Big in West Balkans

Special Transport meets West Balkans! You can look forward to hauling large cargos with your truck across Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as North Macedonia.

Embarking on a journey behind the wheel of a truck laden with colossal cargo is no small feat. The enormity of the task isn't just in the size of the vehicle; it's in the responsibility that comes with maneuvering such a colossal load through highways and byways. Driving a truck with especially large cargo is a skillful dance, a delicate balance between power and precision. Only the best truckers can take on these unique missions. Are you up for it?

The following special transport routes will be available:

Kragujevac to Novi Sad

Beograd to Kragujevac 

Koper to Novo Mesto

Zenica to Karakaj

Skopje to Bitola

Make sure to add West Balkans DLC to your Steam Wishlist or follow us on social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok) to be notified of the exact time this latest addition to Euro Truck Simulator 2 becomes available. We can't wait for you to get your hands on the new map expansion and see for yourself everything that it has to offer!

Switzerland Rework - Mont Blanc

After the initial wave of presenting to you different parts of the upcoming Switzerland Rework, we toned the hype down a little bit and went silent for a while. However, rest assured we are still working hard on bringing you the best experience possible while upgrading Switzerland to the current standards. And while there is still quite a lot of work to be done, today, we’ll show you something that will restart the hype train once again, as we tell you a bit about Mont Blanc!

Mont Blanc, the crown jewel of the Alps, is a breathtaking natural wonder that has captivated travelers and adventurers for centuries. Towering majestically over the border of France and Italy, it is the highest peak in Western Europe. While Mont Blanc itself is not part of Switzerland, you can see that the work of our dedicated team reaches beyond the borders and we couldn’t overlook the important gateway that is the Mont Blanc tunnel.

Speaking of the Mont Blanc tunnel - this virtual rendition of the iconic tunnel connects the Chamonix Valley on the French side with the Aosta Valley on the Italian side. But, most importantly, many of you have long been awaiting the addition of the A40 and E25 roads, and we can’t wait for you to travel to or from Switzerland through these new additions.

We hope to keep the hype train going in the future so keep an eye on the blog and on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) for any updates about the Switzerland Rework project. For now, make sure to let us know what you think about this addition. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

SCS On The Road – Western Star 49X Walk-around

We have a brand-new episode of SCS On The Road for you! This time, we head to Cleveland, North Carolina to check out the Western Star 49X at the Daimler Truck North America Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant. 

During our visit, we met up with Alex Martin-Banzer from Western Star, who took us on a product walk-around of their truck which you can also find in our American Truck Simulator! This amazing truck was the first in Western Star's X-Series lineup which was launched in 2020. Although it was completely redesigned from the ground up, it still exudes the legendary toughness that Western Stars are known for. Just have a look yourself! (You can enjoy the video with English subtitles)

We hope you've enjoyed the tour of this absolutely gorgeous truck! Let us know how you like it in the comments below. Stay tuned for the next episode! Until then, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Nebraska - Research Trip

Earlier this year, 4 members from our American Truck Simulator map team were able to visit Nebraska, as well as other surrounding states in the USA. The purpose of their travel was to gather references and information, as well as to inspire them in preparation for future projects. In this blog, we will share with you some highlights of what the team got up to. However, please keep in mind that the information and media presented here do not confirm what our upcoming DLC will include.

The team consisting of Simon Endt (Saimon), Jan Vackar (Vacky), Antonin Kachlar (Tony), and Petra Garlikova (Draky), set off on quite the journey! Driving over 4,000 miles in 14 days, the team managed to visit major cities, depots, real-life viewpoints, truck stops, and many other locations too. 

"We visited the world's largest train depot in North Platte, looked at Lake McConaughy, and crisscrossed cities like Grand Island, Columbus, Norfolk, and more. We even went on foot to the Scottsbluff monument." Simon shares with us. They also visited some unique landmarks such as 'Carhenge' - a quirky pop-culture icon which consists of 39 automobiles painted and arranged to look like the famous 'Stonehenge' in the United Kingdom. 

The team was also able to explore some areas they were not expecting to visit; thanks to their GPS. One such journey led them through an off-road "shortcut" through a forest. Luckily for the team, the road warned them this was not the right path, as they found a golf cart stuck in the mud up ahead. This little moment reminded the team that having the right routes for truck drivers is important, but that challenging routes can be fun too.  

"We all agree that visiting America has opened our eyes. It is important (for us) to experience it and pass the information on (to our teams back in the office). The materials from which we use (from various online sources) are a wonderful inspiration, but seeing the traffic on the roads, the complexity of each logistics area, the diversity and depth of the landscape, you have to experience it." Simon tells us.

Trips like this are invaluable to the team, as online imagery can be deceiving, especially when it comes to height and distance. Simon tells us "What we realized is how different... the images we usually use (for references), because these images are often distorted compared to reality. The pictures are often captured with a small focal distance (fish eye) which makes everything smaller and further away, but in reality, it is the opposite, everything seems bigger and closer. That's something we need to relay to our team. And speaking of closer things, we also get pretty close to some bison at one location, so exciting!"

With each stop, the team learned something new about the area they were in. "America surprised us with its uniqueness, and we fell in love with something different in each State". Simon and the team also emphasised the importance of creating balance in each state the team develops. 

