Today, we're rolling out something a little different: the Experimental Beta for American Truck Simulator's upcoming 1.50 update. Why call our upcoming beta experimental? We need to manage expectations right from the start. We are starting the beta cycle this time from a rather early stage. The level of polish and stability is not the same as for our usual Open Betas. We believe in transparency with our community, and we also need to gather a lot of feedback early this time, to understand how well the features perform. That's why we're offering this Experimental Beta as a precursor to the Open Beta, giving you a glimpse of what's to come while acknowledging that it's still very much a work in progress.


Behind the scenes, our team is hard at work juggling internal projects and releases, all scheduled for version 1.50 of our games. Despite our best efforts, certain aspects of the update are still undergoing refinement. However, we recognize the importance of involving our community in the development process, which is why we're making this content available to you in its current state. Your feedback during this phase is invaluable as we really want to deliver the best possible experience.

With the Experimental Beta, we invite our dedicated players to join us in fine-tuning, testing, and providing feedback. Your input will help us identify and address any issues or imperfections before the Open Beta and eventually the full 1.50 version release. It's important to note though, that this beta may cause instability in certain areas. If you prefer a more polished experience, we recommend waiting for the further Open Beta release.

Rest assured, our commitment to delivering high-quality updates remains unwavering. In the days to come, we'll continue to debug and finalize everything that's coming to ATS with the 1.50 update. Your patience and support during this phase are greatly appreciated as we work towards a seamless transition to the next chapter of American Truck Simulator. Now, without further delay, let's take a look at what you can expect from version 1.50.

We're consistently working on improving our rendering system. It's been a key focus lately, though it'll take some time to complete. Until then, you can expect additional content and enhancements in version 1.50, including:

• A new feature was added - TAA, or Temporal Anti-Aliasing, which sets itself apart from other anti-aliasing techniques, that aim to smooth images to reduce jagged edges or flickering through higher resolution rendering. Instead, TAA harnesses the timeline, particularly previous frames, to calculate color values as if from a higher resolution, providing a smoother result.
  
• Cascaded shadow changes: Smooth transition when blending between cascades, smoother and better-stabilized shadow edges.
  
• Soft particles: Particles and light flares smoothly fade out when near geometry, eliminating harsh intersections for a more seamless visual experience.
  
• Lit/shadowed smoke: Smoke particles with enhanced volume perception and shading from sunlight, providing a more realistic and immersive atmosphere.
  
• Far shadows: Ever-present shadows from distant large objects like factory halls, skyscrapers, and road overpasses, with the option to toggle them off in the Options menu.
  
• Optimized light computation: Dynamic lights are evaluated in a single pass, known as clustered lighting, improving performance in night scenes.

We are introducing substantial UI updates to enhance player interaction and accommodate more features. The redesign adopts a flatter, minimalistic design with tooltips and layered navigation, ensuring easier accessibility. For most UI screens, the visible changes are just an evolution of the previous look, though functionally, a lot of work was invested into making them work more comfortably with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard. The biggest change is the Home screen redesign, a new Status Bar sitting atop many various UI screens, the Quick Menu shortcuts, new fonts, icons, and much more. The result should be a clearer look on 2K and 4K resolutions, with all the changes contributing to a more streamlined gaming experience. We plan to have a separate, more detailed blog on this topic in the near future, so stay tuned.






The eagerly awaited third phase of the California rework is focused on central California. Six cities have undergone a complete rework: San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, Santa Cruz, Huron, and Fresno. We have also added two brand-new cities; San Jose and Modesto, which will replace Oakdale in our game.

All roads in the area have received a complete overhaul, including major routes such as CA-1, US-101, I-5, CA-99, US-395, and more. The beautiful Yosemite National Park also underwent significant enhancements as part of this update! You can watch our trailer for this phase of California rework below.


