Fans of Euro Truck Simulator 2 can soon look forward to stepping out of the cab of their trucks and into a very different driving seat: a bus seat, to be precise.
First teased in June 2025, ‘Project Coaches’ is set to introduce a whole new game mode to the evergreen truck sim, which will activate with the release of ETS 2’s Coaches DLC (now available to Wishlist on Steam).
As a teaser, developer SCS Software has allowed a behind-the-scenes look at the processes involved in bringing coaches to the game, featuring insights from Senior 3D Vehicle Artist Vitalii.
Although little information is available on the new game mode, Vitalii believes it will encourage a more sedate style of gameplay: “The core focus of this update is exploration,” he explains, “It encourages a slower pace, letting them see the game world from a new perspective, which I think will be very rewarding,” he continues.
Scania access
The only manufacturer confirmed for ‘Project Coaches’ thus far is Scania, with SCS receiving unfettered access to conduct its vehicle research.
“I actually had the opportunity to go on a business trip myself to see the real coaches firsthand,” states Vitalii. “This was incredibly valuable, as it allowed me to personally observe and capture all the necessary details I needed to accurately recreate them in the game.”
“I mainly use Blender for the modelling phase,” he continues, describing the process of translating primary sources into ETS 2. “For creating my own custom tileable textures, I rely heavily on Substance Designer [and] I sometimes use Marmoset Toolbag to generate precise light maps,” he concludes.
The challenge of working on a coach as opposed to a truck has also thrown up some unique challenges, however: “Coaches are significantly more spacious than trucks,” says Vitalii, “and [they] inherently contain a lot more geometry and detail… We really had to figure out new approaches to keep the visual quality high while ensuring polycounts remained low,” he explains, highlighting the difficulty of balancing visual detail and game performance with the new content.
“We’ve paid close attention to the atmosphere inside the coaches… Players might notice intricate details on the interiors and passenger areas that really bring the space to life,” he stated.
With SCS’s other truck title, American Truck Simulator, set to include drivable cars and pickup trucks soon, it feels like the Czech developer is entering a new era, presumably filled with DLC and fresh game modes. This is certain to please both titles’ passionate and sizable fan base.
Are you looking forward to driving coaches in Euro Truck Simulator 2? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: SCS Software
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