We're thrilled to announce the arrival of the The Fifth Generation Cascadia from Freightliner in American Truck Simulator, which is now available to purchase and drive in-game. This release is especially exciting, as we've worked closely with the team at Freightliner to synchronize its real-life premiere and launch with our virtual implementation.
Ready to hit the road? Let's take a closer look at the newest generation of this iconic on-highway truck.
The Fifth Generation Cascadia is the most advanced on-highway truck Freightliner has ever offered, featuring a cutting edge aerodynamic package with chassis fairings, skirts, cabin extenders, roof fairings, front wheel closeouts and a new aerodynamic hood. These features help streamline airflow and reduce drag, extending the fuel efficiency and range on each journey.
Drivers can also take advantage of the new MirrorEye® digital camera system on the Fifth Generation Cascadia, which provides considerably better vision for the driver, even when light or weather conditions are challenging.
The design of The Fifth Generation Cascadia has been inspired and tested by The SuperTruck II, a prototype truck from Freightliner which is used to push the boundaries of Freightliner's vision for sustainable design by optimizing current technologies.
We'd like to thank our friends at Freightliner and Daimler Truck North America for allowing us to work with them closely to launch this truck both the real world and virtual American Truck Simulator world with early access reference material. We know our community are going to really enjoy this new addition!
We were also given the opportunity to collect our own reference shots and record sounds with the Fifth Generation Cascadia at the High Desert Proving Ground in Madras, Oregon. We look forward to sharing more about our trip and our time with the Cascadia in a future SCS On The Road episode!
It's time to get trucking! We are looking forward to hearing about your first experiences with The Fifth Generation Cascadia from Freightliner. Share with us and Freightliner your screenshots, videos and more, and we'd love to share them. See you on the road!
We're back in the USA for our newest SCS On The Road episode! Join us in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the Mack Experience Centre as we check out the legendary Mack® Pinnacle, which was recently added as a driveable truck in American Truck Simulator as part of a free recent update (see our blog about it here).
During our visit, we had the pleasure of meeting with Christopher Bzik, the Manager of Sales Engineering at Mack Trucks, who gave us an in-depth tour of the Mack® Pinnacle, both inside and out. This episode is packed with valuable insights, including the rich history of Mack Trucks and what makes the Pinnacle such an iconic truck, along with much more, so be sure to watch it all!
We'd like to thank our partners at Mack Trucks for allowing us to film and share this episode with you, and for the team's kind hospitality when we visited them in Allentown. We really learnt a lot about this incredible truck, and we are sure you will too.
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love to hear your comments! Be sure to let us know something new you learned about the Mack® Pinnacle, along with a like and a subscribe, it really helps support our channel and videos. We will see you soon for the next episode, until then, keep on truckin'!
Whilst Maryville isn't the biggest city in our upcoming Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator, it still has plenty to offer to both truckers and visitors alike! Today we're happy to share with you more about this area, which our team has recreated in detail. Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Located in the rolling hills of the northwest, Maryville is a small town with big hospitality. Whether you’re visiting or passing through on a long-haul drive, be sure to take a moment to admire everything this city has to offer.
In Maryville you'll come across several recreated landmarks such as the local church, which was originally built in 1897 (but has since been upgraded and expanded over time). The historic Nodaway County Courthouse, with its iconic structure and clocktower, and other notetable landmarks such as the local firehouse and the Maryville Treatment Center can also be found there.
If you're looking to pick up some work while you are there, Maryville has no shortage of industries that are looking for drivers! Downtown you'll find a range of industries from warehouses to construction sites and even car parts factory. If you happen to be travelling on the outskirts, you can find other industries such as farms with livestock and a wind power plant.
If you're just in town for a break, be sure to take advantage of the local truck stop, where you can rest up for the journey ahead!
We look forward to sharing more previews from the Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator in the near future. If you like what you see, you can support us by adding Missouri to your Steam Wishlist. A big thank you to everyone who has already, it really means a lot! Until next time, keep on truckin'.