The International LT will receive revamped interior and exterior options, and the LoneStar will get a refreshed interior. The International LT's exterior sees significant enhancements with new features, customizable options, and adjustments to existing parts, including the addition of the S13 model with its Integrated Powertrain. Additional accessories such as new chassis fairing extenders, bumper and grille options, FlowBelow fairings, blindspot detectors, and a shorter day cab chassis have been introduced.



The interiors of both trucks have also undergone a complete overhaul with new models, updated textures, customizable interior cabinets, and functioning cabin physics, fulfilling a highly requested feature. Stay tuned for more updates as we plan to have a separate blog on this topic in the future.



Placing your mouse over each setting option will now display helpful information, including explanations of what the options do. You will now effortlessly grasp the purpose of every adjustable option in the settings, enabling you to easily fine-tune your experience.


After implementing various driver assistance features, developing lane assistance was the next step for us. This system is more complicated because it has to work well with different ways people control their vehicles. Making it work well with steering wheels with force feedback was particularly important, even though it was challenging because of possible problems like control-force feedback loops and other details.

Also, the lane assistant features different modes, each serving distinct purposes, making it more complicated. Now, truck drivers can enjoy simply turning it on along with adaptive cruise control, letting the truck do more of the driving.



Map

• California Rework – Phase 3

Vehicles

• International LT S13
  
• International LoneStar (interior) and LT (exterior & interior) rework
  
• Lane assistant feature added

UI

• Substantial UI design update (Home screen redesign, persistent Status Bar, Quick Menu, new fonts, icons and more)
  
• Settings options show information about what they do

Visual

• Improvements in the rendering system
  
• Temporal Anti-Aliasing feature added
  
• Cascaded shadow updates
  
• Soft particles
  
• Lit/shadowed smoke
  
• Far shadows
  
• Optimized light computation
  
• Frame rate limiter added

Sound

• Brake squeaking sounds added

So, do enjoy all these new additions, but please remember: It's only an experimental beta, not an open beta yet or even a stable public version, so you may encounter bugs, instability, or crashes. It's completely okay if you want to wait for the open beta or the final release. But if you're interested in helping us get there faster, we'll appreciate all of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in the dedicated section.

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

If you wish to participate in the experimental 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 → 1.50. No password is required. Sometimes you may need to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.

So, to our community, thank you for your ongoing dedication and feedback. Together, let's make the Experimental Beta a valuable stepping stone towards Open Beta and an exceptional 1.50 version. Don't forget to stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Happy trucking!

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

Hey there, truckers! We've got some updates to share about the upcoming Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator. Get ready to explore fresh industries as we venture into the Cornhusker State. With three exciting new companies on the horizon, there's plenty to look forward to in our virtual trucking adventures!


One of the standout additions to Nebraska's industrial landscape is the Recreational Vehicle (RV) dealer. You'll find these dealerships sprinkled across cities like Omaha, Norfolk, and Columbus, offering a wide array of recreational vehicles. But it's not just RVs; they've got buggies, ATVs, and UTVs too! We're bringing these dealerships to Nebraska because there are so many beautiful places ideal for camping in the Cornhusker State. These vehicles are a hit not just in Nebraska, but all across middle America!







The Utility Vehicle Factory in Lincoln represents another key addition to Nebraska's industry. Here, they manufacture a diverse range of equipment, from UTVs and ATVs to buggies and motorcycles which are then delivered to the RV dealers. However, the crown jewel of this facility lies in its production of subway cars, destined for public transport systems across various states. As players deliver cargo to or from this factory, they may see these subway cars that operate in iconic cities like New York City.





Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nebraska's economy, with the state being a leading producer of corn, soybeans, beef, and other agricultural commodities. That's why we had to incorporate a few Soybean Factories into its landscape. Located in cities such as Scottsbluff, Alliance, and Lincoln, these facilities specialize in soybean processing, serving both human consumption and animal feed purposes.





Apart from those new industries, truckers can expect to encounter a variety of prefab reskins scattered throughout Nebraska. These include revamped versions of road garages, construction warehouses, and farm garages, adding visual diversity and realism to the state's infrastructure.







