The Improved Material System continues to make its way across our truck line-up! With the upcoming 1.62 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 & American Truck Simulator, two more trucks will benefit from this upgrade, bringing further visual refinements to their interiors.


We hope you've been enjoying the Improved Material System and the refreshed look it brings to the interiors of our trucks! It has been great to see your reactions to these visual upgrades, and we would like to thank you for all of the comments, feedback & screenshots you have shared with us so far.

In the upcoming 1.62 update, our vehicle teams have expanded this visual improvement to the cabins of the Iveco S-Way in Euro Truck Simulator 2, and the All-New Volvo VNL in American Truck Simulator!


The improved material system significantly enhances the lighting and visual quality of vehicle interiors, with a particular focus on how different interior materials react to light. This results in a more detailed, readable, and visually pleasing cabin environment. It also makes the differences between materials such as leather, fabric, plastic, and metal much more apparent, even in low-light conditions. 


As promised, we are gradually bringing this feature to more trucks, allowing you to enjoy beautiful cabin interiors across a wider range of vehicles. If you would like to learn more about what the process of implementing this feature on new vehicles looks like, make sure to check out our Under the Hood blog, where we spoke with colleagues working on the improved material system.

We hope you will be happy to see the improved cabin interiors in more trucks with this upcoming update! Remember to stay tuned for more news from our games by following us on our X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. We would also appreciate it if you could sign up for our newsletter, so you can be informed. Until next time, keep on trucking!

Today, we bring you news from the upcoming 1.62 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2. As part of this update, we will be introducing new truck garage models across the map!

We already gave the truck garages in American Truck Simulator a refresh with the 1.58 update, and now it is time to give them the same treatment in Euro Truck Simulator 2. As you know, we are gradually reworking older areas of the base map, with the Benelux rework being the latest addition, while the rework for United Kingdom is currently underway. Garages are an important part of the map as well, so after many years, we felt it was time to bring them up to date and better align them with the newer areas of the game.With the release of 1.62, these new garage models will be introduced across the entire base map as well as all of the map DLCs. This means that wherever your journeys take you, you can look forward to seeing these refreshed garages along the way.Garages are also an important part of the truck driving experience. They are not only where you store your trucks and manage your drivers, but also a reflection of your growing company. From the smaller garages to the larger ones, we wanted to make them feel like places you would be happy to return to as your business grows.The new garages feature updated visuals both inside and out, with greater attention to detail throughout. Our goal was to make them feel more modern and immersive, which should make the process of upgrading your garage feel more rewarding.Of course, we also had to keep performance in mind. Bringing these new garages to the game while keeping their performance cost in check compared to the older models created many years ago was no small task, but we hope to have found the right balance between improving visuals and not increasing the toll on performance.With these changes, we hope the reworked garages will feel like a more natural and enjoyable part of your journeys. They are another step in bringing older parts of the game up to today's standards, and we look forward to continuing to refine the world of Euro Truck Simulator 2 in future updates.Remember to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok a follow so you won't miss out on any updates from Euro Truck Simulator 2. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. Until next time, we wish you safe travels!

In one of our previous blogs, we gave you a closer look at the Quick Jobs and Contract Jobs you will be able to take on with Coaches when the DLC releases. But these won't be the only opportunities available to you. Today, we'd like to tell you more about Tourist Jobs!Tourist Jobs will offer a different gameplay experience from Quick Jobs and Contract Jobs, as well as from the jobs you are used to doing with your truck. As the name suggests, you will step into the role of a bus driver, taking passengers who are enjoying their day off on trips from a bus station to an interesting landmark. These destinations may include beautiful natural scenery, city centers where passengers can enjoy some sightseeing, or occasionally even industrial depots where they can take a guided tour. Of course, some of these destinations often have their own opening hours, and the arrival times take this into account.Tourist Jobs are distinguished by whether the landmarks they visit are locally or globally known, which in turn determines the length of the journey. When you arrive at the final destination, you will be able to enjoy a scenic viewpoint accompanied by a short cutscene, giving you a taste of what your passengers came to see and providing even more incentive to discover these places for yourself. Many of these viewpoints will also feature a short description of the location, allowing you to learn something new about the place you have just visited.Once you have given your passengers some time to take in the sights, don't forget to bring them safely back home! Compared to Contract Jobs, Tourist Jobs offer a more leisurely schedule. This gives you more freedom to take your time, enjoy the scenery, and make the journey itself part of the experience.Looking forward to being part of the journey and experiencing a new gameplay perspective when Coaches is released? Then don't forget to add the Coaches DLC to your Steam wishlist!Also, make sure to keep track of future updates by following us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube, or sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch with the latest news. Until next time, safe travels!

In today's episode of SCS On The Road, we take a look back at our participation at this year's Gamescom. Take a look at how it went!This year, at the end of August, we once again took part in Gamescom in Cologne, Germany! We had a booth with six PC stations and two of our 4D Motion Simulators, where fans could get hands-on with previews of our upcoming Coaches, Road Trip: Ford, Iceland, South Dakota, and British Columbia DLCs. The cherry on top was the brand-new Volvo FH Series 6 100 Year Edition, which Volvo Trucks were kind enough to bring along and display at our booth.Over the five-day show, we welcomed a huge number of visitors and content creators who came to try out our upcoming DLCs. We're incredibly happy that so many of you could make it and meet with us there! Now, let's take a look at how our Gamescom adventure went in this episode of SCS On The Road. And that's it for today! We hope you enjoyed this episode. Remember to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok to receive updates on our upcoming projects and future SCS On The Road episodes. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. Until next time, we will see you on the road!

Every October, people around the world come together to raise awareness of breast cancer and show their support for those affected by it. Pinktober is a time to stand united, share important information, and remind ourselves and others of the importance of taking care of our health.Supporting Through DrivingSince 2019, we have been proud to support Pinktober alongside our community through our special Pink Ribbon Charity Pack DLCs for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.As in previous years, 100% of the income from these DLCs will be donated to the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer at the end of October. The organization works to support and empower people affected by breast cancer, and we are grateful to be able to contribute to their important work together with you.By adding the Pink Ribbon Charity Pack DLCs to your collection, you can give your trucks a vibrant new look while helping support a meaningful cause. Whether you pick one up for yourself or as a gift for a fellow trucker, every contribution counts.A Reminder to Take Care of Yourself Pinktober is about more than showing your support on the road. It is also an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of our own health.

