Euro Truck Simulator 2 News

We have another sneak peek of what the upcoming Greece DLC will look like! This time, we would like to share with you some of the new assets and building models you will encounter in this map expansion.


Keep in mind that these models showcased here are not the only new assets our map designers have been working on, and that this DLC is still a work in progress. Now without further ado, let's take a look at them!


Our dedicated team of researchers, mappers, and asset designers have created over 150 brand-new Greek buildings, each one a unique gem in its own right. From cosy village cottages to bustling town shops and warehouses, the array of structures adds a splash of life and colour to the surroundings. What's more, most of these assets boast added variability, offering an array of different variations and colours.


But it doesn't end there! Alongside these architectural wonders, they've sprinkled in smaller new models like fences, walls, and delightful details such as benches, baskets, stalls, and twinkling lamps, ensuring that every corner is bursting with character and charm.


Just a friendly reminder: this DLC is still a work in progress, so there may be some changes to these models before the final release. If you are excited about the Greece DLC, make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Stay tuned for more updates by following us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2604420/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__Greece/

We're back in Eindhoven, Netherlands, for another exciting episode of our SCS On The Road series! Join Nemiro and Henk Meeuwis as they take you through the amazing DAF Museum which shows the whole history of this automotive company.


Get ready for our longest episode yet! We're diving deep into DAF's history, milestones, and more. And we believe our community will love learning about it all. We have to express huge thanks to Henk Meeuwis for guiding us through the museum with his wealth of knowledge, as he has been working for DAF for 47 years! And a big shout-out also goes to the DAF Museum team and our friends at DAF, Tim Gerth, and Koen Damen, for helping us make this episode happen. Now, without further delay, let's dive into it!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We hope you've enjoyed the tour of the DAF Museum, but there is surely more to explore than we showed, so if you happen to be in Eindhoven, visit it yourself! Don't forget to follow us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok so you won't miss out on any news and future episodes of SCS On The Road.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2/

We have some news for our #BestCommunityEver! Today, we're rolling out the Experimental Beta for the upcoming 1.50 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Why do we call our upcoming beta experimental? We need to manage expectations right from the start. We are starting the beta cycle this time from a rather early stage. The level of polish and stability is not the same as for our usual Open Betas. We believe in transparency with our community, and we also need to gather a lot of feedback early this time, to understand how well the features perform. That's why we're offering this Experimental Beta as a precursor to the Open Beta, giving you a glimpse of what's to come while acknowledging that it's still very much a work in progress.


Behind the scenes, our team is working hard on internal projects and releases, all scheduled for version 1.50 of our games. Despite our best efforts, certain aspects of the update are still undergoing refinement. However, we know how important it is to involve our community in the development process, which is why we're making this content available to you in its current state. Your feedback at this stage is invaluable as we strive to deliver the optimal experience.

With the Experimental Beta, we invite our dedicated players to join us in fine-tuning, testing, and providing feedback. Your input will assist us in identifying and addressing any issues or imperfections before the Open Beta and ultimately the full version 1.50 release. It's worth noting that this beta may cause instability in certain areas of the game. For those seeking a more polished experience, we recommend awaiting the subsequent Open Beta or the full version's release.

We are very committed to delivering high-quality updates. In the days to come, we'll continue to debug and finalize everything that's coming to ETS2 with the 1.50 update. Your patience and support during this phase are deeply appreciated as we work towards a seamless transition to the next chapter of Euro Truck Simulator 2. Without further ado, let's delve into what you can anticipate from version 1.50.

[h3]Renderer Changes - (still based on DirectX 11 API for now)[/h3]
We're consistently working on improving our rendering system. It's been a key focus lately, though it'll take some time to complete. Until then, you can expect additional content and enhancements in version 1.50, including:

• A new feature was added - TAA, or Temporal Anti-Aliasing, which sets itself apart from other anti-aliasing techniques, that aim to smooth images to reduce jagged edges or flickering through higher resolution rendering. Instead, TAA harnesses the timeline, particularly previous frames, to calculate color values as if from a higher resolution, providing a smoother result.
  
