bad weather conditions. The work mainly consisted of smoothing out and polishing the overall visuals to achieve a more consistent and refined look.

Players' Company Paint Jobs

Players are now able to customize their trucks and trailers with a brand-new collection of company-themed paint jobs inspired by the selectable company identities available when creating a driver profile. These designs bring a more cohesive and professional visual style to your fleet while fitting naturally into the world of ATS.

One of the biggest focuses during development was ensuring that every paint job feels unique, depending on the type of trailer it is applied to. Rather than simply using one design across all trailer models, our teams carefully adapted each company's paint scheme to match the shapes and details of different trailer types. Whether you’re hauling cargo with a tanker, transporting materials in a dumper, or pulling a traditional box trailer, each variant features its own tailored details and layout. You can find out more in our blog here.

Kenworth TourAmerica Paint Jobs

We're also pleased to introduce the TourAmerica paint jobs for the Kenworth W900 and Kenworth T680 2022 as free content for all players. Inspired by the iconic TourAmerica T600 livery from the 1990s, this special design was recently reimagined by Kenworth as part of the Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and honoring the legacy of American trucking. You can see more in our blog here.

Job Details Widget

Based on feedback from our #BestCommunityEver and upcoming widget designs, the Job Details Widget is introduced with the 1.60 update. Its primary purpose is to enable a new, more immediate, and concise way of displaying the relevant job info. Also, in response to community feedback, the GPS now displays the estimated arrival day and time, along with the remaining travel time and distance.

You can enable the Job Details Widget through the Widget Options menu (F6). The widget displays key job information, including cargo type and weight, delivery location, job income (colour-highlighted), and the remaining time to complete the job, so players will have this info available immediately without the necessity to pause the game. You can read more about the feature here.

Expanded Rest Mechanic

This new feature gives players greater control over their rest periods by allowing them to choose how long they want to sleep and exactly when they want to wake up, instead of being limited to a predefined rest duration.

Alongside this change, the Fatigue system is now split into two separate values: Rest State and Mandatory Break, each represented by its own icon in the UI.

The Rest State, symbolised by a bed icon, now gradually depletes rather than recovers over time. Extended periods of driving will steadily reduce the Rest State, while resting will restore it at a faster rate.

The Mandatory Break system, indicated by a "P" icon along with the remaining hours before a required stop, functions more strictly. In American Truck Simulator, drivers can stay on the road for up to 14 hours before they must take a mandatory break, requiring 10 consecutive hours of rest afterward. You can read more about this feature here.

Changelog:

Vehicles

• Players' Company Paint Jobs
• Kenworth TourAmerica Paint Jobs

Visual

• Improved Material System
• Light Tweaks

Sound

• Game Radio

UI/UX

• Job Details Widget
• Expanded Rest Mechanic

We hope you are also excited to try out all the new features! Make sure to keep up to date with the future updates by following us on X/Twitter, Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, and Instagram, and by subscribing to our newsletter! Until next time, happy haulin'!

SCS On The Road - Volvo Days 2026: Influencer Day

A new SCS On The Road episode has just arrived! Buckle up and join us as we take you along for the amazing Volvo Days: Influencer Day event, where we were invited by Volvo Construction Equipment.

After the last one two years ago, Volvo CE once again hosted its well-known Volvo Days event at their Customer Center in Eskilstuna, Sweden, showcasing its latest products to customers and the public.

This year, Volvo invited us to attend the event and also approached us to help connect them with content creators from our community to take part in the Influencer Day, held on May 28. Together, we joined fellow influencers such as Gamekeepers_cz, TheNorthernAlex, Polmanzan, Iwona Blecharczyk, and others for a day that began with an amazing machine show and continued with hands-on experience operating Volvo CE equipment and Volvo trucks. Now, let's watch the episode!

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Volvo Construction Equipment and their staff for inviting us to this incredible event, providing great hospitality, and giving us the opportunity to experience their vast product line hands-on! You can find more information about the Volvo Days event here.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to show your appreciation by following Volvo CE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.

And if you would like to transport some Volvo CE machines in our games, you can check out the Volvo Construction Equipment DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 here, and for American Truck Simulator here.

Also, don't forget to stay connected with all the latest news and upcoming episodes by following us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and YouTube, or by subscribing to our newsletter. Until next time, happy haulin'!

