Today, we are happy to share with you that the 1.51 Open Beta branch for American Truck Simulator is now available to try and test out. If you plan on participating in this Open Beta, we ask that you please help us by reporting any bugs you may encounter in the appropriate section(s) of our official forums.
Your feedback and reports are extremely valuable to our team and we thank you in advance for taking the time to help us out. So, without further ado, let's take a look at what the 1.51 Open Beta has in store.
New Title Screen
One of the first and most prominent changes you will encounter in this update is a complete redesign of our Title Screen. Whilst keeping in line with our recent user interface rework, we wanted a design which is easy to navigate and understand for all players.
First and foremost, one of the main difference you'll notice about the new Title Screen is the focus on a truck in the centre of the screen. On the left, you'll find the menu which allows easy access to the more important features of the game, such as Options, and other sub-menus such as the DLC (formerly DLC Browser) and the Mod Manager, which will display the number of MODs active next to it if you have any installed.
To access your Profile Manager, just simply click your profile widget located in the top right of the menu screen.
Functionally, we have also made navigation more comfortable with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard from the moment you launch ETS2 or ATS. This design also leaves us space to make tweaks and changes where needed, as well as make additions in the future.
We'd like to thank the community for their feedback on the first iteration of this Title Screen, which was showcased in a recent blog. We look forward to hearing your comments on this version during the 1.51 Open Beta.
Dynamic Cargo (Un)Loading of Grainhoppers
In the 1.50 update, we introduced a dynamic loading and unloading feature for Nebraska DLC's custom agriculture depots using a grain hopper trailer. Now, we are happy to reveal that in the 1.51 update for American Truck Simulator, we are going to add more animated loading options as well as depots where players will encounter this feature!
Truckers delivering with their own grain hopper trailer will experience dynamic loading and unloading when transporting corn, soybean, grain, sugar beet, pelleted animal food, potatoes, or cotton seed not only in Nebraska but also in custom depots found in the Kansas DLC, the upcoming Arkansas DLC, and in "prefab" depots across American Truck Simulator.
You can read more about this feature in a blogpost we recently released. We look forward to hearing your comments.
I-44 and more for Oklahoma DLC
The missing link along the I-44 has been frequently requested by our community, so we are glad to be able bring this new content as part of the upcoming 1.51 update for ATS.
Currently in the Oklahoma DLC, the middle section of Interstate 44 through Oklahoma City is missing. However in the 1.51 update, we are happy to be able to bring this section in, connecting the western and eastern sections and completing I-44 in Oklahoma. This will of course come as a free update to all current owners of the Oklahoma DLC.
That is not all however, the I-44 will also include two new depots for players to deliver to and from; a furniture store and a construction site. Along with this addition, players will also be treated to 2 new truck stops on the I-40. If you'd like to read more about these changes, check out the dedicated blog on this topic which we released recently.
Vegetation Update for Texas DLC
In collaboration with our vegetation department, our map designers have replaced the older pines with the more accurate loblolly pines native to Texas!
The loblolly pines were initially created for the Arkansas DLC but also naturally grow in Texas. To enhance realism and ensure a smoother transition when driving between these states, truckers will now encounter an abundance of these trees throughout the entire eastern part of Texas - along roads, in forests, and within towns.
We hope you will appreciate our teams' attention to detail, going back to previously released map expansions and updating them based on your feedback to correct any imperfections!
Custom City Intros for Oregon DLC
We are happy to share that we have now expanded Custom City Intros to the Oregon DLC for American Truck Simulator!
These special cutscenes appear when a player selects a starting city when creating a new profile. We hope that new players (or those restarting a new profile) will enjoy these new additions, showcasing the area where you have chosen to begin.
We hope you enjoy this addition, and we look forward to introducing it to more states in the future.
FlowBelow Update for Various Trucks
We've teamed up with FlowBelow to extend the possibilities if having the FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit™ installed on a number of trucks in American Truck Simulator. Players will now have the choice of having FlowBelow fairings and wheel covers on the following vehicles:
Kenworth T680
Peterbilt 579
Volvo VNL
Mack Anthem
Freightliner Cascadia
Western Star 5700XE and 57X
In the real world , the FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit™ delivers fuel savings for drivers on the road, and can be found installed on thousands of trucks across the United States. For players in American Truck Simulator, we're happy to bring this economical solution to your virtual fleet.
It also has the added benefit of minimizing turbulence and improving aerodynamics by surrounding the drive wheels to better manage the air that moves around the tractor while in motion.