• Take the time to perform regular self-checks.
• Stay informed about potential symptoms and risk factors.
• Visit your doctor for regular screenings and professional advice.

Regular check-ups and appropriate screening can play an important role in early detection.Put Your Support on the RoadWe'd love to see our #BestCommunityEver bring Pinktober to the roads of American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2. Customize your trucks with the Pink Ribbon designs, hit the road, and share your screenshots with us using #Pinktober2026.Thank you to everyone who has supported our Pinktober campaigns over the years. Your generosity continues to help us support those affected by breast cancer and contribute to a cause that reaches far beyond our virtual roads.Let's make Pinktober 2026 another year of solidarity, awareness, and support. Together, we can drive for a cause.

Ready to hit the road? Today, we're taking a closer look at one of the new systems created for our upcoming Coaches DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and Road Trip for American Truck Simulator; Mode Switch. This feature helps bring different types of gameplay together, allowing you to move between your trucking career and new adventures behind the wheel of a car or coach!ETS2 & ATS are expanding beyond trucking, and with that comes the need to clearly separate the different careers and gameplay experiences available to players. This is why we have divided the game into different modes, Truck Mode, Car Mode and Coach Mode.Each mode has its own gameplay, progression, and career systems. Truck Mode remains centred around transporting cargo and building your trucking business, while Car Mode, introduced with Road Trip, places a greater emphasis on exploration and building your reputation with customers. Coach Mode will focus on operating routes, providing passengers with a smooth journey, and keeping them satisfied along the way.Progression is separate between these careers, with Car Mode using reputation rather than traditional experience points. However, some important parts of your profile remain shared. Your money and map exploration carry across all modes, meaning roads discovered while travelling by car will remain explored when you return to your truck, and vice versa.Separating the experience into different modes also allows us to keep everything relevant to your current career together in one place, including your vehicles, progression, statistics, and other mode-specific information. Switching between modes is straightforward. You can enter another mode while you're not driving to manage that career, although you cannot have more than one active job across all modes at the same time. The full switch between modes happens once you press the Drive button.As of right now, the navigation system remains tied to the mode you last drove in, so you won’t be able to set or adjust a route for the newly selected mode. As soon as you hit the road, the correct navigation and gameplay systems for that mode will kick in. Looking ahead, we’re already looking at ways to make navigation between modes feel even smoother in future updates. Wonder where you last left off in your vehicle? The map will also show the positions of your other vehicle, as well as your current position when undertaking a Quick Job. When you mode switch, you'll continue from the location where you left your truck, coach, or car.The introduction of multiple modes also played a part in our recent changes to the fatigue system. Fatigue Simulation is now separated into Rest State and Mandatory Breaks. Your Rest State represents how tired your character is and is shared across modes, while Mandatory Breaks represent legally required rest periods. Trucks and coaches are subject to Mandatory Breaks, while cars are not.The introduction of different modes is an important part of expanding Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator while keeping their various gameplay experiences connected. Each mode offers its own career and progression, while shared systems such as money and exploration help ensure everything still feels like part of the same world and profile.We hope this gives you a better understanding of how Mode Switch works and some of the thought process behind the creation of the system. We're looking forward to getting you behind the wheel of some new vehicle types in Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator!Until next time, keep an eye on our blog and social media for all the latest news, and we’ll see you on the road!

Today, we’re taking a look behind the scenes of the Soul of Anatolia DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2, this time focusing on the complex work that goes into creating the roads and intersections that connect its cities and landscapes. We spoke with Pavel, one of our Map Designers, who shared more about his work on the project and the process of building a road network.Hi! My name is Pavel, and I’ve been working at SCS Software as a Map Designer for more than 7 years.For the past two years, I’ve mainly specialised in everything related to roads and highways.For Soul of Anatolia, I design large highway interchanges and create specifications for other departments for prefabs, tunnels, and traffic lights. I also work with my colleagues to place these elements throughout the map and strive to create a consistent driving experience for players.What similar projects have you worked on in the past, and how is working on Soul of Anatolia DLC different?The project that comes closest to my work on Soul of Anatolia is the Greece DLC, where I had some experience with the geometric design of interchanges and maintaining consistency in road elements such as toll gates.Working on Soul of Anatolia is different mainly because of the scale of what I’m responsible for. I’ve been given much more room to influence the road layout.How large is this DLC, and what challenges does it bring for you?From my perspective, with my focus mainly on roads, this DLC is truly huge. For example, we have more than a hundred large highway interchanges on the map.The challenge for me is to make sure these interchanges meet our requirements while also making sure everything fits within the map.How does the creation and implementation of highway interchanges work?Since the project is usually already underway in some form by the time I start working on it, I create pre-assembled interchanges separately from the project in a dedicated test map, where I also test newly created prefabs.In this map, I always start with a rough prototype built by hand, where the main focus is choosing the right number of road lanes and the type of road intersection. I then iterate on this prototype, adjusting curve radii and fine-tuning road lengths to meet the rules we have established, such as clearance heights under bridges, road banking, and maximum gradients.I try to calculate and build everything so that the interchange matches its real-world counterpart as closely as possible, is as compact as possible, and is also comfortable to drive through.Once I’m happy with the prototype, it is copied into the project and placed in its designated location, where it may still undergo some minor adjustments. At that point, my work on the interchange is finished.You spoke about prefabs; how does the creation of new prefabs work?First, I consider whether a prefab really needs to be created for a particular situation, or whether the situation could be solved with a prefab we already have, perhaps with a small compromise.If I conclude that a new prefab is necessary, I start designing it. I begin by putting together a rough prototype using roads. For the design, I use simple geometry, such as calculating the radius and sector of a circle.It’s important not to make the prefab unnecessarily large while also finding the right compromise that allows both our AI traffic and players to drive through it without problems. Once I’m happy with the shape, I create a simple blueprint of the prefab. In addition to its shape, it also shows the road markings and the routes that AI traffic will take.Once that is ready, I create a specification for our road department. Along with the coordinates of the pre-assembled prototype, I include the blueprints and a basic description.After that, I simply wait for the prefab to be created. Once it comes back to me, I either provide feedback on it or approve it for use on the map.What are you most looking forward to seeing completed on the map as part of Soul of Anatolia DLC?A little selfishly, I’m looking forward to finally having all the highway interchanges and prefabs completed. Toward the end of the project, I’ll also add the necessary accessories to them, such as traffic lights.After that, most of my work will be focused on details and small touches that will allow me to give the project some extra care and bring the level of detail closer to the real-world references.What have you enjoyed the most about Soul of Anatolia DLC so far, and what are you looking forward to the most?I’m really enjoying one new type of interchange, and one modified existing type of prefab that I’ve wanted to have ever since I joined the company. I’ve now managed to get them created, and they’re already waiting for you in the map for you to drive through.What do you think players will like the most about Soul of Anatolia DLC, and what shouldn’t they miss?Of course, waiting at traffic-light intersections!No, just kidding. It will definitely be the landscapes and landmarks. Even now, at a really early stage of the map’s development, some places can really surprise me with how detailed and beautiful they already look.We hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into building the roads and intersections of Soul of Anatolia. A huge thank you to Pavel for sharing more about his role and giving us a glimpse into the process behind creating the region's road network. If you are excited to be cruising in this map expansion, don't forget to support us by adding the Soul of Anatolia DLC to your Steam wishlist.Also, remember to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok a follow, as you'll receive updates from our games straight to your feed. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. Until next time, safe travels!