We know you have probably been wondering what our next state will be in American Truck Simulator after the teaser we published some time ago. Well, most of you guessed it right! Today we are excited to announce that our team is hard at work creating...
Louisiana for American Truck Simulator
Embark on a journey to the Pelican State nestled in the south of the U.S.. Discover the subtropical climate of the state which has provided the magnificent brooding scenery of the coastal bayous, and the lush, dank vegetation.
Truckers can look forward to the beautiful and iconic landscape of this southern state, historical cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge, miles and miles of long stretching roads, and also the Mississippi River delta that has helped shaped how the area looks today.
The diverse landscape contributes to the unique beauty of this state, as visitors can find three types of regions there. The lowlands consist of the coastal marshes and the Mississippi floodplain. The Red River valley is typical for its red soil and many raft lakes. In the northern part of the state, you will mainly find some rolling hills.
Louisiana has a diverse variety of industries ranging from agricultural production, fishing, or forestry, to petroleum, gas, and coal. Thanks to this, drivers can haul plenty of different cargo types in and out of the Pelican State. We cannot understate the importance of waterways in this state, especially its canal system and the crucial role ports play, such as the port of New Orleans, which ranks among the busiest in the country in terms of volume of seaborne freight handled, so there is plenty of cargo to transport for everyone!
We look forward to sharing more from this state with you in future blog posts. But for now, please remember that everything you see here is still very much a work in progress and may not represent the final product when it is released.
Excited about Louisiana? Then be sure to add this map expansion to your Steam Wishlist as it really helps support our future projects. To stay in touch with all the latest news, don't forget to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok a follow as you'll receive any announcements or updates straight to your feed! We look forward to sharing more with you down the road.
Every October since 1985, organizations and people from around the world help raise awareness and support local charities in the fight against Breast Cancer. Known as Pinktober, this special month is marked by the iconic pink ribbon, a symbol of unity and strength. It also serves as a reminder that breast cancer impacts many lives, and that we should educate, inform, and empower individuals to make proactive choices about their health.
At the heart of Pinktober is the importance of knowledge and awareness. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer can lead to early detection, which significantly improves outcomes. By committing to regular self-exams and professional check-ups, we can play a crucial role in safeguarding our own health. Moreover, sharing this vital information with those around us helps amplify the mission of breast cancer awareness.
Pinktober reminds us all that taking care of our health should be a top priority. Encouraging regular screenings, health check-ups, and advocating for these practices within our communities, friends and families is at the core of what this campaign stands for.
Since 2019, we've been proud to actively support and bring awareness to this important cause. Our community has been at the core in helping us raise funds for our local charity of choice, the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer, by purchasing our special Pinktober DLCs for American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2 from which 100% of the income goes to charity every year.
We've had the pleasure of meeting with those involved in this charity organisation, as well as hosting numerous educational talks at our offices in the past. We encourage you to check out their work at their website, which you can find here.
We'd like to express our sincerest gratitude to every player who has purchased these special charity packs, your contributions have helped save lives and support those who are directly impacted by Breast Cancer.
If you're looking to make a tangible impact and add some unique flair to your trucks, now is a perfect time to purchase or gift these DLCs. By customizing your trucks with Pink Ribbon designs and sharing them online using #Pinktober2024, you can help spread awareness while supporting the cause.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported Pinktober over the years. Whether through donations, awareness campaigns, or participating in educational events, your efforts have a lasting impact. Together, we continue to bring hope and change to the lives of those affected by breast cancer.
It has been a few weeks since we released the Arkansas map expansion for American Truck Simulator and as always, it is time for us to take a deep dive into the feedback our community has provided us with. You have been flooding us with both screenshots and videos from this new DLC and we really appreciate both the positive reactions and constructive criticism. So let's take a look at what our #BestCommunityEver had to say about Arkansas.
Make sure to keep the content from Arkansas coming as we really love to watch your videos and photos or read the messages and feedback that you are sending us. The best way for it to reach us is by tagging us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, or sharing your impressions on our official SCS Forum! We would like to express our thanks to everyone who took the time to create and share some Arkansas DLC content so far and to all those who will do that from now on.