• Cascaded shadow changes: Smooth transition when blending between cascades, smoother and better-stabilized shadow edges.
  
• Soft particles: Particles and light flares smoothly fade out when near geometry, eliminating harsh intersections for a more seamless visual experience.
  
• Lit/shadowed smoke: Smoke particles with enhanced volume perception and shading from sunlight, providing a more realistic and immersive atmosphere.
  
• Far shadows: Ever-present shadows from distant large objects like factory halls, skyscrapers, and road overpasses, with the option to toggle them off in the Options menu.
  
• Optimized light computation: Dynamic lights are evaluated in a single pass, known as clustered lighting, improving performance in night scenes.
  

[h3]User Interface Rework[/h3]
We are introducing substantial UI updates to enhance player interaction and accommodate more features. The redesign adopts a flatter, minimalistic design with tooltips and layered navigation, ensuring easier accessibility. For most UI screens, the visible changes are just an evolution of the previous look, though functionally, a lot of work was invested into making them work more comfortably with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard. The biggest change is the Home screen redesign, a new Status Bar sitting atop many various UI screens, the Quick Menu shortcuts, new fonts, icons, and much more. The result should be a clearer look on 2K and 4K resolutions, with all the changes contributing to a more streamlined gaming experience. We plan to have a separate, more detailed blog on this topic in the near future, so stay tuned.


[h3]Switzerland Rework[/h3]
The eagerly awaited Switzerland Rework project is set to debut in the upcoming 1.50 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2. You can look forward to a complete redesign of Switzerland, including its major cities such as Geneva, Bern, and Zurich. Alongside these enhancements, the economy has been finely tuned to reflect reality, featuring additions like a chocolate factory depot.

But that's not all – the road network receives substantial upgrades too. Prepare to navigate the newly added sections of the A9 motorway and the challenging N19 road. Moreover, fulfilling the longstanding desire of many truckers, the A40/E25 route from Geneva to Aosta, Italy, promises an exhilarating journey beneath the majestic Mont Blanc. You can watch the trailer for this project below or find all the blogs about the rework here!

The team behind the huge Switzerland Rework is already engaged in another rework project; however, we will keep any additional details to ourselves at the moment.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Germany Rework - Rhine[/h3]
For the 1.50 version, we have reworked the Rhine region as part of the Germany Rework project. In total, four cities were completely rebuilt - Dortmund, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg. Not only did we revamp the cities, but their surroundings as well so this whole region has been reimagined from the ground up. We also added a part of Autobahn 3 from Cologne to Frankfurt.

You can find out about this rework project in more detail in this blog dedicated to the cities in this region or another blog about industry and intersections in this part of Germany. This is surely not the last time you will hear about the Germany rework project as the team is already working on another part of the country!


[h3]Scania Demo Centre[/h3]
The Scania Demo Centre in Södertälje, Sweden, which we developed in collaboration with Scania, is going to make its debut in the 1.50 version. This facility was established in 1995 and serves multiple purposes in real life. Mostly, Scania uses it to demonstrate their vehicles, both trucks and buses. The facility hosts up to 14 thousand visitors every year from universities to engineers and also allows drivers with a Category B license to try out Scania vehicles.

In-game, players will have the opportunity to navigate the meticulously recreated test track, featuring asphalt, forest, and gravel roads, offering diverse terrain challenges. This in-game circuit is an exact replica of the real one on a 1:1 scale. Remember, you need to own the Scandinavia DLC to be able to visit the Scania Demo Centre.


[h3]Wielton Trailer Pack DLC Update[/h3]
In cooperation with Wielton Trailers, we are introducing the new Container Master trailer series to the Wielton Trailer Pack DLC. Featuring a super lightweight and durable chassis, this update offers two lengths for added versatility.

The first being the Wielton Container Master NS3 P20 SL TANK, which measures 8305mm (27ft) in length and is especially created for the safe transport of Chemical Tank Containers (ADR). The second length we are introducing is the Wielton Container Master NS3 P40 SL, which is designed for the transport of a 40ft container or 2x20ft containers. Both of these trailers will also have a range of options available for them. You can read more about it here.


