American Truck Simulator News

Today, we bring to our #BestCommunityEver a special blog! At the end of last year, we released the Farm Machinery DLC for American Truck Simulator along with the Kansas map expansion. And now for the first time in our history, following the positive feedback we received, our colleagues have put together a booklet for you with an in-depth look at how the Farm Machinery DLC was made!


This farming-related cargo pack was released on November 30th for ATS and features two in-game agricultural equipment brands, Owl & Greenler. Truckers received nine new farming machinery cargos from tractors to spreaders as well as five cabin accessories such as a barn-themed lunch kit or an autonomous tractor plush. You can take a look at what this cargo pack has to offer here, or you can get it straight on Steam!


A few weeks after, we took you behind the scenes of how this DLC was made with the Under The Hood blog with our colleague Stanislav, one of our 2D/3D Graphic Designers who helped bring the DLC to life.

Now, he and his colleagues have gone the extra mile after they saw the positive reactions to the booklet teaser at the end of the Under The Hood blog, and put together a beautiful booklet that truckers can read and enjoy for free in digital form here! At this time, we do not plan to release a printed form of the booklet; everyone can enjoy it online for free.


We hope you will appreciate and enjoy another peek behind the scenes of this DLC. If you would like to haul this cargo and decorate your cabin with those awesome accessories, get the Farm Machinery DLC on Steam! And don't forget to stay tuned for more updates by following us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2638630/American_Truck_Simulator__Farm_Machinery/

With the recent release of the JCB Equipment Pack for Euro Truck Simulator 2 & American Truck Simulator we wanted to take the opportunity to talk with one of the driving forces behind the new and unique addition. In today's 'Under The Hood' blog, we spoke with George, Art Leader of Vehicles, who helped bring this DLC to life.


Renowned for their innovation and reliability, The JCB Equipment Pack includes 10 different branded construction and agricultural machinery from JCB's machinery line-up for drivers to haul and deliver across the virtual roads of Europe and America. So what was the inspiration behind creating this DLC?


"At the time, the project was entrusted to me, as I had the most experience in our party. I accepted the offer with enthusiasm and humility, and now in retrospect I have to say that working with everyone involved was a daily joy that continues. We are no longer just a bunch of enthusiasts, but also, above all, one big family that works as a team to care for this baby that we created together".



So what was your role in creating the JCB Equipment Pack? We asked George to find out. "In the middle of 2023, after a three-year break, I returned to SCS as a senior 3D artist. I spent over 7 years at SCS before leaving, so there was no need to familiarize myself with work processes and technology from scratch. The guys at SCS have come a long way in that time and have done a lot of work to improve the output quality, tools and workflows. My first assigned task was the JCB FASTRAC 4220 Icon cargo asset. I immediately fell in love with it because it is a racer among tractors".



So how many people were involved in the creation of this DLC? "At the time, 2 artists were working on JCB and gradually others, including me, joined. In total, our team of 3D graphic artists consisted of asset creators Dino Čičak, Luboš Gregor, and Serhii Trystan, and for cabin accessories, Wolfka. And of course many others were involved too, from production to research, QA and marketing. Over time, the project swelled and thus the need for greater control and optimization of production grew".



So how long did it take to create this DLC, and which cargoes were the most fun and/or most challenging to create? "After almost a year of hard work, nurturing, tuning and optimizing every single machine or toy, we got the green light. The final product was approved at all levels! We are delighted that there is huge interest for JCB content in both our game".

With such an extensive catalogue, how did you decide which JCB equipment and machinery to include? "Reference materials cannot be neglected, the quality of which reflects the result. These were delivered in the form of CAD models directly from JCB, which also set a preferred selection of machines that we mutually agreed upon".



George goes on to explain further "Our game also requires balanced and interesting content in this regard. As for the CAD files, they are mainly intended for the production of real machines, containing millions of polygons and are useless for the game itself. In our case, they only served as a template. These detailed templates had to be supplemented with photogrammetry, in simple terms a technology for processing several hundred walkaround photos, from which a 3D model is subsequently created using specialized software. Compared to a CAD template, such a model offers an additional level of information, such as the real surface and colors of materials. And you can easily check how a real object really looks in a real environment. This package of references was a pleasure to work with".

