American Truck Simulator News

After adding official multiplayer modes to American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2, developers SCS Software have now made both support mods in multiplayer too. They're games many truckers mod with the trucks and decor of their dreams, so it'll be nice to show everyone your true truck self. I'd call this your drivatar but Forza has already claimed that.

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We are excited to announce the arrival of update 1.42 for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator! 



We'd like to thank all those who took part in the 1.42 Open Beta, made bug reports, and provided general feedback on this new version. Whilst our updates usually feature many new changes, this update is focused more on introducing a new and substantial feature to our Convoy online multiplayer mode alongside some smaller updates and general fixes. 

So without further ado, let's take a look at what the 1.42 update has in store!

Convoy MOD Support

Support for third-party modifications in Convoy was a very frequent request from our community when we first released our multiplayer mode. Since then, our teams have made it a high priority on their list to support the use of MODs. 



However, this was not an easy task for our team, especially when it came to the challenge of profile recovery when a crucial MOD is removed or changed, and visualizing what MODs are missing from the Steam Workshop when players join a server that contains modifications. We have done our best to overcome these hurdles; however, there may be a few things that might need tweaking and changing before we are fully satisfied with the results.

We have also created a completely new UI to accommodate MOD support. When you enter the session browser, you will see a new section on the right side listing the MOD compatibility requirements for the server. We have also included new icons for servers to let you know which servers have MODs enabled and which do not. 

Session names in screenshots are blurred for privacy reasons.

Previously, next to the server session, we indicated if you could or could not join the server using a red or green icon depending on if the session was full or due to problems with map compatibility or even with different game version numbers. We have now introduced an orange icon, which indicates you cannot join the server now, but via the new MOD synchronization UI, you can download the missing modifications and join then!



If a modification is missing and it is available via the Steam Workshop, you will be able to download it via the Steam browser which will be overlaid in-game, so you do not need to exit the game to subscribe to it. This will be accessible via a new window that opens when you try to join a session where you have some missing MODs. This window will show you all your currently active modifications on the left side and all the modifications the server is using on the right side.

Session names in screenshots are blurred for privacy reasons.

If the server is using a modification that is NOT available on the Steam Workshop and downloaded via a third-party site, then you will need to source the modification yourself. Unfortunately, our system will not be able to check what version of the modification the server has or where it is sourced. Once you have everything required by the server, the confirm button will become available and you will be able to join the session.



We expect a majority of popular modifications to work from the get-go with this update, however, there may be some compatibility issues with others. 

At this time, a convoy session will only allow for a maximum of 70 modifications during a session. We understand that a smaller percentage of our community may use more than this number and we will continue to monitor feedback made across our social media channels to tweak and make adjustments in the future if we see it necessary. 

MOD authors please be aware that some modifications will require some adjustments to work properly in Convoy. Sound modifications will be heard locally by the user, but other players will not hear them as remote trucks use a simpler soundbank (or they may just hear default truck sounds) if the modification is not configured to do so. Vehicles, Trailers, and Cargo modifications must also include proper traffic models for other players to see and interact with. 



Our teams will continue working hard to overcome the difficulties that may come with using third-party modifications in the convoy mode. Your help and contributions during the Open Beta have been extremely valuable to our teams, so please continue to submit your bug reports and feedback onto the appropriate sections of our forums (ETS2/ATS). 

We look forward to seeing the many wonderful and creative MODs that will be used whilst convoying together with friends! We also plan to release a new FAQ in the future with more up-to-date information as we continue to work on the Convoy feature. You can find our first Convoy FAQ blog here, which answers the community's most popular questions!

Third-party modifications were used to create illustrative screenshots for this blog article. By choosing these publicly available MODs to make such screenshots we make no claim or endorsement of any kind that these MODs or their authors are officially supported, recognized, preferred, or recommended by SCS Software.

Force Feedback Update

1.42 also brings an update to our Force Feedback profiles for steering wheels and controllers which are compatible with Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator. 

The new FFB has been written from scratch and utilizes a 120 Hz refresh rate, independent from the main game loop. It combines some of the old artificial effects with the new centering and tire friction force feedback, which is based on real calculations from forces on the first steering axle and simulates the behavior of a hydraulic steering gear system used in most of today's trucks. This brings a more realistic and immersive feedback experience for our players! 