"I believe every state has its own spirit." Simon tells us "something that is known, that is common everywhere and what defines the whole state. Sometimes it is all about small details, those details created through the history and culture of each state, but you will always feel something is different when you cross the borders". "It is something very important to me, so those who live there will recognize their state and visitors will remember it".

We look forward to sharing how these research trips translate over to our virtual recreation of the states in the future. Until then, we hope you enjoyed this little insight on the process of creating a new State/region, and how our teams gain experience and knowledge of the states. Don't forget to add Nebraska to your Steam wishlist!

West Balkans - Release Date Reveal

Dear #BestCommunityEver! We've got some exciting news for those who are anticipating the arrival of the West Balkans DLC in Euro Truck Simulator 2. Mark your calendars and get ready to hit the virtual roads of this beautiful region.

The West Balkans DLC will be released on October 19th, 2023!

We're just as excited as you are, and to keep your anticipation high, we've released an official trailer for the West Balkans DLC. This video trailer will give you a sneak peek of the wonderful landscapes, vibrant cities, historical landmarks, and interesting new industries that await you in this map expansion. Make sure to check it out!

Rest assured, our team has been working really hard to make the entire West Balkans DLC a fantastic addition. We've been fixing any problems, whether that is in the new region or surrounding areas, and making sure everything runs smoothly. Our goal is to give you an amazing virtual trucking experience, and we're committed to making that happen.

Are you ready to take on any challenges in the new region? If so, make sure to add the map expansion to your Steam Wishlist in order to be instantly notified once the project becomes available for you to download. 

We want to say a big thank you for supporting us throughout the entire development period and we hope you will enjoy everything that this challenging project has to offer. We’ll see you on the road!

Kansas - Railroad Network

In 2021, the U.S. transportation system moved a daily average of about 53.6 million tons of freight using a variety of different modes including air and sea. Today's blog focuses on one such mode in our upcoming Kansas DLC for American Truck Simulator, which has networks stretching across the states; the Railroad.

Sixteen train lines operate more than 8,000 miles of track in and out of Kansas, and drivers in our upcoming Kansas DLC will have the opportunity to deliver to and from a busy railroad depot in Kansas City. This depot serves as a vital link to haul large volumes of cargo across very long distances. Many of the shipments bound for the railroad usually consist of heavy, large or high quantities of materials, equipment or chemicals. 

In some cases, industries may even have a railroad running through or alongside their property as a convenient means to load or offload frequent deliveries. Drivers will need to pay attention however, as these areas can become quite busy with movements both on the road and on the tracks! 

In addition to the logistics side of the railroad, truckers in our upcoming Kansas DLC will be able to make deliveries of materials and equipment for the maintenance of the tracks. Keeping the trains rolling is just as important as keeping a truck on the road!

With such a long history of railroads in the state, Kansas is also home to various rail related landmarks, including older steam engines that used to work the tracks, and art murals referencing the early beginnings of the network. So whilst we're out on the road, don't forget about our friends on the highways of the rails, skies and sea as you deliver around Kansas; you'll be sure to cross paths with them along the way.

Want to stay on track with the release of this upcoming DLC? Be sure to add it your Steam Wishlist! We thank you for all your support so far. We look forward to sharing more development news from Kansas in the near future.

#Pinktober 2023

October is a special month worldwide, marked by a collective effort to raise awareness about breast cancer, known as Pinktober. It's a time when pink ribbons make their appearance, symbolizing the solidarity in our fight against this devastating disease. Breast cancer affects countless lives, and Pinktober plays a crucial role in educating and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health.

The heart of Pinktober lies in knowledge and awareness. Understanding the signs and symptoms of breast cancer is crucial to early detection and better outcomes. Regular self-checks and consultations with healthcare professionals are essential practices that can save lives and by educating ourselves and sharing this knowledge with loved ones, we contribute to the larger mission of breast cancer awareness.

Pinktober reminds us that our health should always be our top priority. Prioritizing regular health check-ups, screenings, and promoting these practices among our friends and family is a fundamental message of the campaign.

 

Every year, compassionate virtual truckers come together to support the battle against breast cancer. While many choose to make direct donations or raise awareness in creative ways, we offered an alternative a few years ago, as our team decided to join this noble cause with a Pink Ribbon Charity Event. In 2019, we introduced two special DLCs for American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2 from which 100% of the income goes to charity every year.

If you're looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact and add some unique paint jobs to your trucks, now is the perfect time to grab these DLCs or gift them to friends. You can also spread awareness by decorating your trucks with these paint jobs and sharing your support on social media under #Pinktober2023.

Last year, we made a slight change in our charity approach - instead of dividing the funds, we decided to direct the entire sum raised from the DLCs to a local charity, the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer. This time we will keep the same approach, so, stay tuned to our blog at the end of the month as we'll provide an update on this year's Pinktober, including the final donation amount.

We’d like to extend our gratitude to all who have generously supported Pinktober throughout the years. Your contributions, whether through donations, raising awareness, or attending awareness seminars, make a significant difference in the fight against breast cancer. Together, we stand united in our mission to bring hope to countless lives!