We cannot wait to bring you this map expansion. If you are looking forward to it, make sure to add the Nebraska DLC to your Steam Wishlist! Until then, stay connected with us and all the latest information through our social media channels, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

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

Welcome to Jefferson City, Missouri, a charming destination renowned for its blend of historical significance and picturesque landscape. Today, we are happy to share with you a look into the work our team has undertaken in recreating this city in our upcoming Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator.


Situated on the banks of the Missouri River, one of the main attractions of the city is the famous and iconic Missouri State Capitol building. Built between 1913-1917, it was constructed with Burlington Limestone, sourced from the nearby city of Carthage. This impressive structure stands as the main landmark of the city and hosts the State Senate and House of Representatives, as-well as other important government bodies and offices.





Drivers in our upcoming Missouri DLC can expect to explore and drive through a part of the downtown area themselves, and those with eagle eyes may even be able to spot some locations our team visited on their research trip previously; Let us know if you do! There are plenty of smaller details and other landmarks to be found too, including the barracks of the Missouri Army National Guard.

Across the river, you'll find plenty of work at some of the local industries, which includes an agricultural farm and a construction site. Players entering the city may spot a view of the local quarry too, as well as some of the more residential areas of the city where the locals reside.

The city has changed a lot since the times of Thomas Jefferson, the city's namesake and the 3rd President of the United States, but we're sure you'll enjoy trucking through it!





We hope that you enjoy all the work that our talented teams have put into recreating this historic city in Missouri. Looking forward to the release of the Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator? Be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Until next time, keep on truckin'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2730870/American_Truck_Simulator__Missouri/

Special Transport operations are expanding! Drivers looking for speciality work in our upcoming Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator will be pleased to know that oversized loads will be on offer in the Job Market.


Truckers who are ready to take on these mighty loads will find several new Special Transport routes in Nebraska. Whilst these routes have been carefully pre-planned by our dispatchers, you can expect there to be some challenging manoeuvres on the road to your final destination. As always, local police and trained escort teams will assist in guiding you along the correct route, and where necessary, help block traffic to allow safe passage.




Seasoned truck drivers with experience in this field will know that these jobs are no easy task and require patience, skill and knowledge of their rig. Loads range in size and length, and drivers can expect some new ones to come too! Think you got what it takes? Special Transport DLC owners will find contracts on offer between the following cities:

• Scottsbluff to McCook
  
• Norfolk to Omaha
  
• Lincoln to North Platte

We look forward to welcoming drivers old and new on these Special Transport jobs in Nebraska. In the mean-time, be sure to brush up on your skills by checking out some of the contracts available in the Job Market. New to the trucker scene? Then be sure to add the Nebraska DLC to your Steam Wishlist, and to check out the Special Transport DLC for American Truck Simulator. Until next time, keep on truckin'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/962750/American_Truck_Simulator__Special_Transport/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2543810/American_Truck_Simulator__Nebraska/

We have some exciting news for our #BestCommunityEver! We are teaming up with Western Star Trucks to bring you a chance for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Last year Western Star started a new tradition by hosting the unique Star Nation Experience event in Bend, Oregon, for their community. Now, for the 2024 season, we have been invited to participate! Alongside us and Western Star Trucks, two lucky American Truck Simulator players will have the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Oregon from 8th to 11th August and take part in the unforgettable Star Nation Experience 2024!


To give you an idea of what the participants can expect, let's take a look back at last year's event. In the heart of Oregon's untamed wilderness, Western Star Trucks made history with an epic 4-day event in 2023, marking the first of its kind in the trucking industry. It was a wild, adrenaline-fueled adventure celebrating everything that makes Western Star and the Star Nation community special. Eight winners of the raffle got access to the Daimler Truck North America facilities and leadership, along with an exclusive preview of the latest X-Series lineup. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the behind-the-scenes tour of Daimler's High Desert Proving Grounds in Madras, where they took on the ultimate driver challenge, pushing Western Star X-Series trucks to their limits.


