American Truck Simulator News

Today we're happy to share with you a very special SCS On The Road episode! Join us at the Daimler Truck North America High Desert Proving Grounds, in Madras, Oregon USA, as we check out the Fifth Generation Cascadia from Freightliner which was recently added as a driveable truck in American Truck Simulator, alongside the launch of the real truck.


During our visit, Oscar, our Director of Global Partnerships, had the pleasure of meeting with Tim Norton, Powertrain Product Marketing at Daimler Trucks North America. Tim provided us with an in-depth tour of the new Fifth Generation Cascadia, inside and out. This episode is packed with detailed information, including the history of the Cascadia, the key changes in each generation, and what makes the Fifth Generation Cascadia their most advanced and aerodynamic on-highway truck to date.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We'd like to thank our partners at Freightliner for allowing us to film and share this episode with you and for the team's kind hospitality during our visit. We really learnt a lot and we are sure you will too.

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love to hear your comments! Be sure to let us know your favorite new feature of the Fifth Generation Cascadia, along with a like and a subscribe, it really helps support our channel and videos. We will see you soon for the next episode, until then, keep on truckin'!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3272290/American_Truck_Simulator__Freightliner_Cascadia_The_Fifth_Generation/

Today, we are happy to share with you that the 1.53 Open Beta branch for American Truck Simulator is now available to try and test out. If you plan on participating in this Open Beta, we ask that you please help us by reporting any bugs you may encounter in the appropriate section(s) of our official forums.


Your feedback and reports are extremely valuable to our team and we thank you in advance for taking the time to help us out. So, without further ado, let's take a look at what the 1.53 Open Beta has in store.

[h3]California Rework - Phase 4[/h3]

Phase 4 of the California Rework project focuses on the southern region of California and includes 10 cities, 3 of which are entirely new to the world of American Truck Simulator. Drivers working in this region can look forward to making deliveries to and from the cities of Bakersfield, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Mojave, Barstow, Indio, Blythe, Los Angeles, San Diego, and El Centro. Similar to previous phases, much of the original base map was removed and reworked entirely from the ground up including the cities' surrounding areas.


Our team also focused on reworking key routes, including major coastal highways such as the US-101, CA-1, and I-5. In addition, several other important routes have been revamped, such as the CA-58, CA-14, and CA-99, along with interstates I-10, I-15, I-40, and I-8, which serve as vital connections to neighboring U.S. states. You can read about this phase of the rework project in more detail in a dedicated blog post.


[h3]Dynamic Cargo (Un)loading Update[/h3]

Since the 1.50 update, we have implemented and then further expanded the dynamic cargo loading and unloading feature. So far, truckers have been able to experience this feature when hauling a grain hopper, a chip van, or a bolster logger. When using the logger, truckers were able to transport logs and enjoy the animated loading and unloading only in Arkansas. With the 1.53 update, we are happy to share with you that this feature will be available throughout the whole USA!


[h3]Driving Academy Fifth Generation Cascadia[/h3]

In the 1.53 update, The Fifth Generation Cascadia from Freightliner will be implemented into Driving Academy, our brand new game module introduced in 1.52. This state-of-the-art truck is the newest addition to the ATS truck roster, and now you will have the option to try it out in various challenging scenarios in Driving Academy!


[h3]Options QoL improvement[/h3]

We're happy to introduce a feature that we believe many players will find helpful, especially those who often adjust their settings to fine-tune what is best to their liking and setup. When changing an option with a default value, players will now have a visual indication of when a setting has been moved or changed from its default state.


Settings that have been adjusted from their default value will now appear with a small visual indicator alongside that setting. We hope this helps users find which settings have been altered from default.

[h3]Smooth and Auto Camera Centering[/h3]
Another new feature that we are happy to include with this update is Smooth and Auto Camera Centring! Players can now enable this new option to return their camera to the central position automatically after moving it. When activated by the player or by moving forward, the smooth centering feature becomes noticeable as it gently transitions the camera to the central position.


This addition comes with a range of personal preference options, including three options of speed, which controls how fast or slow the camera returns to the center; as well as the option to set how many seconds of delay there should be before re-centring occurs.

For players who use a third-party head-tracking solution or prefer to adjust the position of the camera manually, also have the option to disable this feature altogether.

[h3]Special Transport Update[/h3]

We are also updating the Special Transport DLC. As part of the California Rework project, we have added a new route for truckers to haul oversized cargo - between the rebuilt cities of Los Angeles and San Diego via I-5 route.


But that's not all. In response to community feedback, we've decided to raise the maximum speed limit for special transport deliveries. Escort vehicles and the transport trucks themselves can now travel at speeds of up to 55 mph, an increase from the previous limit of 40 mph. We would like to ask our players to try out this update and share feedback on whether it enhances immersion and improves the overall smoothness of these jobs.

[h3]Sliding Tandems Update[/h3]

In the 1.53 update, we're also introducing a new sliding tandems feature. Previously, players could only set trailer axles in a fixed forward or rear position. Now, select trailers come with updated chassis, allowing players to slide the axles freely to optimize the weight distribution for their load.


But be cautious! To make this feature as realistic as possible, if the trailer's rear axle's distance exceeds 40 feet from the kingpin, you risk receiving a fine at California weigh stations and, in some cases, directly from the police.


