American Truck Simulator News

We have already shown you several interesting locations on our blog from the upcoming California Rework project for American Truck Simulator. However, today we will present to you the changes of something truly special. After all, every state can only have one capital city, and in this case, it is the well-known city of Sacramento!



Sacramento has technically been the capital of California since 1854, so you can clearly see the historical importance that this entire area has nowadays. But, as is often the case, long history goes hand in hand with progress and development of the local industry, therefore, in order to better represent the city’s rich economy in our game, we have decided to not only generally expand it but we are also adding a large logistical park to the southeastern part of the city. Apart from having a very special entrance that will lead to various industrial buildings, such as warehouses, the addition also serves as a great example of our desire to showcase the zoning of cities.



From the perspective of overall infrastructure, the original layout of the city in the game was doing a fairly insufficient job of representing the real-life counterpart. That is why we have made several corrections to the junctions and the road layout, and hopefully, all those who are familiar with Sacramento in the real world will now see the similarities. This road network change has also presented an opportunity the add a part of the long request US 50 road, which we are planning on further extending in the future.



The updated scale of the city will cover almost four times the size of the original one, which also means an addition of several new landmark buildings, small details around the center, and even an opportunity to spot a landmark tram on a specific location! And an interesting fact for those who are familiar with the real location, we've included a famous truck stop as well!

Finally, the reworked downtown is going to receive a great improvement as well, and it will be really close to a 1:1 scale. Your experience of entering the city from this side will also further be enhanced by several new in-game assets, which were specifically designed for this area.



If we’ve managed to get you excited for the upcoming California Rework project, you can try it out for yourself right now on the 1.44 Open Beta Steam branch! In order to find out how to access it, check out THIS blog post dedicated to all the features coming in the update. We truly hope to see you all on the roads of the beautiful state of California!

And finally, check out our social media profiles (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) and give them a follow, or subscribe to our newsletter, to not only stay in touch with the latest news but find a lot of interesting and exclusive content as well.

Today, we are happy to share with you that the 1.44 Open Beta branch for American Truck Simulator is now available to try and test out. Please keep in mind that this branch is a work-in-progress build. If you plan on participating in this Open Beta, you can contribute by reporting any bugs you may encounter in the appropriate section(s) of our official forums. Your feedback and reports are extremely valuable for 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 1.44 Open Beta has in store!

[h3]California Rework: Phase 2[/h3]
We are excited to bring Phase 2 of the California Rework as part of this free update for all owners of American Truck Simulator. The focus of this projects sees the cities Eureka, Ukiah, Sacramento, Redding, and Truckee which have been rebuilt from the ground up, along with local landmarks, architecture and surrounding road networks.



We will also be saying goodbye to the city of San Rafael. Due to the map scale, we had to make the hard decision to remove the city from the in-game economy. To make up for this, we will be introducing a brand new city, which will be larger and of much greater importance in California's road network in Phase 3 of our ongoing project! Any guesses which one it might be?



New rest areas and truck stops have also been implemented, but that isn't all! You will also find new assets, vegetation, and textures too, giving the area a completely new look and feel. We can't wait for you to explore it for yourselves. You can read more all about the rework on previous blogposts which have highlighted the cities and more which have been reworked. Read more here.

[h3]Mod Refund Feature[/h3]
Since the introduction of third party modification support in our convoy mode, our team has been working to improve the mod support experience. In this update, we are happy to share a new feature which we hope will further improve players gameplay when playing with modifications.

We like to call this new addition the 'Mod Refund' feature. In simple terms, after a player has downloaded a third party modification and used it on their truck, they may in the future want to remove it (or it even may have become incompatible). This new feature reads and recognises the data from the modification, even if it has been removed, and refunds the player the difference with the in-game currency. This removes the problem of players losing money after using a modification.



It works by recognising that a crucial part is missing (such as the chassis, engine etc) and replacing it with a default part. Players will be prompted with a pop-up containing information that some parts are being refunded and will be given the option to accept or reject this refund. If you decide to reject the refund and reactivate the mod instead, the truck will now revert to its former glory even if you have saved the game in the meantime.

So, whether you're trucking with friends in a convoy session with mods, or you want to remove a certain modification after use, this new feature will make sure you won't go out of pocket!

[h3]Licensed vs Aftermarket Customization Options in UI[/h3]
Players customising their truck or looking at new parts in the garage may see some new icons appearing in the list. In total we have added 4 new icons to represent what type of accessory it is. When you hover over them, they will show if they are classed as a:

Factory part - A stock part sold by the manufacturer (including interiors)
Licensed part - Anything that is officially licensed that is not produced by truck factory
Aftermarket part - Any additional accessory that is not related to the brand.
Unknown part - A part that is not recognised or in some cases, a third party modification.