And that's just the beginning, participants also indulged in a variety of outdoor adventures, from trout fly-fishing, and brand photoshoots to ATV rides, and even had the chance to meet with the legendary STARSQUATCH. It was a wild ride from start to finish, showcasing the true spirit of trucking enthusiasts coming together for an unforgettable experience.

Despite being strangers at the beginning only connected by their love for Western Star Trucks, this group immediately came together as friends and became like a family by the end of the trip. Want to see more? Dive into all the action-packed details here.

Following the success of the Star Nation Experience event in 2023, Western Star has approached us with a desire to recreate the magic in 2024 with two members from the #BestCommunityEver involved as well!


Perhaps you recall our special live stream last year, where we had the honor of hosting Anthony Pires, former Brand Manager of Western Star. During that stream, we hinted at the possibility of such a collaboration, and since then, developments have been quietly underway behind the scenes. Now, we're thrilled to announce that this project is indeed becoming a reality, and we are partnering with Western Star once again for the Star Nation Experience 2024. The event will retain the essence of its predecessor but our community will have the opportunity to participate alongside us! Want to see more? Watch the teaser for this year's event here.

Do you want to put the Western Star X-Series to the test at the Madras Proving Grounds, meet the masterminds behind the product, and spend the weekend landing monster trout and trailblazing the Oregon terrain on ATVs? Then test your luck and enter the raffle to be one of those two lucky winners of the all-expenses-paid trip and join us at the Star Nation Experience 2024 from 8th to 11th August in Bend, Oregon. You can apply here!

Before applying, we strongly advise you to review Western Star's Terms and Conditions, read the FAQ, and thoroughly examine the application form as there are specific limitations for applicants this year. For instance, this opportunity is exclusively available to individuals from the USA or Canada who are 21 years of age or older. Also, while not required for entry, a Commercial Drivers License will be required to participate in all Grand Prize trip activities. Western Star Trucks will then select two winners from applicants who meet all requirements. We wish everyone the best of luck!


In addition to the fantastic activities awaiting participants at the event, we're happy to reveal that Oscar and Nemiro from our team will also be attending. They'll not only meet with the participants and winners but will also be on hand to capture all the unforgettable moments and memories throughout the Star Nation Experience 2024!

Don't miss out on any updates regarding this exciting collaboration between us and Western Star by signing up for the Star Nation Experience 2024 newsletter at the end of this page. Also keep a close eye on Western Star's Facebook and Instagram, and our X/Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Get ready to embark on this unforgettable adventure with us!

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

As we prepare to embark on another journey through the heartlands of America with the upcoming Nebraska DLC for American Truck Simulator, we are reminded of the rich history and profound significance of the landscapes we traverse. Among the rolling plains and bustling cities of Nebraska lie monuments of remembrance, many of which pay homage to the brave souls who selflessly served their country in times of need.


Throughout Nebraska, travelers will encounter a myriad of war memorials, each one a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by countless individuals in defense of liberty and justice. From the tranquil countryside to the vivid urban centers, these memorials stand as a testament to the resilience and courage of those who answered the call of duty.







Can you recognize some of these places? Or maybe you have personally visited one of them to pay respect and honor the fallen with a minute of silence? In the spirit of remembrance and gratitude, with this upcoming expansion, we invite players of American Truck Simulator to take a moment during their travels through Nebraska to visit these sacred sites of commemoration. Let us never forget the sacrifices made by those who came before us, and strive to ensure that their legacy lives on for generations to come.


In closing, let us reflect upon the words of President Abraham Lincoln, who once said, "Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause."

Until we see you next time, we wish you a great time and happy days. Make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Don't forget to follow us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok so you won't miss out on news about this upcoming DLC and our other projects.

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

We're happy to bring you another sneak peek into our upcoming Arkansas DLC for American Truck Simulator. In this blog, we want to showcase another batch of charming Arkansas cities that truckers will be able to explore, following our previous blog about cities in Arkansas.