We are excited that the 1.61 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 is now officially released and available on Steam! We hope you will enjoy all the new features, which you can read about in more detail below.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the open beta phase and reported possible issues or any kind of feedback on our forum, as it helped us fine-tune everything for a smooth transition to the full update!

We'd also like to thank everyone who participated in the 1.61 Experimental Beta, especially those who shared their thoughts on the Multi-Function Display (MFD) and the In-Game Menu. These additions will be introduced in a future update, giving us more time to refine and polish these features and ensure they deliver the best possible experience when they are ready.

Now without further ado, let's take a look at what this update includes!
Proximity Exploration

In the 1.61 update, we are introducing a new feature designed to assist players with exploring the world map and discovering more along their journey. Introducing Proximity Exploration, a new quality-of-life feature that makes map discovery a little more intuitive, while still keeping the enjoyment of exploring the world for yourself.
When enabled, Proximity Exploration automatically reveals a small area around your vehicle as you travel. This means you will no longer need to drive over every tiny section of road to mark it as explored, which should be especially useful for those of you chasing that elusive 100% map discovery! It can also help reveal nearby accessible roads and areas around locations such as rest stops, toll gates, border crossings, gas stations, and other places where multiple road segments may sit closely together.And don't worry, secret roads will still have secrets to uncover! Proximity Exploration can reveal the first segment of a secret road when you get close enough, giving you a small hint that there might be somewhere new to explore. From there, however, the rest is up to you, as the remaining route will only be discovered by actually driving along it.

Whether you use Proximity Exploration to help hunt down those final percentages or simply make exploring the map a little smoother, the choice is yours!Volvo Special EditionWe are very excited to join Volvo Trucks in the celebrations of their 100th anniversary by welcoming the Volvo FH Series 6 100 Year Edition to Euro Truck Simulator 2. 

The Volvo FH Series 6 100 Year Edition will bring a new look for both the interior and exterior, reflecting Volvo's century of innovation with driver-centric features. These additions will be reflected in the base game of ETS2 with new accessories and paint jobs available for the Aero XL cabin of the Volvo FH Series 6.

On the exterior, this update introduces two new paint jobs: 100 Year Edition – Night and 100 Year Edition – Day. The two designs feature distinctive dark or light exterior colour striping, complemented by two additional Centennial logos on either side of the truck. You will also be able to choose from two different light boxes: one with the 100 Year logo and another one with the FH16 logo.

We are also adding a brand new interior option featuring black leather door panels with unique stitching, carpets, a rear wall decoration featuring the 100 Year Edition logo, and a decorative dashboard ambient LED lighting available in red or blue colour options.

To complete the interior, you will also have the option to customize it with a range of exclusive accessories. These include a black leather steering wheel and new two-tone seats combining a black leather base with a grey textile upper section and the 100 Year logo.You can read more about this special edition at our dedicated blogpost!Improved Material SystemThe 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 results in a more readable, detailed, and visually pleasing cabin environment.

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. In this update, we're excited to bring the Improved Material System update to the Volvo FH Series 6, Volvo FH Series 5 and Volvo FH Series 4 alongside the already updated DAF NGD and MAN TG3 TGX models.

With future updates, we will gradually add this technology for other trucks across both games. You can read more about this feature here.Livestock Trailer ReworkWe’re excited to introduce a complete rework of the Livestock Trailer, which our vehicle team has done so from the ground up.

Inspired by modern European livestock trailers, our vehicle team rebuilt the trailer entirely from scratch, replacing the previous older model with a brand-new one. One of the biggest changes drivers will notice is the removal of the older belly axle variant, which has been replaced with a lowered chassis configuration featuring dual wheels.

For those who own their own Livestock trailers, the updated trailer will offer multiple customization options, including two chassis variants, a Straight 3 Axle and a Lowered 3 Axle configuration. Drivers will also be able to choose between an Aluminium body or a fully paintable body.

A wide range of accessories have also been included to customize your trailer. We’re also introducing newly configurable paint jobs for owned trailers, allowing you to customize up to four different colour sections across specific parts of the trailer for even greater customization. Freight Market and AI traffic variants have also been reworked based on the new owned trailer model, with company paint jobs completely reworked to better reflect more realistic transport operations.You can read more about this rework at our dedicated blog.Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack UpdateWe’re excited to begin updating the Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack DLC to better reflect their new modern trailer designs, starting with a complete rework of one of its low loader trailers and accessories. Let’s take a closer look!

Leading this update is the redesigned low loader trailer, which has been rebuilt to closely match Schwarzmüller’s latest real-world model.

Alongside the trailer itself, its available accessories have also been updated with refreshed designs to better represent the equipment and styling Schwarzmüller offers today. While the available cargo options remain the same, this update marks the beginning of a larger goal for us, to rework the entire Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack.

We look forward to seeing you on the road with this newly updated trailer! You can read more about this update at our dedicated blog.Map Changes for CoachesWith the upcoming Coaches DLC, our map and asset teams have also been making a number of changes across Euro Truck Simulator 2 to prepare the world for passenger transport. The biggest of these can be found in Nuremberg, where we have added a brand-new bus station alongside several remade and newly created landmarks in the surrounding area. Our teams have put a lot of work into bringing this part of the city to life and making sure it is ready to welcome coaches.

We have also updated the bus stations in Karlstad, Aarhus, and Thessaloniki so they are now functional with our upcoming Coaches DLC. We've also made other smaller changes, including updates to navigation, access, and layouts. 