This should help drivers when it comes to customisation if they wish to keep it within the manufacturers customisation options, or tune their truck further with aftermarket parts. We hope you enjoy this small yet helpful feature!

[h3]Unmarked Roads Exploration[/h3]
With the 1.44 update, we are bringing into ATS and ETS2 a new feature; once you drive onto an unmarked road, you will be notified about having done so with a message in the route advisor, and the explored road will appear on the map as an orange dashed line, with any unexplored part ahead of you shown in grey.



On one hand, this will ensure that you will immediately be aware of the fact that you have found something interesting, and on the other hand, if you ever decide to re-visit a hidden zone you will know where to go.



Map explorers, do not panic! These unmarked roads do not contribute to your map discovery percentage, but they do add a nice addition to your GPS if you do come across them. You can read more about this new feature here.

[h3]Force Feedback Upgrade[/h3]
This update also includes a few new upgrades to the force feedback experience when playing ATS or ETS2. These changes have been made to represent a more realistic driving experience, which includes:

• New gearbox grind effect simulating vibration of missed gear when using manual shifting.
  
• New understeer slip effect simulating tyre slip when vehicle is understeering
  
• Revisited power steering curves and pressure gain of self centering effect to improve steering feel.
  
• Revisited internal friction force giving better feedback depending on the speed of steering.
  

Since self centering and internal friction were updated, we highly recommend that you reset the FFB settings to their defaults again.

[h3]Smart Sequential Shifting[/h3]
Smart Sequential Shifting is now available to truckers, if they wish to enable it via the options. So what does it do? In simple terms, when you shift up or down sequentially, it will automatically shift by more gears at once based on the current torque or speed.



For this to work, drivers will still need to trigger the shifting process, but once working, should require less input from the driver.

[h3]Interior Camera Horizontal Lock[/h3]
This new option allows truckers driving in the first person view (in the cabin) to lock the camera view to the horizon, so that it moves more independently from the position of the cabin.



With the introduction of this new feature, players can find a slider in the options that defines the locking factor; with the slider being to the left disabling the locking and to the right, being the strongest locking option.

[h3]Adjustable Suspension Height[/h3]
Sometimes, when you are driving a big rig, trailer pick ups can be a bit tricky. Adjustable suspension height should help drivers eliminate the problem of hooking upto sometimes problematic trailers or in difficult pick up/delivery area.



Drivers now can lower the suspension of their truck to get the correct height for hooking up their trailer, without damaging it. Players will be able to find the inputs for this new adjustable suspension in the options. Its inputs are front up/down and rear up/down.



We have also included a new UI prompt which appears when the drivers are having trouble hooking up their trailers after a few attempts. We hope this makes picking up deliveries of any size easier in the future!

[h3]Ownable Drop Deck Trailers[/h3]
In this update, we are happy to introduce a brand new ownable trailer type as well - the drop deck trailer! What makes this trailer special is the fact that it has a lower center of gravity, and it combines the advantages of flatbed and lowboy, which results in a flat surface and a high weight-bearing capacity.



It is perfect for hauling items and materials such as aircraft engines, backhoe loaders, forklifts and so much more. Also, because drop decks are low, we had to design new small tires, rims, nuts, and hubs, specifically for this trailer type.



In addition to having 3 customizable body types (wood floor, aluminum floor, sliding tarp) and 2 different chassis lengths (48ft or 53ft) with a choice of two, three, or four axles, here is a detailed list of everything you will be able to customize:

• Front walls
  
• Wind deflector
  
• Warning flags
  
• Aluminum boxes
  
• Chrome boxes
  
• Side markers
  
• Rear banners (long load, oversize load, wide load)
  
• Rear bumpers
  
• Mudflaps
  

We hope you enjoy trucking with this sturdy, reliable, and practical trailer type in the 1.44 update.

[h3]Cascadia MY2022 Interior Options [/h3]
Among other changes arriving in American Truck Simulator in the 1.44 update, there will also be a rather small addition, that is technically actually bigger than it might seem. We are excited to let you know that we are bringing new interior options for Freightliner Cascadia trucks!



In total, there will be 3 new interior trims added for the Freightliner Cascadia in order to line-up with what they are now offering in real-life. The all-new trim designs will be available in all 4 cabin types. But we have also taken a step further with the 72" cabin versions because these trims will include a table with seats in the back as well!



We hope you enjoy these truckin' with these new interior options for the Cascadia. You can read more about the arrival of these new customizations at a previous dedicated blogpost here.

