California Rework - Meet the Team

The California Rework project is a challenging task that we have been working on for quite a while, and despite the hard work and dedication that is required, we haven’t had the opportunity to mention the unsung heroes that are part of the dedicated team.

We hope you will enjoy this small presentation of the SCS map designers that are currently working on Phase 3 of California Rework and their short messages to you, the #BestCommunityEver.

Janek (current leader of the project)

I took over the California Rework from Mrazík, and it's my very first project as the Map DLC Lead, but certainly not the first project I've worked on. You can see my work in the DLCs for Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and also in the upcoming DLC for Oklahoma.

My main goal in the California Rework project is to capture the atmosphere of all areas in California as best as possible and to ensure the best comfort for the team so that we can deliver California to you just as you have always wanted.

Tereza

I work at SCS as a Junior Map Designer, and as well as working on California Rework I have also been involved in the creation of the Oklahoma DLC. In Phase 3 of California, I particularly enjoy the vast plains, almond fields, and farms. Players can look forward to a new and polished California coat, which I personally find to be the most exciting.

Tomáš

I worked on the second phase of the California Rework, where I created US-80 with Donner Pass and Truckee. I also helped to finish some other locations and contributed to bug fixing. Currently, I'm working on Stockton and US-50, which have a similar mountainous scenery to Donner Pass.

Juraj

When I joined SCS two and a half years ago, we started working on the second phase of the California rework. In the meantime, I also helped with other map DLCs. Working on the third phase of the rework is the most interesting for me so far because I got the opportunity to focus on cities and industrial areas, which I enjoy the most. I am convinced that players will also love this new part of the map as they can look forward to seeing many new landmark structures and areas.

Margo

The California Rework is the first project I am a part of as a Junior Map Designer. What I enjoy the most about the Rework is the great creative freedom I have in influencing, uplifting, and transforming each location, resulting in more interesting places to discover!

Martin

My first task at SCS was designing a simple country road for the Utah DLC almost 4 years ago. I've come a long way since then, working on several DLCs in between, and taking on challenging tasks like El Paso, Texas. California has a distinct summery vibe in our game compared to other states. You can feel the presence of the Pacific Ocean nearby, and our original map captured that well. The rework receives the same quality treatment as a brand new DLC, with a much-improved and denser road network, many new landmarks, and the newly included city of Modesto, of which I happen to be the author.

Johny

I have been involved in the rework from the very beginning, I believe we started with three people. During my time at SCS, I have also worked on creating a few roads for Montana and Texas. Currently, I enjoy working on smaller historical settlements with an organic structures. I find the American contrast between regular concrete jungles and organic development, such as in Santa Cruz, fascinating. Players can expect a lot of detailed content and beautifully designed cities and landscapes. 

Bartłomiej

I'm simply trying to do everything I can to make my region look as good as possible. That includes taking advantage of the skills and knowledge I gained before joining SCS Software while working on my own map project for American Truck Simulator. I think many players will appreciate the new feel of California.

Roman

Since joining SCS, working on the third phase of the California Rework is my first experience with map design on this scale. I am grateful for my experienced colleagues who guide me on this journey of improvement and discovery. It's been very exciting to witness the growth of the new and improved California, and I think there is a lot to be excited about.

Františka

I have been working as a map designer on California for two years now and have also been involved in the previous phase. Currently, I enjoy working on various diverse coastal roads. Players can definitely look forward to plenty of new stunning ocean views.

Pavel

I have been with SCS for almost a year, and the California rework is the first project I have worked on. I hope the players will enjoy exploring the revamped familiar locations of this iconic state.

Honorable mention - Mrazík (previous team lead)

The ongoing effort to rebuild California to meet modern quality standards has entered its third phase, with a clear objective in mind: to introduce an impressive upgrade to the content that every player of ATS can navigate, and enjoy. So far, I firmly believe that the team has successfully captured the very essence of Californian trucking, architecture, and culture, and I eagerly anticipate the release of the final product in the game. 

While I am no longer part of the mapping team, having witnessed Janek's potential, I gladly entrusted him with the role of the new Map DLC Lead as he shares similar values and possesses the ability to motivate and inspire the team in ways better than I ever could, along with brimming with the energy required to bring to a great finish what the team and I have started.

We really hope you’ve enjoyed this slight detour from our usual map-related blog posts. The team is doing their best to provide you with an amazing experience and we can’t wait to show you some more of what they’ve been working on in the future. Until then, keep your eyes on the blog or follow us on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) for any new updates.

California Rework: Phase 3

It's been a while since we last spoke about the California Rework project; in which 2 phases were already completed and released as free update in American Truck Simulator. Today, we are excited to share with you some information on Phase 3, the team working on it and some teasers on what will be included this free update. 