Fayetteville, the second-largest city in Arkansas, offers truckers a glimpse into the heart of a lively college town. As you navigate through its downtown area, you'll encounter a landscape dotted with beautiful churches, bustling banks, and the iconic courthouse. Fayetteville's vibrant atmosphere and rich cultural heritage make it a must-visit destination.





Springdale is an integral part of a conurbation that includes Fayetteville and Bentonville, forming a trio of major cities along the I-49 corridor. The US-412 cuts through Springdale as well, so we just couldn’t leave out this important checkpoint. With a history deeply rooted in the agricultural industry, Springdale was once known as the "Broiler Capital of the World," a title it earned due to its significant poultry production. Today, remnants of its agricultural legacy can still be seen throughout the city.





Fort Smith, the third-largest town in Arkansas, boasts a captivating history rooted in its military origins. Originally established as a strategic military post, Fort Smith has weathered its fair share of challenges, including a devastating tornado in April 1996. Today, the remnants of historic buildings like the Reynolds Davis building serve as poignant reminders of this natural disaster.





El Dorado stands as a testament to Arkansas's rich industrial heritage, especially during the oil boom and the World War II era. As the heart of the region's chemical, petroleum, and lumber industries, El Dorado will include all of these sectors in our game as well. From bustling refineries to lush forests, this city embodies the essence of Arkansas's industrial legacy.





We hope that players will appreciate the attention to detail and enjoy the immersive journey through the cities of Arkansas. Keep in mind the work you see here is still a work in progress. If you can't wait to get this map expansion, add it to your Steam Wishlist! Also remember to follow us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok so you won't miss out on any news. Safe travels!

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

On your travels throughout the U.S State of Nebraska, a variety of hidden gems await drivers in the form of captivating art murals and street art, transforming ordinary stretches of road into dynamic galleries. From historical references to modern interactive art, our talented teams have recreated and preserved some of these art pieces virtually in our upcoming DLC for American Truck Simulator for drivers to view and enjoy.


These roadside masterpieces, found across towns and cities large and small, offer travellers a glimpse into Nebraska's vibrant artistic tapestry and history. In today's blog, we're happy to share with you a preview into some of the ones you may spot whilst on the road.





One such mural which can be found in the city of Beatrice, depicts the Pioneers who travelled the Historic Oregon Trail seeking new opportunities in the West. At the bottom of the artwork, you'll see a representation of the Big Blue River, one of the largest tributaries of the Kansas River, which served as notable landmark for the Pioneers, which is found near the city.


This large art mural which spans across an entire wall depicts an old train station along with a locomotive, harking back to the days when these iconic steam trains traversed Nebraska and passed through the city of Bridgeport. Featured prominently on this artwork is Henry T. Clark. along with the toll bridge he built over the North Platte River, as well as iconic natural landmarks located near the city.


Some of the other art murals found across Nebraska range from commissioned pieces from the local governments depicting nearby landmarks to notable figures, to older long-standing businesses which used art as a way to attract customers, long before the days of TV and digital advertising.




Today, art comes in many different forms, one such piece of modern artwork which you'll find in this DLC is the Wings Across the Heartland project. This interactive display of art consists of wings painted on buildings in Grand Island, Nebraska and soon across communities located across NE Highway 2. You may spot a few of these on your travels, and even some of the locals posing with these wings!




Art in public places continue to play an important role in preserving culture, conveying the history of local communities, and beautifying local areas. One county in Nebraska is making it their goal to support the creation of murals throughout the area to promote the creative expression of the artist and to provide an enriching visual experience for residents and visitors. From this project, a variety of different artists have been able to display their artwork for all to enjoy.




We hope you'll look out for some of these unique art pieces and murals on your future travels through Nebraska in American Truck Simulator. Each one has their own story, and we hope you'll take the time to really appreciate the work and time put into each one, both virtually and in real life! We look forward to sharing more previews of this map expansion in the near future. Until then, keep on truckin'!