[h3]New Special Transport Routes[/h3]
From oversized cargo to challenging routes, the Special Transport DLC offers players a unique trucking experience; and today we are happy to share that 8 new routes will be arriving to the roads American Truck Simulator in this update.



Much like our previous addition of new Special Transport routes to Euro Truck Simulator 2, our team wanted to bring new additional content for our drivers in ATS too! You can find these new contracts between:

• Lewiston to Sandpoint
  Burlington to Lamar
  Salina to Cedar City
  Omak to Yakima
  Dalles to Salem
  Santa Fe to Socorro
  Cheyenne to Rock Springs
  Winnemucca to Carson City
  
  
  
  

Think you can take on the challenge? Share with us your oversized trucking adventure on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

[h3]Changelog[/h3]

[h3]Map[/h3]

• 2nd Phase of California Rework
  
• Border connections for several cities in New Mexico refreshed
  
• Some New Mexico cities received road network reworks
  
• Unmarked Road Exploration
  
• General Map Bug Fixes
  

Gameplay

• Mod Refund Feature
  
• Licensed vs Aftermarket UI in browsers
  
• Force Feedback Upgrade
  
• Adjustable Suspension Height
  
• Interior Camera Horizontal Lock
  
• Smart Sequential Shifting
  
• New Special Transport Routes
  

Vehicles

• New Freightliner Cascadia 2022 Interior Options
  
• Ownable Drop Deck Trailers
  

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 → 1.44. No password required. Somtimes you have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.

You might be familiar with the word eureka, which is quite notoriously used in order to express the feeling of coming up with a new invention or perhaps a breakthrough discovery. Well, as it may happen, the name of the city of Eureka in California originates from this Ancient Greek word, and amazingly, there are many new additions arriving in the local area in the upcoming California Rework project. Let’s see if you will scream the word yourself after taking a look at all the changes!



Eureka is a city with an incredibly rich history, with its founding dating back all the way to 1850. While bits and pieces of history are noticeable at almost every corner, there is hardly a better representation than the local Victorian homes. This architecture is truly rare in the US and we’ve had to create brand new assets in order to properly represent this unique piece of history.



Since the city is situated fairly close to Oregon - and this northern area is very reminiscent of its redwood forest - the local wood production and timber operations, along with the lumber industry, present an important part of the entire area’s industry. While previously any traces of this industry were missing, now you will be able to enjoy the entire production chain, as one depot will be located in a forest, then there will be a new sawmill, and finally, the produced material will be delivered to an area with an unfinished wooden house.



From a practical standpoint, Eureka brings two new details never before seen in the world of ATS. Firstly, you will most likely immediately notice that there is something different with some of the local traffic lights. There are yellow stripes around them! This change improves the visibility and also follows the latest real-life expansion of this technical tweak, as the yellow borders are becoming more and more common.

Secondly, in order to once again improve the visibility and to stay in touch with the latest trend, we will introduce the so-called doghouse traffic lights. This is a type in which there are two columns of yellow and green signals under a single red signal.



Overall, we have done our best to properly represent the current real counterpart by highly reworking the city’s layout. The zoning will be more visible and the street themselves are now much more realistic, especially with the addition of two one-way streets in the center of the town.

We have also added new landmarks in the center that respect the local architecture and history, and we hope that these changes will help you feel the true spirit of this wonderful city. And if you need something more practical for that, you can stop to visit a new rest stop, service station, or refueling spot!



So, would you say these changes from the upcoming California Rework for American Truck Simulator are worth letting the eureka word out? If you think so, do not hesitate to let us know in the comments! But, we still have a bit more information from the project up our sleeves, so maybe you might want to save the word for later. For now, follow our social media profiles instead (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), or subscribe to our newsletter, to not only stay in touch with the latest news but find a lot of interesting and exclusive content.

From all of us here at SCS Software, we want to wish you all a very happy Easter!

For those who celebrate it, Easter is an important holiday observed by millions around the world. It is also a time when many come together with family and friends to spend quality time together. A popular Easter-themed activity that many take part in is an Easter Egg hunt. For those who are unfamiliar with this game, eggs which are usually painted colorfully are hidden around an area for those participating to find, each of which contains a sweet treat for the finder to enjoy!



This year, for a limited time, we are egg-cited to announce our very own Easter Egg hunt, with a twist! Instead of a sweet treat as a reward, these eggs will contain some clues regarding future content coming to Euro Truck Simulator 2.

So where can you find these eggs and how many will there be? To save you from driving for hours in ETS2 or ATS, we will specify that these eggs will be hidden around various SCS Software related websites & social media pages. We will leave the rest of the hunting to you!

We urge you to get hunting quickly, as they will only be around for a short time; We hope you have fun and good luck!