Euro Truck Simulator 2: 1.49 Update Release
We are happy to announce that the 1.49 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 has been released and is now available on Steam. This update contains bug fixes, changes and new content, which are featured below, so we recommend having a read!
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated, provided their feedback, and made bug reports during the Open Beta period. Your valuable input helped us make tweaks, changes and squash some bugs we may have missed the first time around. We hope you can now begin to fully enjoy the fruits of your work.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]HDR Skyboxes, Moon and New Weather Effects[/h3]
First and foremost, after many requests, we've added the Moon (back) to our night sky! It's a subtle but remarkable touch that adds an extra layer of realism and wonder to your virtual trucking adventures. Curiously, it's worth mentioning that what might appear as a simple addition – the Moon – has posed some significant challenges for some time. Integrating the Moon into the night sky has required casting, rendering and calculating lunar light, proper phases, managing reflections in water bodies, dealing with wet roads, and addressing mirror effects, among other things.
In addition to that, we've also reimagined the night sky, introducing dynamic stars that gently twinkle, enhancing the overall authenticity of the night-time experience.
We are also happy to share that skyboxes will now be High Dynamic Range (HDR), which means that there will be richer, more vibrant colors in the skies and our weather visual effects have also received an upgrade. Thunderstorms now include visible lightning, offering a more immersive experience. And make sure to keep an eye on the night sky in certain regions, you might be pleasantly surprised with what you will notice.
To sum it all up, we’ve also prepared a special video for you showcasing all of these changes. It’s definitely worth checking it out along with the dedicated blog post we published previously!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Used Truck Dealers[/h3]
We're also happy to introduce another highly requested feature. Used Trucks will be now available immediately in the main menu taking you to a selection of trucks that are more budget-friendly compared to brand new vehicles. However, these used trucks come with some mileage and wear, which is indicated by their star rating and a separate window that provides a detailed breakdown of the damage to various parts.
One of the most significant changes coming along with this feature is the enhanced damage and repair system. In the past, our approach was very simplistic - individual parts would accumulate damage, represented as a percentage, and you could repair them, resetting the percentage to zero. However, with the 1.49 update, parts will accumulate three types of damage
With the improved damage system comes enhanced control over vehicle maintenance. You can now make informed choices about which parts to repair or replace based on your judgment. Alternatively, you have the option to seek professional advice for the best repair strategy for your truck or trailer.
Happy (used) trucking!
[h3]Keybind Modifiers [/h3]
Another highly requested feature coming with 1.49 is the introduction of Keybind Modifiers! When previously creating a new bind in the menu, you could only assign a single key for an action. With the 1.49 update, you will now have the option to use a combination of the key and modifiers to bind an action. For example, you can now assign Shift + L to turn your lights if you so wish!
This opens up a whole new world of key bind combinations for you to use, allowing for more binding options, but that's not all! You will also now have the options to bind short press and long press key. Holding the key down will be recognised as a long press, and pressing a button as normal will be seen as a short press.
Keyboards aren't the only peripheral taking advantage of this change. Controllers will also be able use this new feature!
[h3]Automatic Headlights[/h3]
Another new feature which we are happy to introduce to this update is the option of Automatic Headlights. It is a relatively straightforward feature, that turns on your headlights when the ambient light around the truck falls bellow a certain threshold.
If the option is toggled, your light switch position for parking lights is replaced by automatic lights, so you can still turn your lights off or force your headlights on with the other switch positions.
We have also introduced the addition of Automatic High Beams. This feature will temporally disable your high beams when there is a vehicle in front of you (both in your lane or oncoming) and turns them back on when the vehicle is far enough away.
These automatic high beams are enabled if you flip the high beam switch and either your automatic headlights are turned on or you turned your headlights on manually (in case of automatic headlights option toggled off, high beams only work when headlights are manually enabled). We hope you enjoy this simple, yet useful feature for when you are travelling on the road!
[h3]Changelog [/h3]
Visual
https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2/
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated, provided their feedback, and made bug reports during the Open Beta period. Your valuable input helped us make tweaks, changes and squash some bugs we may have missed the first time around. We hope you can now begin to fully enjoy the fruits of your work.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]HDR Skyboxes, Moon and New Weather Effects[/h3]
First and foremost, after many requests, we've added the Moon (back) to our night sky! It's a subtle but remarkable touch that adds an extra layer of realism and wonder to your virtual trucking adventures. Curiously, it's worth mentioning that what might appear as a simple addition – the Moon – has posed some significant challenges for some time. Integrating the Moon into the night sky has required casting, rendering and calculating lunar light, proper phases, managing reflections in water bodies, dealing with wet roads, and addressing mirror effects, among other things.
In addition to that, we've also reimagined the night sky, introducing dynamic stars that gently twinkle, enhancing the overall authenticity of the night-time experience.
We are also happy to share that skyboxes will now be High Dynamic Range (HDR), which means that there will be richer, more vibrant colors in the skies and our weather visual effects have also received an upgrade. Thunderstorms now include visible lightning, offering a more immersive experience. And make sure to keep an eye on the night sky in certain regions, you might be pleasantly surprised with what you will notice.