Phase 3 of the California Rework 

Speaking with the map lead of this project, he was quite excited to tell us how much the project has progressed, and how the community has played a big deciding factor in shaping Phase 3. From our official forums to our social media channels, we've been listening to your comments in regard to adjusting layouts and sizes of cities and the balance between highways and smaller roads. In a few cases, the community influenced the shape of our Phase 3 content, even some time into development, adding or adjusting content on the go. 

So what is in store for Phase 3 of this project? We have quite a bit up our sleeves, which we won't share all in one go. Without going into too much detail, you can expect the rework of several cities, towns, industries and road networks and so much more; Which includes the introduction of the highly requested city of Modesto, which will replace the currently existing city of Oakdale. This addition was heavily influenced by the community, which we look forward to sharing more about in a future blog post along with another unannounced new city addition.

We are also excited to share that the US-50 between Sacramento and Carson City will be included as a new addition in this rework phase. Featuring mountain passes and ski resorts, this route is incredibly scenic and feels like a completely different region when compared to the rest of California. If you enjoyed Truckee and its surroundings, you know what to expect. 

Our team has focused a lot on reworking the layout of existing cities by taking advantage of the space created by the rescale after the release of American Truck Simulator. This means we've been able to utilize more of the map to create more road networks, expand city sizes, introduce new industries in the area, and ultimately, bring the quality of the state up to par with our current DLC quality standards.

We have also invested a lot of time and work into smaller secondary roads, especially around central California where a large part of the Agriculture industry exists. Finding the balance between highway and smaller road networks is always a challenge, but we believe that creating more secondary roads is a good investment of time and provides more options for players to choose a route that escapes the fast-paced highway life and experience a different driving style.

As you can imagine, a rework of this size has required a lot of work, with new assets, updated industries, roads, cities and so much more. The content density of this project is very high, and our aim is to make sure that this rework will stand the test of time; Trust us, it will be worth the wait! 

All of this exciting content wouldn't be possible without the team behind the scenes working hard on this project, which brings us to our next topic... 

Update on the Team

During the development of Montana and Texas, the number of dedicated members of the California Rework team was only around 1-2 people. This was because of the demand and focus needed on these DLCs at the time. However, thanks to the recent influx of new map designers, we have been able to return to normal stable numbers within all our teams. After Texas was released, we were able to return to 5 stable members of the rework team, which has been boosted by another 5 new map designers from January, so we now have 10 people dedicated to improving California.

With this, we are excited about the future and how the team will be able to progress with the current project at hand, as well as with other tasks in the future! For now, our focus is on Phase 3. 

As we mentioned earlier, we still have so much more to share, and as development progresses, we will post our progress and work in future blog posts. We can't wait to showcase them all and ultimately, bring Phase 3 of the California Rework to American Truck Simulator. Until then, keep on truckin'! 

1.53: California Rework - Phase #4

Over the last few years, our dedicated rework team has been hard at work revitalizing one of the base game areas in American Truck Simulator. We're of course referring to the California Rework project, and today, we're excited to give you a more detailed preview of what they've accomplished in the final phase of this project. 

Phase 4 of the California Rework project focuses on the southern region of California and includes 10 cities, 3 of which are entirely new to the ATS economy. As you can imagine, this has been a monumental task for the team. Similar to previous phases, much of the original base map was removed and reworked entirely from the ground up.

Drivers working in this region can look forward to making deliveries to and from the cities of Bakersfield, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Mojave, Barstow, Indio, Blythe, Los Angeles, San Diego, and El Centro. This has been by no means a small feat; our team has meticulously utilized a huge area during this rework phase to incorporate as many details as possible, including accurate city layouts, industries, and road networks, all while working within the limitations of our game engine, map scale and of course, realistic trucking routes.

Road networks are just as important as the cities themselves, ensuring drivers can reach their destinations quickly and safely. Our team focused on reworking key routes, including major coastal highways such as the US-101, CA-1, and I-5. In addition, several other important routes have been revamped, such as the CA-58, CA-14, and CA-99, along with interstates I-10, I-15, I-40, and I-8, which serve as vital connections to neighboring U.S. states.

You'll also encounter numerous rest areas and truck stops, which have been thoroughly reworked as part of this update. Additionally, California's agriculture inspection stations, crucial for protecting the state's crops, wildlife, and produce, have received the same detailed attention. These stations play a vital role in safeguarding California’s agricultural industry.

The final phase of the California Rework is scheduled to arrive with the 1.53 Update, which will be free for all owners of American Truck Simulator. In the meantime, we still have another blog post planned that will highlight a couple of the larger cities that have been reworked, trust us, you won't want to miss it!

Until then, we hope you enjoy the screenshots and work the team have put into California Rework. Be sure to share your comments and initial reactions with us on our official social media channels and our official forums, as we'd love to hear them! Until then, keep on truckin'.