The coach station at Karlstad has received a brand-new station building, while Thessaloniki now features new signage and other updates. In Heraklion, we have also opened up a previously inaccessible street to make room for the new bus station.

We’ve also made a number of changes to border crossings to ensure they work correctly with coaches. This included introducing vehicle-specific navigation, as well as opening up parts of border areas that were previously inaccessible to players. Border crossings across the map have also received smaller layout adjustments to help coaches follow the correct routes while keeping navigation working as expected.

Alongside these changes, we have made plenty of smaller tweaks to bus stops and their surroundings across the map. While many of these may go unnoticed, they all help make sure the existing world is ready for the arrival of Coaches.

Changelog

Map

• Proximity Exploration 
• Map changes for the upcoming Coaches DLC 

Vehicles

• Addition of the Volvo FH Series 6 100 Year Edition
• Livestock Trailer Rework 
• Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack Update 

Visual

• Improved Material System added for the Volvo FH Series 6, Volvo FH Series 5 and Volvo FH Series 4
  
  We hope you are also excited to try out all the new features! Make sure to keep up to date with future updates by following us on X/Twitter, Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, and by subscribing to our newsletter! Until next time, happy haulin'!

A few weeks ago, we shared a blog from our research trip to Iceland, where the map designers who took part in the journey shared their impressions. Today, we're excited to bring you a big episode of SCS On The Road, where you can experience the research trip in more detail, complete with stunning shots of Iceland's breathtaking landscapes and even some comparisons with the in-game map!Part of our marketing team set out on this journey alongside our map designers to document the unforgettable trip. Iceland is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and during their time there, the map team had the chance to visit some truly stunning locations that they are now recreating for this upcoming map expansion.To bring these places to life in our game and do them justice, the team needed to gather plenty of visual references, helping them recreate the landscapes and landmarks as accurately and faithfully to reality as possible.In this video, our map designers also shared some interesting insights into the map creation process, along with information about some of the places we are bringing directly into the map - keep an eye out for an upcoming hidden road, crossing a narrow bridge on its way to Þingvellir National Park!We would also like to send a huge thank you to Volvo Trucks and Skúli, a real truck driver from Iceland, who made it possible for the map designers to take a ride in the 780-horsepower Volvo FH16 XXL and experience Iceland from a completely different perspective - from the cabin of a truck. So, without further ado, let's watch this episode together!
Stay tuned for more, because on this trip we also collaborated with Volvo to shoot one of their videos. While we cannot reveal what it was about right now, you can look forward to a behind-the-scenes SCS On The Road episode from that as well!Don't forget to add the Iceland DLC to your Steam wishlist if you want to explore the beautiful places you saw in this video!Also, remember to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok to receive updates on upcoming Euro Truck Simulator 2 projects and future SCS On The Road episodes. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. Keep on trucking!

Our dearest community, Earlier this year, we shared that we would be taking a temporary pause from running our World of Trucks events. We also know how much these events mean to our #BestCommunityEver and that many of you have missed taking part. Today, we are pleased to confirm that we have decided to resume our World of Trucks events in the familiar format you already know, while the wider rework continues. This means you can once again look forward to coming together for events throughout the months ahead. First up will be Cruising South Dakota, followed by Cruising Iceland and our seasonal Halloween and Christmas events later this year. We will share full details ahead of each event.Our teams will continue working on the underlying systems and infrastructure that support these events, with the goal of bringing much more of the event experience directly into Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator. This includes the improvements we previously described, such as the ability to view and redeem rewards, earn and view achievements, and follow event progress and community milestones directly in-game. It also involves broader behind-the-scenes changes to support the World of Trucks service in the future.Thank you, as always, for your patience, support, and passion. We are excited to welcome you back to World of Trucks events and hope you will join us for the journeys ahead.We’ll see you on the road.

In today's blog, we bring you another one of our Community Stories. This time with Trucker Cassie, one of the content creators playing our games, who will tell you all about her job as a real-life truck driver, as well as her passion for Euro Truck Simulator 2!You might know Trucker Cassie from her YouTube or Twitch channels, where she regularly posts videos from her life as a truck driver in Scandinavia, and also gameplay live streams, mostly from ETS2. And today, she will tell you all about her love for trucks!"It's quite random that I started working as a truck driver. I never had any drivers in my family. It was a friend who showed me the world of trucks. He had just gotten his heavy license, and one morning he gave me a ride to school in the oldest Scania I had ever seen. But from that moment, a spark was lit. Maybe I could drive a truck too? It felt so cool and free! So I applied to a trucking school, and the rest is history," Cassie told us. Cassie discovered her passion for truck driving, and now, it's been 13 years since she started this way of life, as she now works part-time as a truck driver and shares her stories on social media. "At the start of my career, I never wanted to stop working. I wanted to beat my earlier record on how many deliveries I could make in a day. I had really found my place in life! But a few years with this lifestyle caused me to burn out, and it forced me to rethink my situation. Today, I work part-time, and I've learnt how important it is to wind down and relax when I can," she says. If you wonder what kind of work Cassie usually does and what her days on the long and beautiful Scandinavian roads look like, she also shares this with us: "I have tried various delivery types, such as gravel, wood chips, and powder tanker. Now I'm delivering various goods from Sweden to Norway. And when I'm done with that delivery, I normally load fish in Norway. The fishing industries can be located in tricky places! Through small towns and up and down steep and curvy hills. It can really be a challenge during wintertime. After the fish is loaded, I drive to Denmark, where another driver picks up my trailer and drives it somewhere in Europe! Then I pick up a load from Denmark and drive home to Sweden again." What Cassie loves the most about her job are the amazing views she sees along the way as well as the solitude this life can bring. "I get to listen to music and podcasts, and I rarely talk to customers. I also get to bring my Chihuahua, Happy," she told us. This interesting merge of the two worlds is something we really love, as we have heard similar stories where either members of our community started driving trucks for a living because of our games, or long-term truck drivers that found their passion in Euro Truck Simulator 2 or American Truck Simulator."I have been a truck driver for a while before I discovered Euro Truck Simulator 2. A colleague of mine showed me the game, and I thought it was a silly idea to drive a truck for work, then get home, and play a truck simulator after work. And now look at me," Cassie shared. So what is actually so satisfying about playing a truck simulator when you are a real-life truck driver?"I am having the time of my life when I play ETS2 on my livestreams! Because in a real truck, you have a lot of responsibility; to deliver the cargo, the truck, and yourself to the delivery place safely. Always being alert. But when I'm playing the game, I can be social with the chat, drive together with the viewers, answer questions, and just have a good time. And the consequences won't be too big when my digital truck makes a kickflip off a mountain because I was focusing on what the chat is saying. I also like to compare the real-life roads to the simulator! And point out the landmarks and differences from the real places," Cassie explained. What actually inspired Cassie to start creating content on social media was kind of a coincidence, but from there, it helped her to grow a big community of over 160 thousand followers on YouTube alone. "I started my main YouTube channel after I got the offer of being in a reality TV show years ago. I had to film my workday as a truck driver myself, and then send the footage to the TV production. The TV show was canceled before it had even started, though, and there I was with a vlog. I realized I could put it together myself and post it on YouTube! So that's what I did. A few videos in, and I suddenly gained thousands of subscribers in a few weeks' time. It was crazy! I also have a smaller YouTube channel, where I post gaming content and previous livestreams. I decided to have two separate channels since the content is quite different. And of course, my Twitch channel, where I do livestreams when I have the energy for it," Cassie told us.This gave us a great opportunity to ask Cassie, a real truck driver, how Euro Truck Simulator 2 compares with the real world, and she was happy to answer that: "I think Euro Truck Simulator 2 is very accurate to real life trucking! Especially when you have a steering wheel and pedals. I know a few people who have practiced reversing trailers in the game, then tried it out in real life. And they nailed it! All because they have practiced in the game." We were also curious how Cassie's driving differs from the real world to how she drives in Euro Truck Simulator 2. "I definitely test the limits and do more daring stuff in the game! Somehow, people get surprised when they see my real-life work videos, and notice I actually know how to drive a truck. But I don't blame them, after seeing my stunts in ETS2. It would be nice to have a pink MAN truck in real life as well! But until now, I'll get to be pretty in pink in the simulator," she answered. If you think this life would be for you and you are also thinking about taking on a truck driver career, Cassie has a message for you! "I really recommend people try out Euro Truck Simulator 2 if they are curious about becoming truck drivers in real life. It is a pretty big decision, with lots of money needed to get a heavy license with all the needed certificates. And I think ETS2 gives a great hint of what trucking can feel like! Also, it's a really fun activity to bring home your non-trucking friends and let them reverse a trailer in the game! Better than any board game I have played :)," she concluded. We hope you have enjoyed Cassie's story! If you did, remember to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok a follow so you won't miss similar blogs and also updates from our games straight to your feed. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. Keep on trucking!

