South Dakota: Custom Depots #2

Excited to get delivering in South Dakota? Then this blog is for you! Today, we're happy to share more of the custom depots you'll deliver to and from in our upcoming South Dakota DLC for American Truck Simulator. From busy agricultural industries to a large scrapyard, let's take a closer look at what our teams have been busy creating!

Unlike standard prefabs, these depots have been carefully assembled by our map designers using a variety of assets, giving each one a distinct look and feel. Many of them are based on real-world locations, which perhaps some of you might recognise if you live locally or visit South Dakota often.

Agriculture plays a major role in South Dakota’s economy, and players will find plenty of job contract opportunities from a range of farming industries across the state. One such location can be found near the city of Aberdeen, where you'll discover a large farm facility featuring numerous silos used for storing crops and seeds before they are shipped further afield. Set amongst the vast prairies and open spaces that define much of South Dakota's landscape, drivers will be treated to panoramic views and seemingly endless horizons as they travel between jobs. This is just one of the many farms that make up South Dakota’s number one industry. 

The agriculture industry covers much more than just seeds and crops, however, and nearby the city of Mitchell, players will discover a custom farm livestock depot inspired by a real-life facility. You'll be sure to spot plenty of livestock roaming the nearby fields, as South Dakota famously has the highest cattle to people ratio in the U.S., with approximately 4 times as many cattle as people living in the state!

For those who enjoy heavy industry and rugged terrain, the Spearfish area will feature a large quarry-inspired depot nestled within the scenic Black Hills region. Hauling materials in and out of this site will require careful driving through winding roads and rough terrain, all while surrounded by impressive rocky landscapes and industrial machinery.

In the city of Lead, you’ll find the largest open pit in South Dakota. It is a closed gold mine and a clear visual dominant of the city. In the mine's underground, 4,850 feet deep, we can find a unique research laboratory. It is the deepest underground laboratory in the United States and it houses experiments connected to dark matter and neutrinos, which need to be conducted far below the Earth’s surface, shielded from cosmic radiation. This research facility also serves as an inspiration for one of our locations in the South Dakota DLC. Our players will be able to explore a part of the facility and experience the atmosphere of a place like this for themselves 

Nearby Aberdeen, players will also come across a large scrapyard depot inspired by a real-life agricultural salvage facility. Spanning a huge area filled with rows of machinery, stacked equipment, scrap piles, containers, and industrial vehicles, this custom depot is based on a well known scrapyard business where people travel from across the region in search of spare parts, equipment, and older vehicles.

Grain transportation remains a key part of South Dakota’s economy, and nearby Mitchell, players can deliver to and from a large grain elevator situated amidst the surrounding countryside. Surrounded by open fields, this agricultural landmark captures the scenic character of South Dakota’s farming regions. Standing tall above the prairie, grain elevators like this serve as important hubs for storing and transporting crops throughout the Midwest, and are a familiar sight for truckers travelling America's backroads and highways alike. 

We look forward to sharing even more from this upcoming DLC for American Truck Simulator in the future, right here on our blog. If you're excited to be haulin' in the Mount Rushmore State, be sure to add South Dakota to your Steam Wishlist, your support means a lot to us. Until next time, happy haulin’!

Iceland: Custom Depots

In today's blog, we bring you a glimpse at some of the custom depots featured in the upcoming Iceland map expansion, which is currently in development for Euro Truck Simulator 2. So let's take a look at what our map designers are working on!

The largest one is a landmark depot of a silicon metal factory, which is an accurate 1:1 copy of the real-world facility found in this location. This will be the home of a new virtual company called Kísilverksmiðja, producing silicon metal, which is used in a wide variety of applications in the chemical industry, production of silicones and silanes, or high-strength aluminium alloys for the automotive industry.

Truckers will be able to drive to nearly every corner of the complex and load or unload their truck in various locations within the complex based on the type of cargo they are hauling. The depot will also feature dynamic cargo loading of logs, which play a key role in this industry. The entire location is positioned near the coast, so in addition to the tunnel connecting the depot and the city, drivers will also get to enjoy some beautiful views of the sea.

Then, you will find three custom-made quarries located in the towns of Selfoss, Patreksfjörður, and Blönduós. Quarrying of aggregate materials, both rock and sediment, is an important industry in Iceland, since aggregates are needed for a wide range of building and road construction projects.

