As we didn't talk much about this update, except on yesterday's stream (you couldn't resist, could you Pavel?), we presume it's a little bit of a mystery to most of you - so let's go through the list before you try out the Open Beta for American Truck Simulator's 1.36 Update!



A word of warning first - avoid this Beta if you are planning on completing any more deliveries in Pink Ribbon Event - it's not supported on 1.36 and you WON'T be able to go back to any older version of the game with a profile modified by the 1.36 version of the game. There are core changes, including a different save version - so back up the profiles that you want to keep (do a manual back up just to be sure) using on 1.35 or older versions.

A big focus of the update is on DirectX 11 (11.1 to be exact). We've decided to drop support for DirectX 9 for the sake of faster and easier development. So from Update 1.36 onwards, our games won't be compatible with systems running on DirectX 9.



While 1.36 isn't exactly "packed" with the new content, it mainly serves to push the DirectX change and as a "compatibility patch" for the upcoming Utah map DLC - we couldn't help but cram in some new toys too :) These include a Grain hopper trailer and a Bulk feed trailer - both ownable, and a Frac-tank trailer too - which can't be purchased as it's basically the same thing as a road barrier (you take it from place A to place B, no reason to own it).


And to have some "new" ground for driving these, we've revamped two cities in the base game - Flagstaff in Arizona and Santa Cruz in California, which also gets an improvement in posted speed limits. Oregon and New Mexico benefit too from the latter, in addition to other general sign improvements.


There are also quite a few other interesting features! Starting from this update, you will be able to see your drivers, trucks and trailers on the manager map (a perennial item on the wish-list fulfilled, and it's not even Christmas yet!). We're also adding Chinese (and other non-Latin) character input, otherwise known as IME, which should make life easier for a part of our community.

Last but not least, we've improved Anti-aliasing and added avoidance navigational pins, the latter of which will allow you to set places you want to avoid on your GPS route.


We hope you'll enjoy all these new additions, but please remember: It's only an open beta, not a stable public version - so you may encounter bugs, instability, kinks 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 your feedback on our forum and your bug reports there.

During open betas, we are operating a dedicated alternate site for World of Trucks, which is used to safely test all new features. Please visit World of Trucks Open Beta web for more information. Also, 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 → 1.36 public beta. No password is required.

Don't switch if you plan on completing any more Pink Ribbon deliveries as there is no going back!

OPEN BETA DOESN'T SUPPORT PINK RIBBON EVENT!

MAP

• Santa Cruz (CA) revamp
  
• Flagstaff (AZ) revamp
  
• California speed limit improvements
  
• Oregon and New Mexico speed limit and general sign improvements

VEHICLES

• Grain hopper trailer (ownable)
  
• Bulk feed trailer (ownable)
  
• Frac-tank trailer

FEATURES

• Avoid pins for GPS navigation
  
• Drivers / Trucks / Trailer visible on manager map
  
• DirectX 11 full support (DirectX 9 removed)
  
• Chinese and other non-Latin character input (IME)
  
• Anti-aliasing improvements (SMAA, electric-wires)
  
• New loading screens

MOD

• Sun profile changes (HDR)
  
• License plate changes for AI (data-driven types, background texture data)
  
• Dashboard display UI elements (digital gauges, fuel consumption bar)
  
• Map editor history (undo/redo)
  
• Continuous selection of nodes

We are only one week in with the World of Trucks Pink Ribbon Charity event and the community response has simply blown us away. So far we’ve reached over 730,000 deliveries of Pink Ribbon goods and there’s still 12 more days to go.

https://steamcommunity.com/games/227300/announcements/detail/1604895289728391993

Our #PinkMyTruck hashtag has been used for more than 2200 tweets and 420 Instagram posts, and hundreds of hours of the video has been uploaded to YouTube and Twitch with hundreds of posts on Facebook. We’ve also seen some really cool Pink Ribbon Charity paint jobs made by the community of modders, and have been inspired by the impressive online multiplayer convoy events, organised by the online Virtual Trucking Companies, in support of the Pink Ribbon Charity event – you guys rock! And some of you even gifted the Pink Ribbon Charity Pack to fellow players! What a fantastic contribution and a good deed with a direct impact on both sides!