[h3]Options Tooltips[/h3]
Placing your mouse over each setting option will display helpful information, including explanations of what the options do. You will now effortlessly grasp the purpose of every adjustable option in the settings, enabling you to easily fine-tune your experience.


[h3]Lane Assistant[/h3]
After implementing various driver assistance features, developing lane assistance was the next step for us. This system is more complicated because it has to work well with the different ways people control their vehicles. Making it work well with steering wheels with force feedback was particularly important, even though it was challenging because of possible problems like control-force feedback loops and other details.


Also, the lane assistant features different modes, each serving distinct purposes, making it more complicated. Now, truck drivers can enjoy simply turning it on along with adaptive cruise control, letting the truck do more of the driving.

[h3]Changelog[/h3]

Map

• Switzerland Rework
  
• Germany Rework - Rhine region
  
• Scania Demo Centre
  

Vehicles

• MAN TGX Update
  
• Lane assistant feature added
  
• Wielton Trailer Pack DLC Update
  

UI

• Substantial UI design update (Home screen redesign, persistent Status Bar, Quick Menu, new fonts, icons and more)
  
• Settings options show information about what they do
  

Visual

• Improvements in the rendering system
  
• Temporal Anti-Aliasing feature added
  
• Cascaded shadow updates
  
• Soft particles
  
• Lit/shadowed smoke
  
• Far shadows
  
• Optimized light computation
  
• Frame rate limiter added
  

Sound

• Brake squeaking sounds added
  

So, do enjoy all these new additions, but please remember: It's only an experimental beta, not an open beta yet or even a stable public version, so you may encounter bugs, instability, or crashes. It's completely okay if you want to wait for the open beta or the final release. But if you're interested in helping us get there faster, we'll 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 the experimental beta, you can find this version in the public_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 → public_beta → 1.50. No password is required. Sometimes you may need to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there. Also, the 1.50 Experimental Beta is currently unavailable for Mac OS users, but it is expected to be released for the platform in the near future.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication and feedback. We believe the Experimental Beta will be a valuable stepping stone towards Open Beta and an exceptional 1.50 version. Don't forget to stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Happy trucking!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2/

Exciting times are ahead! We're happy to announce that the very first electric vehicle coming to Euro Truck Simulator 2 will be the Renault Trucks E-Tech T! We're proud to partner with Renault Trucks once more, honoured by their trust in us to introduce their latest state-of-the-art, fully electric truck to our #BestCommunityEver.

Make sure to read the whole blog, as there is a lot of important information about this truck and an upcoming design competition you don't want to miss!


First, let's take a few steps back and look at our past projects we did in cooperation with Renault Trucks which eventually led to bringing this truck into our game. In Autumn 2023, we were invited to Lyon for a design contest among selected influencers and truckers. Guided by specialists from Renault Trucks, LumiLor and our own talented 2D graphic artist Annie, the group crafted designs featuring the innovative LumiLor paint job – a cutting-edge method that allows layers of colour on any surface to be illuminated by small electric impulses. While we were there, we also toured the Renault Trucks assembly plant, test-drove the E-Tech T, gathered reference materials for our vehicle department, and captured the sounds of this remarkable truck. You read more about it here or watch the video below.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
In December, two designs were chosen for the public vote in which our community also participated. In an exciting showdown, the stunning Diamond Echo and Lightning Bolt designs went head-to-head in the vote. Ultimately, the Diamond Echo emerged victorious, making automotive history by bringing this unique paint job to life on a truck for the very first time!