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

Welcome to St. Joseph, Missouri! Located just a stone's throw away from the state of Kansas, this charming city has a history dating back to the 19th century. Whilst this DLC is currently heavily under development, we wanted to share with you some very early previews from this upcoming U.S State for American Truck Simulator.

So please keep in mind, some of the screenshots you will see here feature areas that are still work in progress and contain some placeholders.



While this city may not look particularly too exciting at first glance, St. Joseph has a pretty famous history. One of the city's most iconic historical contributions was its pivotal role as the starting point for the Pony Express. In 1860, St. Joseph became the eastern terminus of this legendary mail delivery service, which provided a swift communication link between the eastern United States and the rapidly developing western frontier. The city's central location made it the ideal launching point for some of the most famous riders in the history of the American West.



Today, industries are still very much at the heart of the city's core. Players looking for a nearby job contract will surely find some availability in the southern portion of the city. Here you will find Grain Elevators, a Large Food Factory, and a smaller Chemical Plant, which you will be able to deliver to and from. Those doing some window shopping for a new truck will also find a Kenworth Trucks dealer in the area too!



In the Northern section of the city, you'll come across the downtown area, which features a variety of different historical buildings. Most notable are of course some of the old brick factories, houses, shops and warehouses which can still be found standing today. Here you will also find the Town Square, which features landmarks such as the “The Journey West” pilgrim statue, the Civic Arena building, and the signature Downtown Marker.



Those familiar with this area, knows of St. Joseph's proximity to the Missouri river, which travels alongside the city and acts as a State Line. One significant landmark players will be able to find along the river is the famous Swing Railway Bridge, which was opened in 1906. You'll also be able to travel on the I-229, a unique two storey Highway which runs alongside the river.



Road & River is not the only transport around these parts however! You'll also find an extensive rail network across St. Joseph, which serves as an important link for cities across the State. Many industries both locally and beyond rely on this important transportation network to move products, parts and more across the US and beyond.




There will be plenty more for you to discover on your journeys in St. Joseph and beyond. We hope you enjoyed this early showcase of this city, and look forward to visiting it yourself in American Truck Simulator in the future. If you did, be sure to add Missouri to your Steam Wishlist, as it really helps to support our future developments, including this one! Until next time, keep on truckin'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2730870/American_Truck_Simulator__Missouri/

In December, we launched the Christmas Winterland event for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator. This ended up being one of our biggest and most successful World of Trucks events in which truckers completed over 2,600,000 deliveries. Recently, we spoke with some of the developers responsible for creating the event to bring you another "Under the Hood" blog.


As this project involved dozens of people, we couldn't interview everyone, so we selected a few of them from various departments to bring you an insight into their work on the magical Christmas Winterland! Let's take a look at how we put this exciting event together.


"It was the largest World of Trucks event we've ever produced, incomparable with anything previously attempted. We wanted something more engaging and visually stimulating than previous Christmas events, but the final result was much larger than what we initially discussed," says Gavin, our game designer.

The discussions about the Christmas event first took place in November 2022, so more than a year before its release. "The initial idea we had for this project was to create a wintery and magical depot, impressive in looks, with an environment attractive enough that you would be willing to come back to it for the duration of the event, with three portal entrances offering different routes to reach the depot," Gavin shares with us.

An event this big required everyone to chip in to make it on time so we could deliver the Winterland to our community in perfect shape. "A lot of people were involved! There were sixty people in the event channel. On the whole, the event called upon many disciplines; gameplay and event design, production, map design, asset design and research, vehicles, technical art, programming, audio design, 2D graphic design, and quality assurance. It was the incredible effort made by all the teams that made this event possible," Gavin tells us.


Lucie, our producer, managed the Christmas Winterland map and asset production, which required facilitating communication and assisting all teams in identifying and resolving issues. Her previous map designer experience was of great help in this process.


"It was my first project and it wasn't exactly a small one. Challenges were found almost every other day, from unfixed bugs to lost assets, and map hacks. All year I acted as a sort of organizational glue connecting people pushing the production forward and doing everything I could to make sure we got it done in the end and surprised our community. I'm so happy that we did it together and it was a great honor to work with everyone," Lucie reflected on her work on this project.