We hope that you enjoy using FlowBelow on your future journeys in American Truck Simulator, be sure to share pictures of your newly installed kit on our official social media channels.
Options QoL Improvements
The main change is the addition of a search bar for easier navigation across all settings categories. When a search is conducted, matches will be displayed in the current setting category, and sections where the search term also appears will be highlighted.
We have also reorganized the existing options in the settings for better clarity. These options are now divided into subcategories within each section. Additionally, two new categories, "Interface" and "Accessibility," have been added to the bottom menu for better distribution.
We've also introduced some changes that provide ease of access when it comes to changing the Desktop Background in ETS2 and ATS. You can now change your menu background directly using a shortcut from the main menu, or alternatively, you can access the same option via the interface section in your settings.
However, that's not all! We've now also made it possible to preview your backgrounds before changing them. Simply click on the background of your choice via the carousel, and you'll be presented with a short preview of how it would look, before confirming your selection.
Players will also be notified through a small widget on the main menu if they have received a new Desktop Background option as part of an event reward or update. Clicking on this will also direct you to the new settings which are implemented in this update.
Changelog
Map
I-44 update for the Oklahoma DLC
Vegetation update for the Texas DLC
Gameplay
Dynamic cargo (un)loading of Grain hoppers
Vehicles
FlowBelow update for various trucks
UI
New Title Screen
Search bar added to the settings menu
Accessibility and Interface categories added to the settings menu
Improved changing of desktop background
So enjoy all the new additions, but please remember: It's only an open beta, not a stable public version - so you may encounter bugs, instability, 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 of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in this section.
Please 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 → 1.51. No password is required. Sometimes you have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.
In the 1.50 update, we introduced a dynamic loading and unloading feature for Nebraska DLC's custom agriculture depots using a grain hopper trailer. Now, we are happy to reveal that in the upcoming 1.51 update for American Truck Simulator, we are going to add more animated loading options as well as depots where players will encounter this feature!
Truckers delivering with their own grain hopper trailer will experience dynamic loading and unloading when transporting corn, soybean, grain, sugar beet, pelleted animal food, potatoes, or cotton seed not only in Nebraska but also in custom depots of Kansas and Arkansas as well as "prefab" depots across the whole USA.
But that is not all! This upcoming update will also include a new dynamic loading option for the chip van when hauling wood shavings or cotton seeds. Currently, this dynamic feature is available only for cargo loading and will appear in Arkansas' custom depots as well as "prefab" depots across the USA. We plan to extend this functionality to include other types of cargo haulable with a chip van as well as dynamic unloading in the future.
We hope you are excited for the 1.51 update to arrive! Until it is released, make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to catch all the latest ATS information. We will see you on the virtual roads!
"Well, we rolled up Interstate 44, like a rocket sled on rails..." ♫ Today we are happy to share some news on the Oklahoma DLC for American Truck Simulator, which will be receiving an update. The missing link of the I-44 has been frequently requested by our community, so we are glad to be able bring this new content as part of the upcoming 1.51 update for ATS.
Currently in the Oklahoma DLC, the middle section of Interstate 44 through Oklahoma City is missing, however in the 1.51 update, we are happy to bring that in, which connects the western and eastern sections, completing I-44 in Oklahoma. This will of course, come as a free update to all current owners of the Oklahoma DLC.
That is not all however, the I-44 will also include two new depots for players to deliver to and from; a furniture store and a construction site. Along with this addition, players will also be treated to 2 new truck stops on the I-40, which are located nearby the Arkansas border, which is a U.S State also in development for American Truck Simulator. We believe this will be an ideal point for truckers to explore the new addition to Oklahoma and the state of Arkansas once it is released, so be sure to take note!
Once 1.51 releases, be sure to check out Oklahoma again and travel on the new section of the I-44. Until then, make sure to keep an eye on our official social media channels and this blog for the latest news on all our upcoming projects and more!
Welcome to Little Rock! In today's blog we take you on a tour of our American Truck Simulator version of the capital city of the Natural State, so buckle up and let's explore this gem which you will be able to drive through in the upcoming Arkansas map expansion.
The city celebrated its bicentennial not so long ago as it was established in 1821. Now, it is not only the state capital but also the most populous city in Arkansas with over 200,000 citizens. It is located right in the center of the Natural State along the Arkansas River which actually played a big part in forming its name. Little Rock was named for a stone outcrop on the bank of the river which was used by travelers as a landmark.