We have also received plenty of positive feedback via the review on Arkansas' Steam page. These nice comments really make our day and push us to keep working hard in delivering our community exciting new content that they enjoy.
If you want to, you can still write a review for Arkansas DLC on the Steam page. We would really appreciate it! You can find the review section if you scroll to the bottom of the Arkansas Steam page.
We also managed to reach some of the content creators who often make content from our games. They sent us their opinions on the Arkansas DLC and some of those made us really happy! You can look at them below. Don't forget to drop by their channel and give them a follow to support their work.
MESETNEOMAN® [Black]
"Arkansas is a legendary region that I have been seriously waiting for a long time. After the unique details of Texas, the announcement of Arkansas made me ecstatic. The first thing I did after receiving the early access was to buy a brand-new Mack Pinnacle. Watching the rivers and hearing the sounds of nature in the rough parts of Arkansas with the Pinnacle took me to more than just the game, I felt it. Finally, Little Rock and other cities really fascinated me with their details. Whether it was the intricate city details or the fascinating adventure of nature, Arkansas offered me more than just a map DLC. SCS Software has given us endless pleasure with this unique early access and subsequent detailed presentations. I would like to extend my eternal respect to the community officials and then to all the other team members. Don't miss this unique experience..." - MESETNEOMAN® [Black] & Murat Arda Güldiken.
meLadyBear
"The Arkansas DLC is taking us further East! This expansion allows us to drive our rigs across the map of the beautiful state of Arkansas. We now have 10 more amazing cities to haul to and from including Little Rock and Hot Springs. Many amazing landmarks as well, don't forget to check out the Arlington Hotel! But that’s not all, as with each new DLC, Arkansas DLC brings us new challenges and missions that will keep us hooked for hours. Arkansas is a state of stunning natural beauty, with beautiful rolling hills, dense forests, and the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers! The scenery is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. From the driver's seat, we can view the gorgeous mountain ranges," - meLadyBear.
Duude
"Wow, what can I say about the Arkansas DLC! What an amazing addition to American Truck Simulator. This DLC offers over 10 epic cities to explore and many hours to enjoy cruising around. Yet again SCS Software has smashed it with another brilliant DLC with great detail, great scenery, and epic roads to explore. I have certainly enjoyed cruising around Arkansas and the impressive scenery. I thank SCS Software for the work that they have done with the Arkansas DLC. I wonder what they have installed in the future," - Duude.
Nightmare_se
"Welcome to Arkansas y'all! In this DLC you can tell that we are getting into the Eastern United States as the landscape transitions from arid landscapes and grassy plains over to small mountain ranges, forestry, and fertile lowland. All of which SCS has managed to capture in great detail. The cities represented are a good variation ranging from the most populated city of Little Rock all the way down to very small communities you drive through between the map represented cities. With new DLCs come new features and industries. I and my community thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic loading and unloading of logs at the new logging sites. Hot Springs is the must-see city of this DLC for me. With this DLC comes another section of Interstate 40 which was the Interstate I traveled most as an over-the-road driver, bringing back memories and bringing me one step closer to being able to recreate those east-to-west long hauls I enjoyed so much. Hope to see y'all in Arkansas," - Nightmare_se.
We are excited to have you hit the roads of Arkansas! Keep sharing your adventures with us by using #CruisingArkansas on social media. Stay tuned for more updates by following our social media channels (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok). We'll see you on the road!
Last year, a few members of our American Truck Simulator map team travelled to the USA to gather information and references for our upcoming Iowa DLC. In this blog post, we'll offer you a peek into the team's exciting adventures as they ventured through the state, and what they experienced whilst there!
We spoke with Saimon, the DLC Lead more about this trip. "In the summer of 2023, we embarked on a Research Trip that took us across the states of Nebraska and Iowa." Saimon tells us "we combined these two destinations because the same team members who worked on the Nebraska DLC were also responsible for the development of Iowa. This makes perfect sense since both states are geographically connected, share a similar culture and environment, and are close to each other in many ways."