All of these quarries are branches of the well-established MS Stein company that truckers can already know. Set within Iceland's iconic landscapes, these unique depots offer striking surroundings: the first two lie at the foot of towering cliffs, with the second one also boasting sweeping views of the sea.

Truckers will also come across six custom farm depots, each reflecting the characteristic Icelandic rural way of life. These are usually smaller, family-owned homesteads, often situated at the foot of mountains and shaped by the surrounding landscape. Their architecture is adapted to Iceland's demanding climate, using practical materials such as concrete and corrugated metal.

On these farms, you will often see livestock typical of the region, particularly Icelandic sheep and cattle. Some, like those in Þórshöfn and near Reykjavík, are tucked into the landscape, while others are located right beside the road.

With these farms, our map designers tried to convey the narrow Icelandic roads, deep valleys, charcoal-colored rocks and soil, and farmsteads appearing as clusters of modest farm buildings nestled against the base of rugged mountains. Beyond them, you will see just vast stretches of land that extend far into the rocky highlands, with roaming sheep.

And that's all for today! If we got you excited about this map expansion, don't forget to support us by adding the Iceland DLC to your Steam wishlist.

Remember to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok a follow as you'll receive updates about our games straight to your feed, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed! Until next time, keep on trucking.

Illinois: New & Custom Depots

In today's blog, we would like to show you the custom depots and completely new companies you will deliver cargo to and from in our upcoming Illinois DLC for American Truck Simulator, so let's take a look!

Illinois has one of the most diverse economies in the United States and a long history of manufacturing, producing a wide range of goods. It is also a major producer of non-electrical machinery, such as industrial and construction equipment, which is among its most important export industries.

As always, we wanted to reflect the real world when choosing depots for this map expansion, which is why you'll see representations of these industries in our newly created companies, as well as in our established custom depots. One of them is Antlion, a large construction machinery factory in Peoria. From there, you can take vehicles straight from the production line to the new dealer, GroundBreaker, in Quincy.

If you're a fan of boats, you're in for a treat. With Lake Michigan being a popular recreation spot in the state, you'll also be able to transport boats to or from the new Aqua Vista marinas in Marion and Chicago, as well as the already established Rock Port logistics company in Peoria.

And we couldn't forget about the Chicago International Airport, one of the busiest in the whole world. In our game, it's represented by a landmark cargo terminal, carefully recreated to match the real one, where players can load cargo onto aircraft. You will also be able to deliver cargo straight into a massive ULTIMUS transport plane!

In the Missouri DLC, we introduced underground warehouses, which offer an unusual experience of transporting cargo below the surface. Following that, you will be able to find the new UnderCity storage in Chicago, a big underground depot used for storing a wide range of products for the city's needs. Another one can be found near Quincy, a branch of the Terrastore company, which you are already familiar with from Missouri.

Agriculture is just as important to the state as manufacturing. Illinois is home to around 75,000 farms that cover nearly three-quarters of its land. Farmers produce large amounts of soybeans, corn, and dairy products, as well as raising pigs and cattle, helping supply food across the U.S. and around the world. That is why you will find plenty of custom depot farms around the cities of Marion, Champaign, Rockford, and Effingham.

Alongside these farms, you will also come across large Flavorfair grain elevator custom depots in East St. Louis and Quincy. These facilities play an important role in the agricultural supply chain, collecting and storing grain from nearby farms before it is transported onward for processing or distribution.

But that's not all. If you're looking to haul something a bit heavier, be sure to check out the quarries around Chicago and Rockford. You can also head to the custom timber harvest depot near Marion, where logging operations keep a steady supply of timber ready for transport.

If you are eager to visit these industries in the upcoming 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 X/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!

South Dakota: Custom Depots

Excited to get truckin' in The Coyote State? This post is for you! Today, we're happy to share a look at some of the Custom Depots you'll be delivering cargo to and from in our upcoming South Dakota DLC for American Truck Simulator. Let's hit the road!

Unlike standard prefabs, these depots have been carefully assembled by our map designers using a variety of assets, giving each one a distinct look and feel. Many of them are based on real-world locations, which perhaps some of you might recognise if you live locally or visit South Dakota often.

On your travels, you’ll quickly see just how central farming is to South Dakota’s identity. As the 13th largest agricultural exporting state, there’s certainly no shortage of work to be done! Our talented map and asset teams have recreated farms found across the state to represent this important industry in-game.