The event is far from over, yet we are already delighted and very proud to report that we’ve so far managed to secure more than $20,000 from the Pink Ribbon Charity Pack DLC sales and we will be sending out the first cheques to the designated Breast Cancer charities very soon.

We would like to take this opportunity to state again how much we support breast cancer awareness, research and patient support. We'd like to emphasize how important regular doctor visits and self-examinations are in fighting this terrible disease. By organising this event we have discovered many support groups around the world that all state the same message, which is to not be shy about checking yourself. Early diagnosis is the best defence.



We're proud to be part of this campaign alongside many other advocates who're bringing awareness to this important cause - such as NHS England, MetLife, Renault Trucks, MAN Trucks & Bus, DAF Trucks, Chevrolet, Mack Trucks and many others. And of course, a big thank you to every single person who have joined in and shared a screenshot or video under the #PinkMyTruck hashtag!

We hope you will join us tomorrow, Wednesday the 9th October, for our 2nd special charity stream which will be broadcast LIVE on Twitch and Steam with SCS team members, Alex (LondonLad), Nemiro, and Pavel Sebor himself from 15:00 UTC (17:00 CEST). They'll be updating you on the progress, participating with jobs from the ongoing event, and handing out some more giveaways including Steam keys and one Tobii Eye Tracker 4C device!



Last but not least, if you weren't already aware of it, our e-shop is also doing its part in the fight against breast cancer. 100% of any income from selling the "TO TRUCKERS WITH LOVE" T-shirts will also be donated to the selected Charities, starting with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer. We will be adding to that list soon!


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1068290/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__Pink_Ribbon_Charity_Pack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1162160/American_Truck_Simulator__Pink_Ribbon_Charity_Pack/

So what’s the story behind the spectacular hues and rock formations for which Utah is so famous for? Formed as a result of the area’s unique geology and millions of years of erosion, these incredible rock structures can be found mostly around the South of Utah.


Famously seen as a backdrop to many western films and even a cartoon roadrunner, they have become some of the most recognizable and photographed rocks in the world. Many of them have become protected monuments, reservations and national parks.


Fortunately, recreating these famous natural landmarks in our upcoming American Truck Simulator map expansion hasn't taken our artists & designers millions of years to create (unlike their real life counterparts). However, creating them was no easy challenge for our team, with extensive research, prototyping and employing a brand new software to learn; the creating process took some time.


As you can see from the gallery of pictures above, we've had a lot to learn about the creation, design and texture of each of these formations. You could say that we've set a rock-solid foundation for upcoming projects that may include similar types of areas.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1104880/American_Truck_Simulator__Utah/

Pink ribbons, and the colour pink in general, are most commonly seen during the (International) Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness and raise funds to fight the disease.



Inspired by truck manufacturers and truckers from around the world, this October we are proud to be joining the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness campaign! We’re asking the community to join us in supporting this great cause by delivering Pink Ribbon goods across Europe and the USA in our international Pink Ribbon Charity World of Trucks event.


To further help spread the word, we've created our very own Pink Ribbon Charity Pack DLC for this event. We will be donating 100% of the Pink Ribbon Pack DLC proceeds to reputable Breast Cancer research and awareness charities, starting with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer. We hope that the list of charities we contribute to will grow as we collect more money over time.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1068290/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__Pink_Ribbon_Charity_Pack/

We look forward to seeing your screenshots and videos of you supporting this special charity event. In whatever way you are participating, make sure to tag us and use the hashtag #PinkMyTruck across our social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)



You can also join us for a very special charity stream which will be broadcasted LIVE on Twitch and Steam with SCS team members, Alex (LondonLad) and Gavin from 15:00 UTC (17:00 CEST) who will be participating with jobs from the event!


Using external contracts, in Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator or both games, using a World of Trucks-connected profile, the community is to complete a combined total of 1,000,000 deliveries of Pink Ribbon goods using the provided Pink Ribbon trailer.

When a player contributes a combined total 12 or more deliveries of Pink Ribbon goods, drivers will complete their personal goal.

The event will be concluded on Sunday the 20th of October at 23:59 UTC.