The Arkansas River also plays a huge role in our version of this city as we will have a riverport located there as a depot truckers will deliver cargo in and out of. There will of course be other important depots such as the local airport, an aviation service, and an intermodal depot.
Truckers will have the best view of the city and its downtown from the Arkansas River Bridge, which cuts through the heart of the capital. From there, they will be able to spot notable Little Rock landmarks such as the Simmons Bank, the First Security Amphitheater by the river, the William J. Clinton Library and Museum, and the William E. Clark Presidential Park.
On the other side of the river, truckers will see the Simmons Bank Arena. And of course, we could not leave out the two pedestrian bridges on both sides of the Arkansas River Bridge, the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and Junction Bridge, which both add to the scenic panorama.
We believe you will appreciate this preview of the Arkansas capital, but keep in mind that it is still a work in progress at the moment. If you are excited about the Arkansas DLC, make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Stay tuned for more updates on the development of the Natural State and other ATS-related news by following us on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Until then, drive safely!
Kirksville welcomes you! This charming small city located in the north of Missouri offers visitors a welcoming stop with its mix of historical architecture, charismatic main street and its surrounding natural beauty. Today we're happy to share with you more about this area, which our team has recreated in our upcoming Missouri DLC for American Truck Simulator.
On your travels through the city, take a moment to admire the well-preserved Victorian-era buildings that dot the downtown area, showcasing the city’s rich architectural heritage. The County Courthouse stands as a testament to 19th-century craftsmanship and is a must-screenshot landmark!
Other notable landmarks which our team have recreated include the local church, the bank, a monument to Dr Andrew Taylor Still, the Veterans Memorial Plaza, and more. Be sure to take a moment to appreciate and enjoy them as you travel into, or through, Kirksville.
Of course, there will also be plenty of job contracts available for drivers looking for work. Kirksville will feature several depots which players can deliver to and from, including a Supermarket, a Homestore, Warehouses, a Construction Garage and a Chemical Distribution Centre.
Whilst it's not the biggest of cities in Missouri, it certainly has charm! We hope you'll enjoy visiting Kirksville, and much more in this upcoming DLC. If you like what you see, be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist by clicking on the widget below. Until then, keep on truckin'!
With the upcoming 1.51 update for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, one of the first and most prominent changes players will encounter is a complete redesign of the title screen.
Whilst keeping in line with our recent user interface rework, we wanted a design which is easy to navigate and understand for all players. First and foremost, one of the main difference you'll notice about the new title screen is the focus on a truck in the centre of the screen.
On the left side, you'll find the menu which allows easy access to the more important features of the game, such as Options, your Profile Manager, or other sub-menus such as the DLC Browser or Mod Manager which are now located under the 'Extras' part of the menu. You will also find the current version of the game displayed in the bottom left corner. If an update is available for the game, text above the version of the game will appear to notify you of that.
On the right side of the menu, you can find a widget featuring your currently selected profile and current trucker level. Hovering over this widget allows you quick glance at your profile statistics. In some cases, additional widgets may appear on the right side, for example, if your current profile is not connected to World of Trucks or if you are using a 'Open Beta' version of the game.
On the bottom right, you'll find our carousel of small banners, which gives players quick and easy access to the latest news from our official blog and features graphics presenting our newest releases.
Functionally, we have also made navigation more comfortable with a gamepad or a steering wheel, requiring less time reaching for a keyboard from the moment you launch ETS2 or ATS. This design also leaves us space to make tweaks and changes where needed, as-well as make additions in the future.
We hope you that enjoy this new look and overhaul of the Title Screen in the upcoming 1.51 update. Be sure to keep an eye our on our social media channels (X, Instagram, Facebook) for more news on other changes and additions found in this update. Until then, keep on truckin'!
Arkansas - Custom Made Depots
Custom depots made their debut in American Truck Simulator in the Kansas map expansion and also appeared in the Nebraska DLC. Today, we would like to share with you a preview of the custom-made depots that our map designers have created for the Arkansas DLC. Let's take a look!
These depots are not the usual prefabricated ones made by our asset makers, which truckers often encounter in various locations. Each depot is individually designed and assembled by our map designers, making them completely unique. Every time truckers enter a new depot, they will need to explore it anew.
As in our last DLC, the custom-made depots consist of farms and grain elevators. On top of that, we are adding two new types of depots - river ports and timber harvests which are both typical for Arkansas. There will be a total of eleven custom depots in this upcoming map expansion. All of them will have specific loading and unloading spots for each cargo you will deliver there for greater realism.