One thing we couldn’t miss adding alongside these custom farm depots was the Great Plains Shelterbelt. This large-scale windbreak project began in the 1930s in response to the Dust Bowl, when millions of trees were planted in long belts across the Plains to reduce wind speeds and combat soil erosion.

For farms, the Shelterbelt play an important role, in helping to protect exposed agricultural soils, shielding buildings and livestock from harsh prairie winds, and even improving growing conditions by reducing moisture loss. With only around 4% of South Dakota covered in forest, these purposeful lines of trees stand out across the open landscape, becoming both a practical tool for farmers and an iconic part of the region’s rural scenery. 

Farming ain't the only big business in town, though! In the Black Hills, you’ll discover a region rich in history and natural beauty. Best known for its Gold Rush era, natural hot springs and historic railway, this area offers a completely different feel compared to the open plains. It’s also home to carefully managed timber operations that form another part of South Dakota’s working landscape, and one which is represented by our custom depots! 

While timber harvesting does take place in the Black Hills, much of the area is protected as National Forest, meaning forestry work is highly regulated and carried out on a smaller scale. Rather than focusing on one specific real world site, our timber depot captures the spirit of these operations, representing the industry as it exists within this unique and historic region.

It's not just what's above ground, but also below! This upcoming DLC will also feature a Quarry in Sioux Falls which is uniquely located within the city, and surrounded by highways and the suburbs. Here, they extract hard metamorphic rock and pink quartzite used in construction, one which has helped shape much of Sioux Falls’ architecture.

Across South Dakota, you'll also spot a familiar sight, Grain Elevators! These specialized agricultural facilities store and handle large quantities of harvested crops. Standing tall as iconic landmarks across the prairie, you won’t travel far without seeing one, and we’re sure you’ll make quite a few deliveries to and from them as well!

Liked what you read today? There's more to come! We look forward to sharing even more from this upcoming DLC for American Truck Simulator in the future, right here on our blog. If you're excited to be haulin' in the Mount Rushmore State, be sure to add South Dakota to your Steam Wishlist, your support means a lot to us. Until next time, happy haulin’!

Louisiana: Custom Depots #2

The bayous are buzzin’, the trucks are rumblin’, and we’re fixin’ to show you even more of what’s cookin’ down in Louisiana. We’re back with a second look at some of the unique custom depots you’ll be hauling to and from in our upcoming Louisiana DLC for American Truck Simulator. Let’s check them out together!

If you haven’t had the chance to read the first part of this blog yet, we recommend checking it out! It showcases five custom depots created for this upcoming DLC, which you can read here.

These depots have been created by our map designers using a variety of assets, giving each one a distinct look and feel. Each one is inspired by real-world locations found across the Pelican State. Today, we'll be showcasing a further 5 of them, two River Ports, one Shipyard, one Salt Mine and a Grain Elevator.

Louisiana’s river ports are vital gateways between inland America and the Gulf. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge, the northernmost deep-water port on the Mississippi, ranks among the busiest in the U.S, handling agricultural goods, bulk materials, and more. For truckers, it’s a major interchange where river, rail, and road networks meet, keeping freight moving around the clock.

Further southwest, the Port of Lake Charles connects to the Gulf through the Calcasieu Ship Channel and plays a key role in Louisiana’s energy and industrial trade, where a wide variety of goods pass through its terminals.

Shipyards have been a cornerstone of the state’s offshore and marine industries for decades. Known for building and maintaining tugboats, dredgers, and offshore service vessels, these facilities keep the Gulf’s maritime operations running smoothly. Truckers servicing these yards are often tasked with moving everything from parts to equipment needed for the job!

Hidden beneath Louisiana’s surface lies one of its oldest natural resources, salt. The region’s vast salt domes, such as those near Lafayette and Avery Island, have been mined since the 1800s and continue to support industries ranging from food production to chemical refining. For truck drivers, these mines offer a steady stream of jobs transporting cargo and equipment needed for the mines operations.

At the mouth of the Mississippi, New Orleans has served as a vital export point for American agriculture for well over a century. Its towering grain elevators receive tons of wheat, corn, and soybeans transported by truck and barge from the Midwest before being loaded onto ocean-bound vessels. These facilities stand as icons of Louisiana’s trade heritage.

We hope we have got you a little more excited to haul cargo in Louisiana! If we did, make sure to add the Pelican State to your Steam Wishlist. Don't miss out on all the latest news from our upcoming DLCs and projects by following us on our official social media channels (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok) or by subscribing to our newsletter. Until next time, happy haulin'!