Open House Prague 2026: Wrap Up

Two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of opening our doors to the public as part of the Open House Praha Festival, welcoming visitors to our headquarters in Prague. As a festival dedicated to architecture, urbanism, and exceptional spaces that are not normally accessible to the public, Open House Praha offers a unique opportunity to explore some of the city's most interesting buildings and interiors.

As the first tenant of the Roztyly Plaza office building in Chodov, awarded Building of the Year 2024, we were proud to take part in this event and share our workplace with visitors. Throughout the weekend, guests joined guided tours across our offices, discovering not only where we create our games but also the architectural and technological solutions that make this space unique.

Designed by Studio Perspektiv, our offices span several floors and are built around the concept of an adventurous journey through a microworld where nature and technology intertwine. During the tours, visitors learnt more about the architectural vision behind the interior design, as well as the technical aspects of the workspace, including its acoustic design, ventilation systems, and the solutions implemented to create a comfortable and inspiring environment for our teams.

Guests were also able to explore many of the facilities available to employees, including the fitness center, rooms dedicated to massages and meditation, spaces for board games, and even our own movie theater. One of the most striking features of the interior is the monumental red staircase known as Diamant, which connects all three floors of the company and serves as a central architectural element of the space.

Alongside the architectural and technical aspects of the offices, we were happy to share more about SCS Software, our projects, and the work that takes place within these spaces every day. It was a pleasure to meet so many visitors, answer their questions, and showcase the environment where our teams collaborate and create.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who stopped by, as well as to the organizers of Open House Praha for making this event possible. We truly enjoyed welcoming you to our offices and sharing this experience with you.

If you weren't able to visit us during Open House Praha, or would simply like to take another look around, you can explore our offices virtually through Google Street View.

Make sure to follow us on our social media channels X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube, or subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss any news or behind-the-scenes.

British Columbia: Building Canada with Wety

Expanding American Truck Simulator into Canada is much more than just adding new roads and cities. As our teams work on bringing British Columbia, our first Canadian province to ATS, a lot of work is taking place behind the scenes to ensure it feels authentic and recognizable.

From unique architecture and roadside infrastructure to region-specific environmental details, creating a believable Canadian setting requires a lot of effort. To learn more about the process, we spoke with Wety, one of our Map Designer on the British Columbia DLC, who is responsible for coordinating many of the generic assets that will help bring the province to life.

Could you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little about your role on the British Columbia DLC?

"Hi! I'm Wety, and I've been working as a Map Designer on Davido's team for the past five years. I joined SCS as a junior map designer with no previous experience in game development, but with a huge passion for video games. I've loved games ever since I was a kid playing DooM on a 486 PC. 

Alongside building parts of the map itself, many designers also take on additional responsibilities. Some focus on vegetation and biomes, while others specialize in roads and intersections. My area of responsibility is generic assets, which means helping identify, plan, and coordinate the assets that will be used throughout a DLC."

For players who may not be familiar with the term, what exactly are generic assets?

"In game development, assets are essentially everything the game is made from. Buildings, roads, vehicles, trees, sound effects, animations, and much more all fall under that category. Generic assets are assets that can be reused multiple times across different locations. Things like houses, small stores, power lines, trash bins, and countless other environmental details. Their purpose is to reduce development time while still creating a believable world. If every object in the game had to be unique, it would take an incredibly long time to build a map of this scale."

British Columbia is our first Canadian province in American Truck Simulator. From your perspective, what are some of the biggest visual differences between Canada and the United States that players will notice?

"One of the first things that stood out to me is how much the landscape is dominated by mountains. In British Columbia, it often feels like you're constantly surrounded by them. While there are mountainous regions in the United States as well, the areas I worked on previously didn't have quite the same feeling.

The southern part of the province still has some similarities to the American landscapes players may be familiar with, but further north and inland, the scenery becomes distinctly Canadian. Another thing I noticed is how bike-friendly many Canadian communities are. Dedicated bicycle lanes and cycling infrastructure are everywhere, and they quickly become a recognizable part of the environment."

How many new generic assets are being created specifically for British Columbia?