Today, we're excited to take you on a journey to another destination coming to the upcoming Isle of Ireland DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 - the county town of Cavan!Located in the heart of Ireland's lakeland region, Cavan is known for its picturesque countryside, rolling green landscapes, and rich agricultural heritage. As our map team continues to recreate the unique atmosphere of Ireland, we knew this important regional hub deserved its place on the road network of the Isle of Ireland DLC.While exploring the area, keen-eyed drivers may spot a stone wall or even a rugby field, well-known local landmarks that help bring even more regional identity to the town and its surroundings. Combined with carefully crafted roads, vegetation, and architecture, these details help create a location that feels true to its real-world counterpart.Of course, no town in Euro Truck Simulator 2 would be complete without plenty of opportunities for work. In Cavan, truckers will be able to deliver cargo to several industries that play an important role in the local economy.One of the key destinations is a local oil supplier, serving businesses and communities across the region. Whether you're hauling fuel products or supporting regional logistics, this depot offers an important link in the supply chain.Drivers looking for refrigerated or packaged cargo will also find work at a food distribution depot. Acting as a hub for incoming and outgoing goods, this facility ensures products reach stores and customers throughout the island.In addition, a supermarket depot provides another busy destination for deliveries. From everyday consumer goods to fresh produce, truckers will have a variety of cargoes to transport while helping keep shelves stocked across the region.Our teams have worked hard to capture the atmosphere of this charming Irish town, from its characteristic rural surroundings to its industrial areas and landmarks. We hope that Cavan will become a memorable stop on your journeys across the Isle of Ireland.We look forward to sharing more previews from the Isle of Ireland DLC in the future. If you're excited to discover, explore, and travel across the Isle of Ireland, be sure to add this upcoming map expansion to your Steam Wishlist!Don't forget to follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and YouTube, or sign up for our newsletter for all the latest news. Until next time, keep those wheels turning, and happy haulin'!

Today, we're heading to Bristol, a historic city in the south-west of England known for its harbour, maritime & industrial heritage and iconic landmarks. 
We’re excited to bring Bristol to life as a brand new city in our UK Rework project for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Our talented map and asset teams have been working hard to recreate its distinctive character, landmarks and industries for players to discover. So, what can you expect to find? Let us show you!


Located in the south-west of England, Bristol has long been shaped by its connection to the water. The city grew around the River Avon and became one of Britain's most important ports, playing a major role in maritime trade and engineering. Its location close to the Severn Estuary also places Bristol on an important route towards South Wales, making it a natural gateway between England and Wales.Our recreation of Bristol is divided into two main areas, the city centre and its surrounding road network, and the harbour and logistics area. While everything you see is still in early development, the city centre portion is already progressing well.


Drivers will be able to travel along a variety of road networks including Brunel Way, the A4, Hotwell Road, Merchants Road, and the A4018. These routes offer some fantastic views across different parts of Bristol, from its residential streets and riverside scenery to several of the city's best known landmarks.


One of the most recognisable sights is the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge and has become one of Bristol's defining landmarks. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the bridge has overlooked the city since the 19th century and can be seen from parts of the road network around the River Avon.


Brunel's influence can also be found closer to the harbour with the SS Great Britain. Launched in Bristol in 1843, the ship was one of the most advanced vessels of its time and today remains preserved in the city's historic dockyard. Drivers passing through the area will be able to spot the famous ship and enjoy views across Bristol Marina.


Elsewhere in the city centre, you'll come across landmarks such as Cabot Tower, which stands above the city on Brandon Hill, and the Wills Memorial Building, one of Bristol's most distinctive buildings and an important part of the University of Bristol. Queen Elizabeth's Hospital can also be seen along the route through the city.


The road network itself includes several notable junctions and intersections too. Among them is St James Barton Roundabout, commonly known as The Bearpit, an instantly recognisable part of Bristol's inner-city road network.