Later, Renault Trucks invited us to attend and amplify the reach of the grand reveal event on April 9 at their headquarters in Lyon. We took this amazing opportunity and teased what was to come by placing a special truck model under a blue veil in front of selected Renault Trucks dealers in ETS2, which you can read about here. It was a great pleasure and experience to share that grand reveal with our #BestCommunityEver through a live stream directly from the venue which you can replay below.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We are incredibly honoured that Renault Trucks has acknowledged our community as a strong and desired audience to share this moment with. Having the President of Renault Trucks, Bruno Blin, the Design Director, Paul Daintree, and the Chief Designer, Vincent Froidevaux, join us in the stream was a source of immense pride. It was exciting not only to witness the E-Tech T but also their entire range of fully electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, our teams were hard at work recreating this truck for ETS2, ensuring that we could bring it into the game for our community to enjoy. We are now proud to announce that this fully electric truck will be the very first EV truck in Euro Truck Simulator 2. Its arrival is close, expected not long after the release of the 1.50 update!

The Renault Trucks E-Tech T boasts impressive specifications, including a powerful 540kWh battery that enables it to cover up to 500 kilometres on a single charge when using a DC charger during a one-hour break. Equipped with a 4x2 configuration and a 12-speed Optidriver gearbox, it offers a seamless driving experience. It has a Gross Combination Weight (GCW) of 44 tons, highlighting its impressive hauling capacity. Additionally, its maximum regen rate matches its maximum output, reaching an impressive 490kW.


As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of the E-Tech T, it's crucial to address some key considerations. Just like in the real world, transitioning to electric vehicles poses unique challenges in our virtual realm. While our team has worked tirelessly to bring the E-Tech T to ETS2, our in-game infrastructure isn't fully ready to support electric vehicles. Gas stations, initially designed for traditional fuel vehicles, can't easily become electric charging stations without major modifications.

Despite these challenges, we're dedicated to promoting electrification within our game. Integrating more EV trucks into ETS2, making them fully customizable and accessible, is our goal. This process will take time as we navigate game development complexities.

Currently, we're embarking on an experimental phase, our initial steps toward in-game electrification. That is why the E-Tech T, along with a few other electric trucks planned for the future, will be introduced in a special mode and will be accessible only through the Quick Jobs section. Our cautious approach ensures a smooth experience as we gradually integrate electric vehicles into our virtual world.


The introduction of the E-Tech T is a big milestone that marks the beginning of our journey toward in-game electrification - a historic moment for our community. We're incredibly proud of the years of collaboration with various partners, and the continuous growth of our game and community. It's a testament that our game is now recognized as a platform worthy of featuring the latest projects from our partners, including their desire to introduce electric trucks into ETS2. We are happy that the beautiful and technologically advanced E-Tech T is the very first to come and we eagerly await your feedback on its quietness, acceleration, behaviour, and smoothness and hope you will have fun driving it in Euro Truck Simulator 2.


But that's not all! Renault Trucks highly values our community and enjoys collaborating on exciting projects with our ETS2 fanbase. Following the remarkable moment when the Renault Trucks team utilized LumiLor's paint technology for the first time in automotive history, and after the grand reveal of the truck adorned in this unique design, we're happy to reveal another exciting opportunity for our community.

Although, due to technical constraints, the LumiLor paint job won't be featured in the game with the E-Tech T vehicle for now, we have something special in store for our community. We're partnering with Renault Trucks for another community design contest similar to the one we did here!

In this new contest, our community is invited to assist the Renault Trucks team in designing a second paint job for the E-Tech T truck. This design will later be recreated on another fully electric and real E-Tech T vehicle! It's truly an incredible opportunity for our community. You can apply here!

Everyone is welcome to participate in this design contest. Whether you're a skilled modder with numerous paint jobs under your belt, a talented graphic artist proficient in software like Photoshop, or someone with a perfect idea for a paint job, you can join in! Simply download images of the truck, unleash your creativity with pencils or colours, and submit a photo of your proposed design. Let's make this design contest an unforgettable experience and showcase the creativity of our amazing fanbase!


We strongly recommend that participants carefully review the Terms and Conditions and the rules of the design contest which you can find here. This ensures that their design has a chance to be selected by Renault Trucks as one of the five finalists, from which the community will vote for the best design. The winning design will be revealed in the future, but it remains to be seen when and where. Remember, when creating your design, be sure to paint over the ultramarine blue colour with white, and try to incorporate elements that reflect electrification and electric powertrain.