The magical snowy Christmas Winterland map was created by our map designer Milan who walks us through the process: "The map was done in several steps and it was a bit different from a normal production. We had to find an angle that had the reality of trucking while evoking the festive and slightly fairy-tale feeling of Winterland. We ultimately chose a world resembling old Christmas postcards. We also tackled the size and content of the map, the result was determined by the time limit we had. Also due to this, the map creation was done through the heavy use of placeholders and alternate solutions, which pushed the final testing phase a bit and led to some hectic work at the end of the project. But otherwise, it was enjoyable, thanks to the enthusiasm of everyone involved."

"Probably the most complicated part of the whole project was the fact that the map and the assets had to work for both ETS2 and ATS and since it was the first time we did such a thing, it was not without problems. But we made it," Milan says.


What makes every map come to life are the assets such as houses or cars and the surroundings. In Winterland, we had to give them a layer of snow for the first time which was quite challenging as Anna told us.


"I used procedural generators to decorate and cover most of the assets on the map with snow. The biggest challenge was to maintain a balance between beautiful visuals and performance. Due to the geometry of the snow, the 3D model polycount was significantly higher than our usual standard. We had about two hundred such models in Winterland, so there was a bit of a risk. Players could officially see snow for the first time, that's why everyone on our team was excited to give the best Christmas gift to our best community," says Anna, our artist.





The first part of work on the assets was done by our research team who gathered reference material as guidance and inspiration for our asset makers.


"This event was special for ATS & ETS2 in many ways, it was important to gather all possible references and inspiration that would help the process of creating the Christmas map. Part of that work was also the design of Christmas depots, including their brands. We made sure they felt warm, welcoming, and in the right spirit for the event. That was the fun part for us," says Mary, our researcher.


Not only did we come up with a new map, but we also made specific trailer and truck paint jobs for this event which turned out to be more difficult than one might think. Tomáš, our graphic designer responsible for the paint jobs, told us more about it.


"The main goal was to come up with 5 trailers, each representing a specific Winterland depot. Dealing with the paint job was complicated, as it had to be compatible with both European and American trailers, which differ in size. In the end, we created one identical frame that was the same for all the trailers, but only the inside of the frame was changed."

"The next step was to come up with a paint job for the truck that would match all the trailers. As with the trailers, we created a single paint job for the cab that was compatible with both ETS2 and ATS. Despite the initial nervousness, I ended up appreciating that the team gave me this task and I was able to be part of my first big project which allowed me to develop some new skills. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of this project," Tomáš says.



The Character Assets department had a lot of work on their plate. They had to develop completely new characters for the Winterland map and create new animations for them. The most memorable ones were probably the ice skaters on the frozen pond.


"For the event, we have created an extensive list of new characters and their animations in winter clothes with a sufficient number of variants - 16 women and 8 men with 10 versions of each character. In addition to human characters, a group of reindeer and an animation of the crank mechanism of a steam locomotive were created for this event. Another task we participated in was the modification and creation of new particle emitters like snow coming from the truck and trailer wheels and different types of smoke from chimneys and the locomotive," says Rado, our Character Assets lead.


Another task the team had to tackle was the design and implementation of the portal tech. "Early in the project, we decided that each generated Christmas event job should have a decent selection of portals available nearby. We also did not want to place the portals at services or garages; those would not feel magical enough. In the end, we decided to use parking areas outside of cities," Sipak, our programmer, says.

"This was a challenging task since parking areas weren't designed to support the spawning of vehicles after players teleported there. We developed a set of algorithms that automatically decided which parking areas are suitable for portals, find safe spots where the player's vehicle teleports to, and decide which portals to use so it's neither too far from nor too close to the destination and also on the correct side of the highway. We also had to teach the servers about the portals to enable them to generate the event jobs, and to update the game's UI in many places to correctly support jobs where the player, not the GPS, chooses the path," Sipak shares with us.