Closer to the waterfront, drivers will also discover our Marina Plaza depot, situated among the historic dockside surroundings of Bristol Marina. This part of the harbour has a long connection with shipbuilding, with the nearby Albion Dockyard tracing its history back to the early 19th century. 


Of course, Bristol's maritime character also plays an important role in its in-game economy. The harbour and logistics area will feature three main depot locations. A logistics warehouse, a car shipping terminal, and a marina yacht dock. Be sure to have a good look around while you're there too, you never know what you might find hidden among the dockside buildings!


The Bristol Bus & Coach station is also being recreated, giving players another destination to visit as part of the upcoming Coaches DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Whether arriving in the city or setting off on a new journey, it will form part of the growing network of coach destinations being prepared across the reworked UK.
We hope you've enjoyed this first look at Bristol, one of the brand-new cities being introduced as part of the UK Rework. We're excited to share more from this project, which will arrive as a free update for all owners of Euro Truck Simulator 2 in the future. Be sure to let us know in the comments what UK city you'd love to see next! Keep on truckin', cheerio! 

From the 14th to the 20th of September, members of our team will once again be heading to Hannover, Germany, for IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026, one of the world's leading events for logistics, commercial vehicles, and the transport industry.

Having attended IAA in previous years, we’re excited to return in 2026 and meet with many of our friends and partners from across the automotive industry. We’ll also be working alongside a few of our valued partners to bring our truck simulation experience to the DAF Trucks, MAN and Scania booths throughout the event!


At the Scania booth, visitors will have the opportunity to experience a special Euro Truck Simulator 2 demonstration running on Scania's own motion simulator setup. Our team has been happy to work closely with Scania to develop the software and a specially prepared demo experience for their simulator, and we're looking forward to seeing visitors get behind the virtual wheel and try it out for themselves during the show.

Our friends at DAF and MAN will also both be bringing Euro Truck Simulator 2 to their booths, as we're lending them our very own 4D motion simulators, giving visitors another opportunity to experience our virtual trucking world. We're very happy to support our partners at DAF & MAN for this year's event and to see our motion rigs become part of their presence at the show.

Attending IAA is much more than what visitors will see on the show floor for us. Bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers, and many other representatives from across the transport industry makes an event of this scale an invaluable opportunity for our team.

Throughout the week, we plan to meet with a number of our existing partners, continue building the relationships which help us bring the world of trucking into Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, and hopefully make some new connections along the way. Events such as IAA also provide our teams with a valuable opportunity to research the latest developments within the transport industry, see new vehicles and technologies up close, and gather useful references and knowledge for our future work.

We're very much looking forward to returning to Hannover and meeting so many familiar faces from across the industry. If you're attending the event yourself, be sure to stop by and check out the simulators; or if you happen to spot some of our team attending, wearing a SCS Software, ETS2 or ATS T-shirt, be sure to stop them and say hello! 

As always, keep an eye on our social media channels for updates from the show floor, as we will be bringing you some cool photos from the event. We hope to see some of you there! Until till next time, keep on truckin'! 

Recently, we shared a blog with details about our Ireland research trip, where members of our Map team, QA team, and our Road Specialist travelled across the Emerald Isle to gather important references, take photos, and experience the roads and locations that will help us recreate our upcoming Isle of Ireland DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2.


In that blog, we also mentioned that our cameras were rolling throughout the journey, as we worked on a special SCS On The Road episode documenting the trip. Today, we're happy to finally share it with you!
Join Alex, one of our Community Managers, and the team as we take you across Ireland, visit some of the locations featured in our research, and give you a closer look at what goes into gathering the references and information our teams use during development.

We hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride! If you enjoyed the episode, and would like to see more like it, be sure to leave a like, and a comment on where in Ireland you'd love to visit! If you're excited about the upcoming Isle of Ireland DLC, don't forget to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Until next time, keep on truckin'! 

We're happy to announce that the Open Beta for the 1.61 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 is now available for players to try out and test. If you choose to participate, we'd greatly appreciate any feedback, bug reports, or issues you encounter being shared in the appropriate section of our official forums.

Your feedback and reports are incredibly valuable to our team, and we truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to help us improve the game experience.Players who participated in the Experimental Beta should now switch to the Open Beta branch to continue receiving the latest 1.61 updates and fixes. Any saves made during the Experimental Beta will be compatible with the Open Beta.We'd like to thank everyone who participated in the 1.61 Experimental Beta, especially those who shared their thoughts on the Multi-Function Display (MFD) and the In-Game Menu. Based on the feedback we received, we've decided to postpone these additions from the 1.61 update. This will allow us to spend more time refining these features and ensure they deliver the best possible experience when they're ready. Now, without further ado, let's take a closer look at what the 1.61 Open Beta has in store.

Proximity Exploration
In the 1.61 update, we are introducing a new feature designed to assist players with exploring the world map and discovering more along their journey. Introducing Proximity Exploration, a new quality-of-life feature that makes map discovery a little more intuitive, while still keeping the enjoyment of exploring the world for yourself

When enabled, Proximity Exploration automatically reveals a small area around your vehicle as you travel. This means you will no longer need to drive over every tiny section of road to mark it as explored, which should be especially useful for those of you chasing that elusive 100% map discovery! It can also help reveal nearby accessible roads and areas around locations such as rest stops, toll gates, border crossings, gas stations, and other places where multiple road segments may sit closely together.And don't worry, secret roads will still have secrets to uncover! Proximity Exploration can reveal the first segment of a secret road when you get close enough, giving you a small hint that there might be somewhere new to explore. From there, however, the rest is up to you, as the remaining route will only be discovered by actually driving along it.

Whether you use Proximity Exploration to help hunt down those final percentages or simply make exploring the map a little smoother, the choice is yours!Livestock Trailer Rework
We’re excited to introduce a complete rework of the Livestock Trailer, which our vehicle team has done so from the ground up.

Inspired by modern European livestock trailers, our vehicle team rebuilt the trailer entirely from scratch, replacing the previous older model with a brand-new one. One of the biggest changes drivers will notice is the removal of the older belly axle variant, which has been replaced with a lowered chassis configuration featuring dual wheels.

For those who own their own Livestock trailers, the updated trailer will offer multiple customization options, including two chassis variants, a Straight 3 Axle and a Lowered 3 Axle configuration. Drivers will also be able to choose between an Aluminium body or a fully paintable body.