And that's not all! As a token of our appreciation for their creativity and dedication, all finalists will receive an exclusive package of Renault Trucks and SCS Software merchandise, along with exciting gifts from another esteemed partner, Thrustmaster!


The winning design will also be included in Euro Truck Simulator 2 when the E-Tech T truck becomes available for players to own in the game!


We hope you are as excited as us to try out this electric marvel when it comes to ETS2! Until then, stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2/

A few members of our Euro Truck Simulator 2 map set on a journey to Greece a few months back. Their quest? To gather references and inspiration to create the Greece DLC for our #BestCommunityEver as accurately as possible. Now, we interviewed them about their trip and how it benefited them!


The team consisted of Ilona, Michal, Karina, Jakub, David, and Artur. In the course of eight days, they journeyed through Greece, from its southern reaches to the north, exploring islands, coastal stretches, and inland areas.

"Our first destination was the drier and rockier Crete. The climate is reflected in the architecture, which is full of balconies and loggias shaded by awnings. Greece struck us as a very diverse, culturally and historically interesting country with lots of monuments and important sites. We mapped some of them in more detail, such as the Corinth Canal, the Meteora Monasteries, and the Rio-Antirio Bridge. As part of our travels, we also visited an olive farm in the Messenia region, where we learned more about the process of olive oil production, a symbol of Greek cuisine and culture," Michal shares with us.


The majestic Meteora Monasteries were probably one of the team's favourite places, as Ilona agrees with. "What I liked most about Greece was the omnipresent smell of diverse vegetation and the distinctive landscape, which I hope we will be able to capture in the DLC. The biggest gem for me was definitely the Meteora Monasteries," says Ilona.

As the team confirms, it's a big advantage to see the country for yourself before working on implementing it into the game. "It was definitely beneficial to see the places I'm going to be doing on the map live. A lot of details that you don't notice on Google Maps, or don't stand out as much, often give a completely different dimension and feel to a place in person," says David.


Starting our expedition fueled by the expectations set during our preliminary research, Jakub unfolds the tale of the team's voyage through Greece's varied terrains, which he fell in love with.

"When we were doing our preliminary research, we saw that some of the roads we looked at weren't exactly exciting. But after travelling through the country, I can say I was pleasantly surprised. Driving through the mountainous parts of Greece, there were great views one after another. Even the roads between fields offered something nice to look at. If I were to choose one memorable place, it would be the Rio-Antirio Bridge. It stretches about 2880 metres long and is surrounded by mountains and sea, with dark ominous clouds in the sky and sun peeking through them. That was the first time it came into our view and it was a dramatic scene," says Jakub.


One of the reasons we visit the countries in person is to get a general feel of it that would be difficult to obtain through internet research. "One of our tasks was to look at what type of houses are most common, so we could choose everything that needs to be made by our 3D artists to best represent the country. And we were quite surprised how difficult that was. It’s not an easy thing to do generally, as every country has different building styles etc., but what we learnt was also that almost every single house was different," Jakub shares with us.

Artur's journey through Crete not only opened his eyes to the vibrant tapestry of Mediterranean island living but also unveiled the rich landscapes and cultural flavours essential for infusing our game with genuine authenticity.

"It gave me important aspects that must not be missed in the game, that I would not have noticed otherwise if I had not seen them with my own eyes. You could see that life in Greece is very much geared towards tourism and olives, which were absolutely everywhere. I was very surprised on the trip by how different the north and south of Greece are in terms of landscape. The more southern areas were dominated by bushes and olive orchards and the north by forests and traditional rectangular fields. For me, the overall combination of sea, hills and mountains is absolutely divine and I can't wait to see what it will look like in our game," Artur tells us.


We cannot wait to bring you more news from this upcoming map expansion as it continues to be developed. Until then, stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. If you are looking forward to trucking in this map expansion, make sure to add the Greece DLC to your Steam Wishlist!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2604420/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__Greece/