In the US, river ports primarily function as transshipment hubs where cargo from ships, trucks, and trains converge. As a result, they feature a wide variety of different types of cargo which will help us boost the in-game economy. In Arkansas, truckers will encounter them mostly on the Arkansas River.
Logging is an important industry in Arkansas and we wanted to reflect that. Players will deliver in and out of the timber harvest depots near the cities of Hot Springs, El Dorado, and Harrison. Each of those is modeled to fit into the surrounding area and will be completely different, so truckers driving there will come across various demanding terrains and roads.
Over the last few months, truckers from across the globe have taken part in our World of Trucks events for Euro Truck Simulator 2 & American Truck Simulator; Cruising Nebraska & Trade Connections Switzerland. Showcasing both our latest map expansion and the reworked country of Switzerland, our #BestCommunityEver worked hard to successfully complete both of these events before their end date.
We want to thank all of you for your participation & dedication during both these events, and we hope you enjoyed exploring Nebraska, and rediscovering the beauty of Switzerland! We've especially enjoyed reading and sharing some of the messages, pictures, videos and more from you on the road in ETS2 & ATS whilst taking part in these events.
As always, we've created a small infographic which shows some of the statistics from both of these events, which include the number of jobs completed/tonnes of cargo delivered and miles travelled.
Incredible work truckers! We cannot thank you enough for your support during the release of Nebraska, and for your positive comments on the reworked area of Switzerland. It really does bring a lot of joy to our team to see how much you enjoy participating in these events. We hope you ride with pride with your newly acquired in-game items which you have earned. Don't forget to claim them through WorldofTrucks.com.
We look forward to bringing you more World of Trucks events in the future. Let us know in the comments or on our Social Media channels (X, Instagram, Facebook) what events you'd potentially like to see in the future! We really appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to more exciting adventures on the road together. Until then, keep on truckin'.
1.51 Update: Texas Vegetation Update
We have the first piece of news for our #BestCommunityEver from the upcoming 1.51 update! Following your feedback, we have decided to update the vegetation in our Texas map expansion to better reflect reality. So let's take a look at what will change in the 1.51 update for American Truck Simulator!
We aim to reflect our community's wishes and listen to their feedback. That's why our map designers, in collaboration with our vegetation department, have replaced the older pines with more accurate loblolly pines, which are native to this area.
The loblolly pines were initially created for the Arkansas DLC but also naturally grow in Texas. To enhance realism and ensure a smoother transition when driving between these states, truckers will now encounter an abundance of these trees throughout the entire eastern part of Texas - along roads, in forests, and within towns.
These pines can reach heights of up to 125 feet, with trunks measuring up to 4 feet in diameter. They boast a dense, rounded crown of dark, blue-green foliage.
We hope you will appreciate our teams' attention to detail, going back to previously released map expansions and updating them based on your feedback to correct any imperfections. Until this update is released, make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to catch all the latest ATS information. We will see you on the virtual roads!
In this blog, we offer our #BestCommunityEver another look into our upcoming Arkansas map expansion for American Truck Simulator. This time, we want to show you some wonderful art of the Natural State you will encounter on your deliveries such as some beautiful murals and street art which are inspired by their real-world counterparts.
Fort Smith, the third most populous city in Arkansas, is home to many wall paintings. Truckers navigating our game will be able to encounter a mural of a Native American woman shooting from her bow there. Another notable artwork along US-64 features a comic book-style giant banana pointed at a horseback rider against a dark red background. And we could not leave out the paintings on the Fort Smith silos towering 100 feet into the sky. In the real world, they depict three local residents, whom we have transformed into our asset makers.
Magnolia, the county seat of Columbia County, offers plenty of colorful street art painted on the sides of buildings in the downtown area. These depict the different parts of the town's and county's history. If you find yourself in the northeast corner of Arkansas, visit Jonesboro which will feature its colorful lion painting in ATS. This one depicts three grey lion heads with a vibrant background.
Hot Springs, renowned for its thermal springs and spas, will also have a wall painting celebrating the first residents of the area, the Quapaw Tribe. This piece displays two Quapaw tribemen with a yellow background and can be found not far from the famous Arlington Hotel. Meanwhile, in the capital city of Arkansas, Little Rock, truckers can stumble upon a cute artwork of two foxes cuddling amidst a leafy setting.
When arriving into DeQueen, keep an eye out for their artistic welcome sign that is sure to make you feel right at home! And if you are passing through the US-64, you can come across a beautifully decorated wall right next to the road.