A wide range of accessories have also been included to customize your trailer. We’re also introducing newly configurable paint jobs for owned trailers, allowing you to customize up to four different colour sections across specific parts of the trailer for even greater customization. Freight Market and AI traffic variants have also been reworked based on the new owned trailer model, with company paint jobs completely reworked to better reflect more realistic transport operations.
You can read more about this rework at our dedicated blog.

Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack Update
We’re excited to begin updating the Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack DLC to better reflect their new modern trailer designs, starting with a complete rework of one of its low loader trailers and accessories. Let’s take a closer look!

Leading this update is the redesigned low loader trailer, which has been rebuilt to closely match Schwarzmüller’s latest real-world model.

Alongside the trailer itself, its available accessories have also been updated with refreshed designs to better represent the equipment and styling Schwarzmüller offers today. While the available cargo options remain the same, this update marks the beginning of a larger goal for us, to rework the entire Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack.

We look forward to seeing you on the road with this newly updated trailer! You can read more about this update at our dedicated blog.

Map Changes for Coaches

With the upcoming Coaches DLC, our map and asset teams have also been making a number of changes across Euro Truck Simulator 2 to prepare the world for passenger transport. The biggest of these can be found in Nuremberg, where we have added a brand-new bus station alongside several remade and newly created landmarks in the surrounding area. Our teams have put a lot of work into bringing this part of the city to life and making sure it is ready to welcome coaches.

We have also updated the bus stations in Karlstad, Aarhus, and Thessaloniki so they are now functional with our upcoming Coaches DLC. We've also made other smaller changes, including updates to navigation, access, and layouts.

The coach station at Karlstad has received a brand-new station building, while Thessaloniki now features new signage and other updates. In Heraklion, we have also opened up a previously inaccessible street to make room for the new bus station.


We’ve also made a number of changes to border crossings to ensure they work correctly with coaches. This included introducing vehicle-specific navigation, as well as opening up parts of border areas that were previously inaccessible to players. Border crossings across the map have also received smaller layout adjustments to help coaches follow the correct routes while keeping navigation working as expected.

Alongside these changes, we have made plenty of smaller tweaks to bus stops and their surroundings across the map. While many of these may go unnoticed, they all help make sure the existing world is ready for the arrival of Coaches.

Alongside these changes, we have made plenty of smaller tweaks to bus stops and their surroundings across the map. While many of these may go unnoticed, they all help make sure the existing world is ready for the arrival of Coaches.

Changelog

Map

• Proximity Exploration 
• Map changes for the upcoming Coaches DLC 

Vehicles

• Livestock Trailer Rework 
• Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack Update 

So enjoy all the new additions, but please remember: It's only an open beta, not a stable public version - so you may encounter bugs, instability, or crashes. It's completely okay if you want to wait for the final release. But if you're interested in helping us to get there faster, we'd appreciate all of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in the dedicated section.

Please check our modding wiki to get details pertaining to mods for the game.

If you wish to participate in this Open Beta, you can find this version in the Experimental Beta branch on Steam. The way to access it is as follows: Steam client → LIBRARY → right-click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 → Properties → Betas tab → Beta Participation drop-down menu → public_beta. No password is required. Sometimes you will have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.

Today, we bring good news to our #BestCommunityEver! With the upcoming 1.61 update, the improved material system will be implemented on three additional trucks, so read on to find out more!We first introduced the improved material system with the 1.60 update, when it was added to the DAF NGD and MAN TG3 TGX in Euro Truck Simulator 2, and the Mack Anthem and Western Star 49X in American Truck Simulator. With the next update to our games, we will be expanding this feature to the International LT and International LoneStar in American Truck Simulator, as well as the Volvo FH Series 6 in Euro Truck Simulator 2!The improved material system significantly enhances the lighting and visual quality of vehicle interiors, with a particular focus on how different interior materials react to light. This results in a more detailed, readable, and visually pleasing cabin environment. It also makes the differences between materials such as leather, fabric, plastic, and metal much more apparent, even in low-light conditions.As promised, we are gradually bringing this feature to more trucks, allowing you to enjoy beautiful cabin interiors across a wider range of vehicles. If you would like to learn more about what the process of implementing this feature on new vehicles looks like, make sure to check out our Under the Hood blog, where we spoke with colleagues working on the improved material system.We hope you will be happy to see the improved cabin interiors in more trucks with this upcoming update! Remember to stay tuned for more news from our games by following us on our X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. We would also appreciate it if you could sign up for our newsletter, so you can be informed. Until next time, keep on trucking!

Ready to swap cargo for passengers? Then we've got some exciting news for you! Today, we're sharing more details about the upcoming Coaches DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2, including coach ownership and how you'll plan and take on passenger transport jobs. All aboard!
 
One of our goals with the Coaches DLC is to give players the opportunity to purchase and customise their own coach, much like you already can with trucks. Coaches will be available for purchase through the Online Dealer and will be stored in the player's virtual garage. From there, players will be able to manage, inspect, customise, and sell their vehicles whenever they wish. Coaches will also be stored separately from trucks, meaning they won't occupy any existing garage slots.


Purchasing a coach will be a significant investment, but finances will be shared across both Truck and Coach modes. This means players will be able to earn money through Coach Quick Jobs or regular truck jobs before purchasing their own vehicle. Financing and loans will also be available for those who wish to get behind the wheel a little sooner, just make sure to pay on time!
Coaches will feature a range of customisation options. Depending on the vehicle model, players will be able to choose from various chassis configurations, engine and transmission variants, along with a selection of interior options such as seat upholstery colours and curtains. Selected cabin accessories will also be compatible with coaches.


Not every upgrade will be available immediately. Some parts and accessories will unlock through player progression, giving drivers additional options as they gain more experience behind the wheel.
Owning a coach will also provide the freedom to explore the map outside of scheduled passenger services. Players will be able to travel wherever they like, visit viewpoints, and enjoy driving across Europe at their own pace. Fuel consumption, fatigue, and other familiar gameplay systems will work just as they do when driving an owned truck. Owning a coach will also unlock new gameplay features, one of which is Contract Jobs. 
Using the Contract Jobs menu, players will be able to browse available passenger services in cities close to their current location. After selecting a route, they will first need to drive to the appropriate bus station before beginning the service.


Once at the station, players will confirm their selected line. The game will then advance to the scheduled departure time, passengers will board the coach, and the journey can begin. Many passenger services will include multiple stops along the route, and players can choose from jobs that vary in difficulty based on their experience and skill level. Taking on more challenging routes will reward higher earnings and additional experience.