"Players will encounter around 130 new models throughout cities and rural areas, along with roughly 40 additional assets created specifically for depots and ferry terminals. We're also introducing several decorative Canadian-themed brands to help strengthen the province's identity, with around 14 new brands planned alongside numerous smaller advertisements and environmental details."

How does the creation process work, and how do you decide which assets should be made?

"The process starts with our Research Team. They travel through the region and identify things that appear frequently enough to justify creating dedicated assets for them. After that, I review the list together with other map designers and the DLC Lead. At this stage, we already need a fairly good idea of how the map will look so we can prioritize assets that will actually be used. 

We also check whether similar assets already exist from previous DLCs and can be reused. Once we've decided what needs to be created, we prepare documentation for our Asset Team. This includes reference photos, approximate dimensions, colour variations, and other important details. Then our talented 3D artists work their magic. Afterwards, we review the finished assets, provide any necessary feedback, and once everything looks right, they're ready to be placed in the map."

How closely do you work with the Asset Team throughout development?

"Ideally, not too much! That might sound strange, but it usually means everything is progressing smoothly. Once the initial documentation is prepared, the Asset Team generally has everything they need. Of course, questions still come up from time to time. Sometimes they need clarification on a specific detail, and occasionally we realize we've overlooked something and request additional assets later in development. It's very much a collaborative process."

Can you share a few examples of new assets that really help capture the character of British Columbia?

"One of my favourite examples is the Canadian bear-resistant trash bins you'll find throughout the province. They're designed so people can open them easily, but bears cannot. They're a small detail, but they instantly help establish a sense of place. Another great example would be the dry toilets commonly found at rest areas and recreational sites.

They're surprisingly distinctive and appear throughout British Columbia. I also really like some of the new residential houses we've created. Many feature steeply sloped roofs designed to prevent heavy snowfall from accumulating during winter. It's a practical design choice that immediately gives the architecture a distinctly Canadian feel."

You had the opportunity to visit British Columbia for research. What were some of your biggest takeaways from seeing the province in person?

"What impressed me most was how much nature dictates everything. In many parts of the United States, towns and roads can spread across relatively flat terrain, making straight roads and grid-like layouts common. British Columbia is very different. Roads often follow rivers, valleys, and mountain passes because that's simply where the terrain allows them to exist. As a result, roads constantly rise, fall, twist, and turn. It creates some incredible scenery, but it also makes recreating the region much more challenging from a map-building perspective."

Were there any locations, towns, or details that immediately stood out to you?

"My favourite place we visited was Whistler. Many people know it as the mountain resort that hosted events during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, but it's also simply a beautiful place surrounded by spectacular mountains and forests. The entire area has a unique atmosphere, and it's easy to see why it's such a popular destination. It was memorable for another reason too, I ended up buying a hat there after accidentally sunburning my bald head while we were in Vancouver!"

How important is real-world research when creating assets and making a region feel authentic?

"It gives you perspective. A lot of details that you see in photos or videos don't seem significant at first. But then you're there, trying to get rid of some trash, and you find one of these anti-bear trash bins that resists your attempts to open it. Then you realize why, and it all makes sense. Suddenly, you know those big boys are in the forests around you."

Or you have to almost get hit and yelled at by a cyclist on a sidewalk to realise that those lines are for bicycles, and that people take them there seriously. And all those mountains you can see in pictures? In real life, they're way bigger than you can even imagine.

When players first hit the road in British Columbia, what details should they keep an eye out for?

"Beyond the obvious road-related additions such as new crash barriers, reflective posts, and road markings, players should pay attention to the architecture and agricultural areas. You'll encounter new apartment buildings and residential neighbourhoods inspired by the suburbs surrounding Vancouver, as well as large fruit farms complete with distinctive farmhouses and hacienda-style buildings. 

Players may also spot wind machines used to protect crops from freezing temperatures, a detail commonly found in orchard regions. Another familiar sight making a return with a new look are the towering grain elevators that stand as landmarks across the landscape. One of these will be located very close to the border and should be easy to spot during your travels. And of course, don't forget to watch for the large 'Welcome to British Columbia' signs when entering the province." 

Finally, what are you most excited for players to experience when they explore British Columbia for the first time?

"More than anything, I hope players enjoy it. We can spend countless hours researching, building, and refining every detail, but ultimately what matters most is whether players have fun driving through the world we've created. So I simply hope everyone has a great time truckin' through British Columbia."

