SCS Software – developers of sleeper megahit Euro Truck Simulator 2 – has announced that the upcoming v1.44 update to its other truck game American Truck Simulator will receive playable drop deck trailer types for the first time.
This will join an improved ability to find hidden roads across both American Truck Simulator (ATS) and Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2). So-called hidden routes will be much easier to find and explore thanks to being shown on the World Map.
A hatched orange line shows the hidden route, with a grey line denoting the road left to explore. Handy, as these roads commonly lead to something interesting…
The new drop deck trailers can bear heavy loads due to their low centre of gravity, forcing the development team to design smaller tyres, rims and hubs to suit the new models.
The trailers will come in 48ft or 53ft configurations, with two, three or four axles – perfect for hauling huge items such as aircraft engines or heavy plant machinery. They will also have the following customisable items:
- Front walls
- Wind deflector
- Warning flags
- Aluminum boxes
- Chrome boxes
- Side markers
- Rear banners (long load, oversize load, wide load)
- Rear bumpers
- Mudflaps
California dreaming
As well as update v1.44, ATS is also set to feature some map retouching, with a California Rework in the making. Much like ETS2’s Austria Rework we reported on earlier this month.
Much like Ingolstadt and Linz, California will see particular focus paid to its bridge network, with much improved Carquinez and John F. McCarthy Memorial Bridges. Toll booths – California is the only State in ATS where they feature – and truck stops will also see some attention and seems to be part of a constant improvement process across both ETS2 and ATS.
With further ETS2 map improvements coming to the British road networks in future, there’s a lot for the virtual trucking community to get excited about, especially as ATS has Montana and Texas updates coming soon.
What are you most looking forward to in Euro Truck Simulator 2/American Truck Simulator? Let us know in the comments below.