To sum it all up, we’ve also prepared a special video for you showcasing all of these changes. It’s definitely worth checking it out along with the dedicated blog post we published previously!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Used Truck Dealers[/h3]
We're also happy to introduce another highly requested feature. Used Trucks will be now available immediately in the main menu taking you to a selection of trucks that are more budget-friendly compared to brand new vehicles. However, these used trucks come with some mileage and wear, which is indicated by their star rating and a separate window that provides a detailed breakdown of the damage to various parts.
One of the most significant changes coming along with this feature is the enhanced damage and repair system. In the past, our approach was very simplistic - individual parts would accumulate damage, represented as a percentage, and you could repair them, resetting the percentage to zero. However, with the 1.49 update, parts will accumulate three types of damage
- Damage: This type of damage can be fixed by standard repairs, just as before.
- Parts Wear: When components accumulate significant wear and tear, you'll want to replace them.
- Permanent Wear: The permanent wear represents systemic aging and wear across the whole vehicle. It can only be nullified by Total Restoration of the entire vehicle. This is a more expensive procedure, but it's the only way to bring your truck and trailer back to pristine condition.
With the improved damage system comes enhanced control over vehicle maintenance. You can now make informed choices about which parts to repair or replace based on your judgment. Alternatively, you have the option to seek professional advice for the best repair strategy for your truck or trailer.
Happy (used) trucking!
[h3]Keybind Modifiers [/h3]
Another highly requested feature coming with 1.49 is the introduction of Keybind Modifiers! When previously creating a new bind in the menu, you could only assign a single key for an action. With the 1.49 update, you will now have the option to use a combination of the key and modifiers to bind an action. For example, you can now assign Shift + L to turn your lights if you so wish!
This opens up a whole new world of key bind combinations for you to use, allowing for more binding options, but that's not all! You will also now have the options to bind short press and long press key. Holding the key down will be recognised as a long press, and pressing a button as normal will be seen as a short press.
Keyboards aren't the only peripheral taking advantage of this change. Controllers will also be able use this new feature!
[h3]Automatic Headlights[/h3]
Another new feature which we are happy to introduce to this update is the option of Automatic Headlights. It is a relatively straightforward feature, that turns on your headlights when the ambient light around the truck falls bellow a certain threshold.
If the option is toggled, your light switch position for parking lights is replaced by automatic lights, so you can still turn your lights off or force your headlights on with the other switch positions.
We have also introduced the addition of Automatic High Beams. This feature will temporally disable your high beams when there is a vehicle in front of you (both in your lane or oncoming) and turns them back on when the vehicle is far enough away.
These automatic high beams are enabled if you flip the high beam switch and either your automatic headlights are turned on or you turned your headlights on manually (in case of automatic headlights option toggled off, high beams only work when headlights are manually enabled). We hope you enjoy this simple, yet useful feature for when you are travelling on the road!
[h3]Changelog [/h3]
Visual
- HDR Skyboxes, Moon and New Weather Effects
- Automatic Headlights
- Used Truck Dealers
- Keybind Modifiers
https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2/
"One year ago I started playing Euro Truck Simulator and since then I have been waiting for this DLC and finally it’s here! The new West Balkan DLC is amazing and I was excited to be driving in all the new countries. The cities that you can drive through are really well-made, and there is a lot of them! The DLC contains a lot of beautiful scenery and nice details. I really enjoyed exploring the different landmarks. I have been stopping at the viewpoints just to watch them in both day- and nighttime, which I need to confess has made me need to go a bit over the speed limit to deliver my cargo in time afterwards. I love to travel in real life, and I've been fortunate enough to visit some of the places featured in this DLC. I can wholeheartedly attest that the developers have done an outstanding job capturing the essence and appearance of these locations." - 
"The Western Balkans is an amazing DLC. The development team has once again managed to surpass themselves. Each of the eight countries has its own atmosphere and captures its unique character, as it is in real life. Special attention should be given to the stunning detail of the roads and, especially, the cities. The capital of Albania will linger in my heart for a long time, and I will return there again and again. The coastal cities will instantly immerse you in an atmosphere of relaxation and leisure. For those who enjoy challenging parking, there are a couple of places where you need to demonstrate all your previously accumulated experience. In a word, the Balkans are my love!" - 
"Whether it was the sea views from the highways in Croatia, the winding roads in Montenegro or exploring cities like Tirana and Sarajevo, there was always something to look at. I really enjoyed exploring the various secret roads, where in many places it was a real challenge to drive with a semi-trailer. My absolute favourite location is the road to the Crno Drvo warehouse - north of Nikšić in Montenegro. This location may look ordinary on the map, but the drive up here literally took my breath away. A winding road overlooking the mountains, with a river running along the road. With a view like that, it's hard to keep your eyes on the road. I enjoyed every single moment of exploring the new West Balkans DLC. Thank you SCS Software for the opportunity to check out this new content as part of Early Access." - 
"West Balkans is a DLC you have to get without hesitation! For our community, it was an exciting moment to drive through Serbia, the country of origin of our team. We really enjoyed taking photos on the coloured bridge to Belgrade. You will also find some really challenging hidden roads and some other amazing places between the mountains and the sea. Some of the smaller gas stations are perfect for chilling around and taking some photos for your album. I had fun playing solo and doing some heavy cargo deliveries on challenging roads with two pilot drivers helping me. Thank you SCS Software for including me in the early access. I enjoyed sharing this new content with my community." - 