We'd like to thank Wety for taking the time to share the work that goes into creating the assets that help define a region's identity. We hope you've enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at the process and perhaps learned a thing or two along the way! If you'd like to see more articles like this, be sure to leave a comment and let us know what other topics you'd like us to explore.

We look forward to sharing more from the British Columbia DLC in the future. If you're excited for this new region, be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Until then, keep on truckin'!

Introducing the Multi-Function Display: Behind the Scenes

Our #BestCommunityEver, today we'd like to share with you an early look at a feature currently in development for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, known internally as the Multi-Function Display (MFD).

As many of you know, over the years, both games have continued to grow with new systems, gameplay features, assists, vehicle options, and controls. While this has allowed players to tailor their experience in a variety of ways, it has also gradually increased the amount of information, shortcuts, and menus players need to manage on the road.

With the MFD, our goal is to create a more unified and intuitive way to access vehicle functions directly in-game, without needing to interrupt your experience or remember dozens of key-binds.

Introducing the Multi-Function Display

The MFD is an in-game interface accessible from both interior and exterior camera views. From there, you can quickly navigate through various categories and vehicle systems such as driving assists, lighting controls, vehicle adjustments, media functions, trip information, and more.

One of the main goals of this feature is to reduce interruptions while accessing vehicle systems and information. In most situations, opening the MFD will not pause gameplay, and vehicle controls will remain responsive during interaction.

At the same time, we know usability and minimising distraction are extremely important. So, a lot of our work during prototyping and testing is focused on making sure the system feels quick, readable, and comfortable to use. We’ve also drawn inspiration from modern vehicle interfaces in an effort to create a more believable menu, while still keeping quick access to some of the more abstract gameplay settings for convenience.

Designed Around Accessibility and Discoverability

Another important goal behind this feature is discoverability.

Over time, ETS2 and ATS have accumulated a very large number of functions and controls that many players may never fully discover or use. The MFD is intended to help surface these systems more naturally by presenting available functions together in-context, while also displaying their related key-binds directly within the menu.

This does not mean we expect every player to suddenly change the way they interact with the game overnight. Some players prefer using dedicated key-binds and muscle memory, and those methods will continue to remain important. Instead, we see the MFD as an additional layer that can make operating your vehicle easier and more approachable, especially as both games continue to evolve. 

Different control setups are also something we are carefully considering throughout development. The MFD is being designed to support keyboard, mouse, wheel, and controller users alike, with customisable navigation controls.

Building on Recent Interface Improvements 

The MFD has been part of a vision to improve the overall in-game driving interface and accessibility of vehicle systems for quite some time. At the same time, we know recent interface-related changes have sparked a lot of discussion within the community, and many of your comments and observations have helped shape internal conversations about where improvements can still be made.

This ongoing feedback has already led to several additions to the updated Route Advisor. Since its release, we have introduced a Damage Widget displaying truck, trailer, and cargo condition, a Finances Widget for tracking your company savings and income, and, with 1.60, a Job Info Widget with details about your current delivery, each of which may be individually hidden.

We are also reworking the Quick Info menu to better align with other in-game interfaces and reflect community feedback. Our current direction is focused on creating a simpler layout that does not obstruct the view while still allowing quick access to functions such as the controls layout, widget settings, Photo Mode, and Services and Adjustments. Functions related to Services and Adjustments are also being integrated into the MFD, allowing players to access them from either interface. 

These are relatively small additions on their own, but they're part of a much larger ongoing effort to improve usability, information access, and customisation while driving. We know there is still more work ahead, and we are continuing to explore further improvements and adjustments throughout development.

That is also one of the reasons we wanted to begin sharing this feature earlier in its development process.

Still a Work in Progress 

The MFD is still in active prototyping. While the core direction and functionality are already taking shape, many details may continue to evolve as we conduct further internal testing and gather feedback during later stages of development. 

We are very excited about the possibilities this system opens up, not only for trucks, but eventually for other vehicle types as well.

As always, we look forward to hearing your constructive thoughts once the time comes to put the feature into your hands. Until then, we hope you enjoyed this early look at what is currently being worked on behind the scenes.

Until next time, keep on truckin'.