Did you or any of the team get to see any of the machinery for yourself in person? "Thanks to this, we were able to get to know the beautiful and in some cases giant machines face to face. In this case, huge thanks go out to the Czech companies TERRAMET and PEKASS (construction and agricultural machinery), who made this photogrammetry process possible for us".



Were there any challenges and what did you do to overcome them? "JCB is a globally recognized, leading manufacturer of construction and agricultural machinery. Therefore, much more effort had to be made to meet JCB's strict requirements, as well as a greater focus on detail and quality of workmanship. Fortunately, SCS already has extensive experience with this".

"We love how much detail was put into each of the machinery and cabin accessories too, was that an important aspect for the team?" SCS Software is a game studio with more than 25 years of experience in the field of game development. In that time, it has built up a reputation proven by a strong fan base. Therefore, our priority in this effort is to persevere and still offer interesting content regardless of the complexity of this process. But as always, everything is about people, and I can say with a clear conscience that I have always been able to fully rely on every member of the team, regardless of their previous experience". George goes onto explain more "The team members either already have the experience or just want to achieve them. Both variants are sufficient for success. The rest is just about a positive attitude, communication and team spirit. We each contributed equally and learnt from each other. Which, by the way, is the nice thing about our work, to be able to share ideas and tricks with each other and thus move forward professionally".



"In this case, it was necessary to set the imaginary bar a little higher and focus precisely on the realism of the design, while maintaining our optimization standards. Simply said, the models are at the same level as any other similar cargo assets in the game in terms of geometry complexity and texture size, with the only difference being that we spent more time on individual aspects - to get detail where it's justified, polishing individual curves or unifying texture details and colours as if all of these were the work of one individual. So there was a need to think more about sharing our workflow and know-how across the entire DLC".



"I believe that DLCs of this focus will open the way for us to other similar projects in the future. So there is definitely something to look forward to".

If you haven't already, be sure to check out the JCB Equipment Pack Bundle, which offers drivers looking to haul in both ETS2 & ATS at a discounted price! Click here for the dedicated bundle Steam Store page. If you already own this great addition and you are enjoying it, consider leaving a positive review for us too. We hope you enjoyed this Under the Hood look for this DLC, let us know if you'd like to read about some specific subjects in the future! Until then, keep on truckin'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2780800/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__JCB_Equipment_Pack/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2926440/American_Truck_Simulator__JCB_Equipment_Pack/

We're not slowing down on our journey across the United States, and today we are excited to share with you a very very early work-in-progress image from a yet-to-be-announced map expansion for American Truck Simulator. Can you guess where we're headed next?


Whilst we'd love to share more about this project, its early stages of development mean we are unable to even provide an estimate of when this state may be on the horizon for truckers. When the time is right, we look forward to sharing more news on what you can expect when traveling to this part of the U.S. Until then, keep on truckin'!

Arkansas's extensive road network, a web of highways, interstates, and local roads, plays a crucial role for truckers. These routes traverse the state's diverse landscapes, connecting rural areas with larger towns and cities. This connectivity is not only vital for the state's economy but also for the efficiency and reliability of freight movement across the country. Today we are happy to share with you a preview of some of the Road Networks you'll find in our upcoming Arkansas DLC for American Truck Simulator.


Whilst there will be plenty of roads to explore, some of the major Interstates you'll come across include the I-30, I-40, and I-49, which span between several important cities and towns. Along the I-49, players will have the opportunity to travel through the States' first and only interstate tunnel, the Bobby Hopper Tunnel! Whether traveling through Arkansas or beyond, these roads serve as a vital connection for industries and small businesses alike.


Arkansas will also feature important highway routes including Highway 412 and 70, which links Arkansas to Oklahoma, as well as the US-82 which enters the State from Texas. These connections will certainly be popular among truckers who take on long-haul deliveries across the U.S.!


In towns and cities, you'll find unique intersections as well as several interesting level crossings. Drivers will also come across a few roundabouts, which although rare, are starting to become more of a common sight across the USA. One unique example can be found in the city of Magnolia, where a roundabout was built around the Columbia County Circuit Clerk building, which makes for quite the landmark.