We highly recommended resetting your Force Feedback settings to their new defaults. 

We recently released a detailed FAQ blog about this update which answers some of your most asked questions about this update and goes more into depth about the topic of this update. If you missed that, you can take a read of that here! 

[h3]Changelog[/h3]

Gameplay

• Initial MOD support for Convoy multiplayer

UI

• Convoy session modification UI added for MOD compatibility and downloads.

Other

• Force feedback improved and available for more controller types on more systems (Linux)
• Steering wheel animation range setting

Each October, many charities around the world organize various events in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Due to the support and consequential impact of these activities, "Pinktober" has become an immensely important tradition. This idea is usually represented by the Pink Ribbon, which has become a symbol of hope and a reminder to promote and share the necessary health information.



To help spread awareness of this cause, we hosted the Pink Ribbon Charity Event which came along with two special DLCs in 2019 - one for American Truck Simulator, one for Euro Truck Simulator 2.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1162160/American_Truck_Simulator__Pink_Ribbon_Charity_Pack/?snr=1_5_1100__1100
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1068290/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__Pink_Ribbon_Charity_Pack/
The purpose of these DLCs has been clear from the very beginning and it remains the same to this day. We want to donate 100% of the income generated from the sales of these two DLCs to the charities and organizations dedicated to the fight against Breast Cancer.

Throughout the whole year, we have been collecting the income from these DLCs and now we are getting everything ready to donate the final amount to some of the Breast Cancer charities, just like we did last year and the year before.



At the end of the month, we will release another blog post, in which we will announce how much money has been collected. This amount will be donated to the following 4 charities:

• Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer
• Brustkrebs Deutschland e.V.
• Breast Cancer Now
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Rest assured, we are always looking for the right opportunities to extend this list in the future!
Until then, if you’d like to support a good cause and obtain some new paint jobs for your trucks, now is the perfect opportunity to get these two DLCs or gift them to a friend and contribute to the battle against Breast Cancer. And in case you and your friends already own these DLCs, you can spread awareness by decorating your trucks in these paint jobs, and haul with pride while letting others know about this good cause by flooding social media with screenshots of your trucks under #Pinktober2021.

Additionally, don’t forget to actively do everything you can to remain healthy and to keep regular medical checks in mind. Apart from not feeling shy to visit the doctor if something doesn’t feel right, make sure your loved ones are having regular checks, and most importantly, there are numerous health checks you can do by yourself, to help you stay safe. After all, health always comes first and it is definitely one of the most important aspects of human lives that should not simply be ignored!



And finally, you can catch us live on Thursday 14th of October on our Twitch and Youtube for a special stream dedicated to #Pinktober2021. Come hang out with us in the chat and help us spread the word!

Due to the vastness and diversity of Texas, it is virtually impossible to wrap up and put all the information about the local nature in only one blog post. That's why we decided to divide this topic into multiple dedicated blog posts. In today's, we start our presentation with the seemingly infinite plains, fields, and meadows, that stretch across most of this massive state.



The land of Texas consists of numerous enormous regions, from which some are more fertile than the others, but in the end, all are home to different flora and wildlife. When driving through these areas you may be able to recognize animals you have passed by on your previous journeys - such as deer, cows, or horses. However, this time you will also have a chance to spot numerous new road signs that warn about snakes! And while the actual snakes are not guaranteed to be seen, the signs are definitely one of the reasons why this state feels so unique.



The local plains are historically a part of many myths and legends, and you can be sure to feel their magic as well while driving on the roads that are surrounded by these lands. After all, Texas boasts a size of 268,596 square miles (695,662 sq km), so you will certainly have a lot of natural beauty to look forward to.



Whether you fancy meadows full of wildlife or empty fields with a view far into the distance, you can experience all this and more in the upcoming Texas DLC. And if you cannot wait for more information regarding the nature of the Lone Star State, make sure to add the map expansion to your Steam Wishlist and you will stay in touch with all the latest news!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1465750/American_Truck_Simulator__Texas/