"Our map designers involved in this trip were Petra (Draky), Antonín (Tony), Jan (Vacky), and Saimon. Over five days, they travelled approximately 1,000 miles, visiting various large and small towns, driving on highways and back roads, and exploring different landmarks and logistical areas."
"Our goal was to thoroughly understand how the state looks and functions. We were interested in what might catch our attention and surprise us, as well as what differences we could find compared to neighbouring states that we would want to portray authentically. Let's take a look at some of these interesting discoveries together."
Saimon goes on to explain "The first thing that caught our attention when traveling from Nebraska to Iowa were the expansive hills with terraced fields, picturesque farms with round silos, and countless wind turbines on the horizon. The way the highway rise and fell with the terrain, and wildflowers bloomed on the side of the road. Later, we learnt that the state of Iowa takes special care to protect native flowers and grasses as part of its environmental program."
"As we travelled through Iowa, its nickname "The Corn State" was fully on display. Cornfields alternated with soybeans, and vast plains and terraced fields stretched out in every direction. Agriculture plays a crucial role here, evident not only from the endless fields but also from the abundance of farming equipment, dealers, and agricultural machinery factories we encountered at every turn."
"When we arrived from the vast meadows and plains into the towns, we were pleasantly surprised by their charm and rich culture. Many of these towns are situated along rivers, giving us the opportunity to admire majestic bridges, charming harbors, and interesting landmarks. We were struck by how varied the towns are, with historic buildings often adorned with red brick facades. At night, some of these structures are beautifully illuminated, and combined with the water features, they create truly breathtaking scenes."
"The vast logistics parks and industrial areas reminded us of the key role industry plays in Iowa and were a great source of inspiration for us. We also had the opportunity to visit a variety of trucks stop, both large and small! These stops not only provided our team with a break, but also a source of inspiration when it comes to trucking culture in America."
"The entire trip proved to be extremely beneficial for our development team. By personally visiting and exploring the state of Iowa, we now have a much clearer idea of how to authentically capture its character in the game."
"We gained valuable insights that will allow us to convey the atmosphere of this region not only visually but also through gameplay mechanics and details that will immerse players in a world inspired by a real place. This experience provided us with the essential context that we could never fully grasp from maps and photos, and we're excited to bring this into our game."
We hope you've found this insight on the team's trip to Iowa interesting. Don't forget to follow us on our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok so you won't miss out on news about the development of the Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator. Until next time, keep on truckin'!
As always, a few weeks after a DLC release, it is time to announce the next state we are heading to. Today is not the day yet but we have just a little teaser for you which may help you guess our next journey in American Truck Simulator.
While we would 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. If you couldn't guess from the first screenshot, maybe this short video will help you.
Got an idea now? Well, let us know in the comments below where you think our steps will lead to next in American Truck Simulator. Still no clue? Well, there are a few more screenshots you can take a look at and guess.
When the time is right, we look forward to sharing more news on what you can expect when traveling to this part of the US. So make sure to follow this blog and our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Until then, keep on truckin'!
We have another preview of the Missouri map expansion for our #BestCommunityEver! This time, we would like to show you some of the new models our asset makers are working on which you will find scattered across the map in this upcoming DLC. You will also read about how they prepare the models from scratch for their final design.
Keep in mind that these models showcased here are not the only new assets we have been working on, and that this DLC is still a work in progress. Among many other models, we are proud to show you these beauties inspired by the real-world locations in various parts of Missouri such as the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, the Joplin church, the statue in Kirksville, St. Joseph's water building or the pedestrian bridge in Rolla. But that's not all, in total, we have put together over 350 new models just for this map expansion!
Are you interested to know how these models are put together? Our talented asset makers work on them in Autodesk Maya from the first draft to the final design. As you can see in the first image below, first they put together a basic model with no details and textures, serving as a placeholder for more adjustments.