There will also be quite a few areas, and scenic roads which we encourage players to find for themselves, as they will not (at first) be shown on the map. We hope you'll enjoy discovering and exploring these areas for yourself.


We hope you enjoyed this preview of some of the roads you'll be traveling on in Arkansas. Looking forward to driving on them yourself? Then be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! We are excited to share more previews and news with you in the future, until then, keep on truckin'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2585150/American_Truck_Simulator__Arkansas/

After the recent release of the Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator, we've been inundated with feedback, photos, videos and more across our various social media channels. Along with valuable insights from content creators, we really do appreciate both the positive and constructive criticism which has come our way so far!


Today, we're happy to highlight some of the content that has been flooding our notifications daily, including some of the videos that have come across our feed on YouTube. We'd like to thank all those who have taken the time to create and share their Nebraska DLC content with us so far. Keep sharing those screenshots and videos by tagging us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok!


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The Steam Store Page for the Nebraska DLC is also abuzz with comments! A sincere thank you to everyone who has taken a moment to share their review or offer constructive feedback about Nebraska, it really does help motivate our teams and helps us to make future improvements



If you've been enjoying trucking through the Cornhusker State and want to share your review, we'd love to read about it! You can write your own review on our Nebraska DLC Steam Store Page, simply scroll to the bottom to find the dedicated area.

We also reached out to a few of the many content creators who have live-streamed and/or created videos on Nebraska over the past couple of weeks, and asked them how they've been enjoying the latest map expansion for American Truck Simulator! Thank you to those who so generously shared their perspectives and enabling us to convey them to our blog readers.

Prime Simulation

"The Nebraska DLC is the latest addition to the American Truck Simulator map, and it does not disappoint! I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing Nebraska during its early access phase, and logging hundreds of miles post release - exploring “The Cornhusker State” from east to west and everything in between. SCS Software has raised the bar on quality once again by recreating the natural beauty, landmarks, and logistic networks of the state to an exceptional level. Although the Nebraska DLC has many great attributes, a highlight feature for me is the brand new Dynamic Loading/Unloading feature! Simply put… It’s game changing! From Omaha to Scottsbluff, the Nebraska DLC offers something for every ATS player." - Prime Simulation

Duude

"The Nebraska DLC is a brilliant addition to American Truck Simulator, Time after time SCS Software releases a DLC which gets better and better. They have once again done a fantastic job with this DLC which I know loads of ATS players are truly enjoying. Hitting the roads and exploring the many highly detailed cities which this great DLC has to offer brings a massive amount of immersion and realism, I am really enjoying exploring Nebraska, Brings a great amount of fun with exploring amazing scenery along the way. I thank SCS Software for their truly fantastic work which they have done with the Nebraska DLC and all of the work they have created in the past. I look forward to seeing what they have planned for the future!" - Duude

My Over-The-Road Trucking Adventure

"As a former over-the-road truck driver, I have spent countless miles driving across Nebraska on Interstate Highway 80 as I traversed the country. I have also spent a great deal of time picking up and delivering loads in Grand Island, so I was amazed to see the accurate recreation of the area, including the main truck stop there; seeing the tank and caboose on display at the entrance really took me back! Thank you to SCS for allowing me to relive my adventures across Nebraska; you've done it again!" - My Over-The-Road Trucking Adventure

Nightmare_Se

"Once again SCS has shown just what its team is capable of with the latest Nebraska release... Going into this DLC my expectations were drive through a state with not a lot of character so to say. I must say that I was completely proven wrong. The sights in Nebraska shift from the more natural landscapes like seen in previous DLC's to more historical landmarks, places of interest and small towns with cultural importance. After a week of exploring Nebraska, I feel like I have not only gotten more terrific content to explore in American Truck Simulator but also a lesson in its history. Not everything is marked on the map as a photo trophy or viewpoint either which I soon found out after entering Nebraska for the first time. So, keep your head on a swivel while exploring this wonderful DLC because you never know just what you will find out there. The challenge is finding the challenge." -Nightmare_Se

We are excited to have you on the roads of Nebraska! Keep sharing your adventures with us by using #CruisingNebraska on social media and follow us for all the latest news. Until then, keep on truckin'!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2543810/American_Truck_Simulator__Nebraska/