 
We hope you enjoyed reading about the ongoing work for Coaches for Euro Truck Simulator 2. If you're excited to get behind the wheel, be sure to add this upcoming module to your Steam Wishlist. We look forward to sharing more news with you about this addition as development continues. See you on the road!

We are very excited to join Volvo Trucks in the celebrations of their 100th anniversary by welcoming the Volvo FH Series 6 100 Year Edition to Euro Truck Simulator 2 with the release of the upcoming 1.61 update! Let's take a look at what's in store.


Volvo Group was established in 1927 and will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year. To mark this special occasion, Volvo Trucks is introducing the anniversary edition of their latest model, the Volvo FH Series 6, and we are proud to be bringing the updates coming with this edition to Euro Truck Simulator 2 as well.The Volvo FH Series 6 100 Year Edition will bring a new look for both the interior and exterior, reflecting Volvo's century of innovation with driver-centric features. These additions will be reflected in the base game of ETS2 with new accessories and paint jobs available for the Aero XL cabin of the Volvo FH Series 6, enabling every virtual trucker to drive the beautiful centennial edition in our game as well, when the 1.61 update releases.

On the exterior, this update introduces two new paint jobs: 100y Edition – Night and 100y Edition – Day. The two designs feature distinctive dark or light exterior colour striping, complemented by two additional Centennial logos on either side of the truck. You will also be able to choose from two different light boxes: one with the 100y logo and another one with the FH16 logo.

We are also adding one brand new interior option featuring black leather door panels with unique stitching, carpets, a rear wall decoration featuring the 100 Year Edition logo, and a decorative dashboard ambient LED lighting available in red or blue colour options.

To complete the interior, you will also have the option to customize it with a range of exclusive accessories. These include a black leather steering wheel and new two-tone seats combining a black leather base with a grey textile upper section and the 100y logo.

We are very proud to be able to bring these new additions to the world of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and enjoy the celebrations along with our community and Volvo Trucks, whom we wish many more successful years of producing great trucks and machines!


To keep track of future updates from our games, make sure to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, TikTok, and YouTube a follow. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. Keep on trucking!

A few weeks ago, several members of our team embarked on a research trip to Iceland to gather valuable reference material for the upcoming DLC. Let's take a look at what they thought of their journey!The team that traveled to Iceland consisted of the map DLC lead Ivo and two map designers, Ashley and Johana. Travelling with them also were some of our colleagues from the marketing department, as they had the opportunity for the first time to join a research trip and document the whole journey. That's why we will also be bringing you a packed SCS On The Road episode in the future where you will see this whole trip in more detail."Visiting Iceland was wonderful because first-hand experience allows you to take in the landscape with all your senses and provides an insight that digital sources struggle to match. It was fascinating to "get to know" the places on which we work and to find our bearings in a landscape we know well, even though we were seeing it for the first time," says Ivo. Even though the development of this map expansion is already in a more advanced state, this trip will help the team gather any missing references as well as learn even more about The Land of Fire and Ice."Soon after arrival, we started noticing some of the landmarks we already knew from the game. Seeing Iceland with my own eyes was truly incredible. All the mountains were so vast and varied that I sometimes found it difficult to fully comprehend them. My personal favourite memories were when we were at a rest stop and had time to go for a short walk on a footpath, just seeing nature up close while surrounded by giant mountains," Ashley told us.Everyone on the trip was amazed by the beauty of this island and admitted it helped them get the feeling of what it's like to be there in person, as Johana explains here: "You get a pretty good sense of how gorgeous the place is from everything you can look up on the internet, but once you're there it really hits you. One thing you can't really experience from the street view is the scale, which is an important thing when it comes to landscape. And boy, weren't we surprised at how BIG some of the mountains and waterfalls really are." The team managed to cover quite a distance in the one week they were visiting, taking into account how many different places they needed to stop by to study and take references."We managed to drive the entire western half of the Ring Road, roughly from Lake Mývatn in the north to Vík in the south, and visit interesting locations along the way. Everywhere we went, we came across something unusual for us, be it high mountains, fjords, lava fields, numerous small waterfalls and torrents that suddenly appear in some narrow gorge, or sheep and horses grazing freely. As well as various types of roads and urban areas, particularly in Akureyri and Reykjavík," Ivo says. Iceland has a completely different and unique landscape compared to what we have worked on in the past, so seeing it with their own eyes was an unforgettable experience for our map designers. "What impressed me most was the raw beauty of the landscape itself. Iceland is a living textbook of geological processes, and that's something that fascinates me. My personal favourite, however, was visiting Thingvellir National Park, because I'm a history nerd and standing on the spot where the Viking Althing used to meet was a dream come true for me," Ivo shared with us.One thing the team had to get used to was Iceland's almost endless daylight. During their visit, the sun set for less than three hours each day, but at least it gave them a lot of extra time. "Back home, we're not used to seeing the sun even around midnight, but although it made it a bit harder to sleep, on the other hand it allowed us to make the most of every day," Ivo told us.We also have to send a huge thanks to Volvo Trucks, who invited us to be part of the filming of their videos, which we cannot reveal right now, but we are working on making another SCS On The Road episode with a behind-the-scenes look at the shooting. Thanks to that, our map designers had the unique opportunity to get in the passenger seat of a truck for the first time and gain insight into how the view from a truck differs from that of a standard car. "Thanks to Volvo, we were able to cover part of the journey in a truck with a local professional driver, which gave us a brilliant new perspective," Ivo shared. Ashley was also impressed by the experience: "It was much higher than I expected, and the view was certainly great. Overall, a very cool experience," she said. Johana added: "Never in my life have I expected to be inside a truck and be driven in Iceland of all the places. It was an amazing experience and a work trip I won't soon forget!" Our map designers were also able to compare their ongoing work on the map expansion with what they saw in real life. "I was really happy about how familiar everything felt, compared to what we already have in-game. Almost as if I had stumbled into the game itself," Ashley said. "I got to see the town Ólafsvík, which I'm working on in the map, and was able to check out their harbour, which was quite helpful since there aren't enough references online. Now back in Prague, I got the sense of a map designer's pride while looking at our own Iceland in the editor, thinking, yup, this is gonna look great!" Johana concluded.If you want to get a similar experience as our map designers and travel around Iceland in ETS2, don't forget to add this map expansion to your Steam wishlist.Also, remember to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok a follow to receive updates not only about Iceland, but also other news from our games straight to your feed. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed. Until next time, happy haulin'!