Once they have that done, they proceed to modify the geometry and add details. In this step, it is important to have an overview of the model structure, which allows them to modify the shape and detailed elements. In the image below, you can see the model in Shade mode without textures, with the wireframe view added. This shows how the model is structured and how the different parts of the model relate to each other.
The last step is to apply the textures and make final adjustments. Now, you can see the final look of the model, ready to be used in a variety of applications. On the very first picture of this blog, you can also see this model's final look in the game.
We hope you are looking forward to trucking in the Missouri DLC. If you do, make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! And don't forget to follow us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, so you won't miss out on any American Truck Simulator news. Until next time, happy travels!
Earlier this year, we announced that we have teamed up with Western Star Trucks for the Star Nation Experience 2024 in this blog. Along with us, Western Star Trucks, and members of the Star Nation community, two lucky American Truck Simulator players had the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Bend, Oregon, and take part in this unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Unfortunately, the original date for the Star Nation Experience 2024 had to be cancelled due to the wildfires spreading in the area. As a result, Western Star, in cooperation with local authorities, firefighters, and sheriffs, made the decision to postpone the event to ensure everyone's safety. The new date has now been announced: the event will take place from September 27 to September 30! And today, we are excited to introduce the two participants from our ATS community, so let's meet them.
But first, we shall remind you of what this amazing event is all about. In the heart of Oregon's untamed wilderness, Western Star Trucks hosted the first Star Nation Experience last year for eight lucky winners of their raffle, marking the first of its kind in the trucking industry.
It is a wild, adrenaline-fueled experience filled with trucking, fly fishing, ATV fun, and more adventures celebrating everything that makes Western Star and the Star Nation community special. The highlight of the event is undoubtedly the behind-the-scenes tour of Daimler's High Desert Proving Grounds in Madras, where they took on the ultimate driver challenge last year, pushing Western Star X-Series trucks to their limits. And this year will be no different.
As we already mentioned above, for the Star Nation Experience 2024, Western Star has invited us to participate but also dedicated two slots of the team of eight lucky winners to members of our American Truck Simulator community. Our friends at Western Star received plenty of applications and a few weeks ago, they selected the winners. We are very excited to meet with all of them, especially with the two from our community - Connor and Brendan.
Brendan
Brendan's passion for trucking traces all the way back to his childhood. "I’ve been obsessed ever since I was a kid. I would always play with toy trucks and pull wagons around in my yard," he says. This early fascination grew into a full-blown obsession with trucks, leading him to discover the world of ATS and a career as a driver.
Since 2019, Brendan has been an avid player, drawn to the game's meticulous detail and immersive environments, which realistically replicated real trucking experiences. In ATS, Brendan's vehicle of choice is the Western Star 4900EX, inspired by his fond memories of riding in his father's truck as a child. Captivated by its iconic design and reliability, Brendan enthusiastically recreated his favorite truck in-game, using mods to enhance his virtual trucking adventures.
Outside of ATS, Brendan's dedication to trucking extends into his professional life, where he spends most of his time on the road, logging miles as a professional truck driver.
Connor
Connor’s passion for ATS began with the original Euro Truck Simulator when he was just 12 years old. "There was something about the open road and the sounds of the truck engine that always pulled me into playing more," Connor recalled.
In the virtual realm of ATS, Connor drives his favorite truck, the Western Star 57X, relishing its smooth rides and long-haul comfort. The truck's iconic logo holds a special place in Conor’s heart; it resonates with him - something he identifies with. Beyond gaming, Connor values ATS for its ability to offer a temporary escape from the humdrum of everyday life as well as the opportunity for him to immerse himself in the role of an owner-operator, participating in virtual convoys and engaging with a community of fellow trucking enthusiasts.
We would like to thank Western Star Truck for this wonderful opportunity to be a part of this adventure along with the members of our American Truck Simulator community. Keep a close eye on Western Star's Facebook and Instagram, and our X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook so you don't miss out on any news from the Star Nation Experience 2024 which Nemiro and Mark will also attend. Get ready to embark on this unforgettable adventure with us!