To add as much realism as possible, we also needed to adjust the truck's physics of driving on snow and ice, which our programmer Max told us about.


"Creating the support for snow, snowy roads, and ice physics simulation was fun indeed. Since we introduced an electronic stability protocol with more precise simulation and refined physical behavior in the previous update, we could make use of that even further. The rest was just a matter of fine-tuning the ABS, ASR, and automatic gearbox shifting conditions to fit the new terrains and physical materials. Now we have another source of trucking fun, especially if you disable all those assistants," Max told us.


And we cannot forget about those beautiful cabin accessories you received if you successfully completed the event! Those cute Christmas-themed decorations were made by our graphic designer, Wolfka.


"This year, thanks to a completely new map for the Christmas event, the approach to inventing accessories was a little different than in previous years. In the past, the overall theme of the event was more of an issue, but this year it was necessary to connect the interior decorations to the individual depots the players were going to while still maintaining the connection to Christmas and the event theme. The biggest challenge in creating the Christmas toys was to make them in a short time so that they were presentable and exuded the Christmas spirit, which I think was successful and resulted in a beautiful collection that combines the classic Christmas colors. Does anyone have any idea where you can get a sweater exactly like the one I made? I'd love to wear it next Christmas," says Wolfka about her work on the project.



Of course, before we release any new content, we must test it thoroughly to ensure that our #BestCommunityEver can enjoy it without any problems along the way and this event was no different.


"Testing the Christmas event was a fascinating and challenging experience. At QA, we were aware that this big event required the utmost care as it was a Christmas gift for our community. I was excited about finally having snow in the game, and eager to see the players' reaction when they saw it. It was very interesting to tweak the behavior of the truck on the snow. Our programmers did a great job of maintaining a sufficient simulation without affecting the fun of truck control. Zigzagging on a frozen lake leaves many fond memories, especially when a flying tree suddenly appears next to you or you plummet under the roadway into an endless abyss," says Petr, our Senior Tester.


We also had a beautiful old-school steam locomotive driving around the map which gave it a more fairy-tale feeling. Our graphic designer Dino tells us about designing this locomotive. "One of the things I didn't expect to work on in our games was a steam locomotive. I didn't have any knowledge of it prior to this task, so the researching of the components was very fun. And since it's supposed to be an AI vehicle, it means it will be animated so all the logical moving parts should be there. Texturing was very fun too, and it was all very well coordinated by Lucie, the producer. She was giving quick feedback which helped to achieve the Christmas feel of the old locomotive and wagons," Dino says.



With a project this big, the teams had to overcome a lot of challenges. "Especially understanding and agreeing to the artistic vision as a team; there were many challenges in conveying and iterating the creative vision with all key stakeholders. Effort forecasting and scheduling were difficult, because of the uncertainties surrounding the new map-loading technology and the portals," says Gavin.

"Testing posed another significant hurdle, due to new gameplay mechanics, especially regarding the impact on convoys in multiplayer. The logistics and resource management were also complicated due to other competing high-priority projects. Moreover, fine-tuning assets and refining the environment presented their own set of obstacles, due to the nuances of the Christmas event lore and the information that we wanted to convey to the player," Gavin adds.

Even though there were a few last-minute concerns and challenges, we luckily resolved them and released the event in time. "When we finally saw what the event was going to be like, once it came together and was being reviewed and tested, it galvanized the teams to commit to the final level of polish to make the map and event really shine. And typically, it’s that last ten percent of polish that requires the greatest effort. We simply saw that the event was so good, we had to nail it for the players, and for ourselves, since we had been working on it for such a long time," Gavin concludes.


This definitely isn't the last time you're seeing the magical Christmas Winterland. We are already having discussions and design meetings on how we can improve the whole concept and technology for future events to come, so stay tuned for that! [/u]Remember to follow us on our social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) so you won't miss out on any news about our upcoming events. Until then, we'll see you on the road!