Personal goal: Individual player contributions of 12 or more deliveries of Pink Ribbon goods will reward you with a personal World of Trucks Achievement and a unique pair of Pink-Ribbon embossed hanging Boxing Gloves as a Steam inventory item for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.

Community goal: Once the community goal of 1,000,000 deliveries of Pink Ribbon goods is met, and if you have also achieved your Personal goal, you will also will receive an attractive pair of Pink-Ribbon-styled hanging Winning Dice as a Steam inventory item for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.

Let's work together and support breast cancer awareness in the virtual world, just as it has already been and will continue to be done in the real world, as truckers everywhere, as one!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1162160/American_Truck_Simulator__Pink_Ribbon_Charity_Pack/

A truck driver's journey through Utah isn't all desert and dust. Some of nature's greatest landmarks are found across this mountainous and populated state. One the best-known group of rock formations, Monument Valley can be seen towering over some of the nearby highways at well over 1,000 feet tall. That is just one of the many stunning landmarks that nature has to offer.







Many other landmarks come in the form of historical or religious buildings found in many of the surrounding towns and cities. Historical temples and places of worship can be found in almost every town, alongside many other landmarks such as museums or city halls.


Occasionally, you might just see something quite out of the ordinary. There is always a story behind these unique landmarks that you can discover; we highly recommend that you do so!


So, remember to always keep your eyes peeled as you will never know what you might find on your next journey. Make sure to add Utah for American Truck Simulator to your Steam Wishlist to be the first to be notified of its release!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1104880/American_Truck_Simulator__Utah/

This summer there were multiple SCS Software teams traveling the globe to attend various events, meet the community, or explore new options for the company. As of today, another crew just appeared in the US to record the sounds of as many trucks as possible! They're going to spend a week in Allentown, PA and move to Lisle, IL next, but they are thinking of improvising further to visit more locations if needed.



We have some solid arrangements to record and photograph several trucks, but we thought it may be a good idea to consult additional options with the fan community. Do you have access to a truck on the list below? Would you be willing to spend a day with our recording team? Or do you know anyone who would? Or any other way to get access to a truck for a day? Then contact our manager Miroslav Zubina (miroslav.zubina at scssoft dot com) please, and let him fill you in on the details of what we are looking for and when we may be around!

These are the configuration we'd like to get for recording:

Engines: MP7 - 11 litres/ MP8 - 13 litres
Exhaust: Under Frame/ Dual Vertical

Engines: Cummins X15 engine

Engines: DD13/ DD16/ Cummins X15
Exhaust: Dual Vertical/ Under Frame (at least those with vertical exhausts)

And besides the above, we want to record ANY truck which can be found on American roads, if time allows it - you never know when these sounds might come in handy! So write to Miroslav if you have got one and think we can meet.

Keep in mind that this isn't meant as any kind of assurance of what comes next; when and in what order. But at least you know we're working hard to get more trucks for both of our games - so next time someone says we're giving more love to one of them, you'll know better!

The Beehive State is approaching fast, and while we showed you some of its delivery points, truckstops, and general overview, we have a little something for all the romantic souls today!


There are quite a lot of wonderful viewpoints, vistas and stunning landscapes in Utah. And while many aren't visible from a road, we're giving you a chunk of those that are, at least in American Truck Simulator's next expansion!


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1104880/American_Truck_Simulator__Utah/

Known for its pioneers and religious history, breathtaking national parks and ski resorts, Utah has a large Travel and Tourism economy which sees over 23 million people a year. However, this is not the state's only booming industry.



Utah also has an abundance of natural resources within its rocks, which has created a large mining industry. From gold to coal, the state has many operations which extract these precious elements from the ground. However, there is one industry that stands out from among the rest.





Being one of the largest man-made open-pit excavations in the world, the Kennecott Copper Mine which operates all year round has produced over 20 million tons of refined copper ore. Its operation is so large it can be seen from outer space, and makes for an impressive view for any driver close by.







In our upcoming Utah map expansion for American Truck Simulator, drivers will be able to assist in the operation by delivering equipment and resources to and from the mine. Be sure to take extra care when driving through this impressive landmark, as you drive on dusty roads and into an active mine.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1104880/American_Truck_Simulator__Utah/