[h3]Changelog [/h3]

Map

• California Rework - Phase 4 release
  

Gameplay

• Dynamic cargo loading & unloading of logs available throughout the USA
  
• New Special Transport route from Los Angeles to San Diego
  
• Raised speed limit for Special Transport jobs from 40 mph to 55 mph
  

Vehicles

• The new Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia® added to Driving Academy
  
• Fully functional sliding tandems and fines system
  

UI

• Visualization of changed options in the settings
  
• Smooth and Auto camera centering
  

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'll appreciate all of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in this section.

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

If you wish to participate in the open 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 American Truck Simulator → Properties → Betas tab → public_beta → 1.53. No password is required. Sometimes you may have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/270880/American_Truck_Simulator/

Another two cities will be getting a brand-new look in our upcoming 1.53 update for American Truck Simulator. The California Rework project just doesn't stop, so let's take a look at how our map designers and assets teams remade Los Angeles and San Diego!


[h3]San Diego[/h3]
"America's Finest City" was rebuilt from the ground up. We managed to use the best areas from the original version while also adding new locations which have been highly requested by our community.


Truckers can look forward to cruising through San Diego on I-5, almost reaching the Mexican border, or taking in the views of the Snapdragon Stadium as they drive along I-8. CA-905 will take you right to the border, passing through a sprawling warehouse district. And for a fresh perspective, you'll now be able to cross the iconic Coronado Bridge, offering stunning views of San Diego from a whole new angle.


[h3]Los Angeles[/h3]
Like San Diego, the City of Angels was completely revamped. Some places from the original L.A. remain (although rebuilt as well) like Santa Monica, the beginning of I-10, and the major intersection of routes I-10, I-5, and US-101.


On top of that, we added some iconic Los Angeles areas such as the L.A. airport, the L.A. River, Port of Long Beach, and one of the busiest roads in the U.S., the I-405, plus many other places. Thanks to the great work of our asset makers and map designers, truckers will discover plenty of landmarks and depots in the reworked city of Los Angeles.


We hope you are excited about the release of the next phase of the California Rework project and to visit the reimagined cities of San Diego and Los Angeles. Stay tuned for more updates on the world in American Truck Simulator on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok). We'll see you on the road!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/270880/American_Truck_Simulator/

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


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


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


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


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



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


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

Greetings truckers, and welcome to our Happy Hauloween - World of Trucks event! The fun all starts today, Thursday 24th October...

As twilight fades and shadows grow
You realise that it’s time to go
And join the crowd of jolly ghosts
That beckon you, as kindly hosts,
With spooky pumpkins all in hand,
What fun awaits this merry band!
They float and glide with eerie grace,
In search of treats from place to place.
So, start your rig and take the lead,
With all the hungry mouths to feed.
Tonight’s the night, and you’re the one
To bring to all some spectral fun!

For Hauloween is in the air,
And there’s no time to flee nor dare
To hide away from all the treats
That wait for you, but not to eat,
NO, they must be hauled, delivered quick,
Then parked away, now that’s the trick!


To our #BestCommunityEver, we’d love for you all to join us in celebrating Halloween this year by delivering our famously delicious Halloween Treats throughout all trucking territories. This time we have a combined community goal of 1,300,000 deliveries to make. That’s 300,000 more than last year, but we’re sure you can smash it! Our artists have created an extremely cool, ghostly Halloween-themed trailer that will carry your special treats cargo.


This year’s #HappyHauloween also offers a cool new, ghoulishly good, desktop theme that matches our celebrations for the event duration – we sure love it and hope you do too!


Your personal goal is to complete 13 deliveries of our yummy Halloween Treats cargo, and we’re offering some spooktacular event specific rewards, including a World of Trucks Achievement for this. All jobs for the event will be 100Km each (62.1 mile) or more, and be sure to check out the rules below.

[h3]Rules[/h3]

Using External Contracts, with a World of Trucks-connected profile in Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator or both, the community goal is to achieve 1,300,000 deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo, from any city in any trucking territory.

When a player completes 13 deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo across any trucking territories in either game, it will complete their personal goal.

[h3]Rewards[/h3]

Personal: Players that complete 13 or more deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo will gain a unique World of Trucks Achievement as well as a spooky Booing Ghost cabin item as a Steam inventory item for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.

Community: When the community goal of achieving 1,300,000 deliveries of Halloween Treats cargo from any city is met, and if the player has also achieved their personal goal, then they will receive a Grumpy Ghost hanging toy as a Steam inventory item for their cabin.

Note: In order to qualify for any community reward, you must complete at least your personal goal in Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator or both. Each reward will be a Steam inventory item for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator. Once completed, claim your reward in the Events page on your World of Trucks profile.

The event will be concluded on Sunday, 17th of November at 23:59 UTC.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
But that's not all! This year, we're excited to host a special SCS Hauloween Sale on Steam with big discounts on our base games, map expansions, and other DLCs in celebration of Halloween and our Happy Hauloween WoTr event. Complete your collection of ETS2 and ATS DLCs here!

We've also prepared two special Halloween-themed bundles for you to mark this special occasion! So without further ado, we encourage you to take a look at what's in store in the Euro Truck Simulator 2 Hauloween Special and the American Truck Simulator Hauloween Special.

The bundles and Hauloween Sale will be available on Steam on the 24th of October from 19:00 CEST.


This year’s event is packed with ghostly spectral fun, for both American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2, with deliveries counted in both games. You can even join in with the celebrations across both sides of the Atlantic, so we look forward to seeing all your pics on our Facebook ATS / ETS2, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram profiles and we will share our favourite ones.