You might be wondering what could possibly be so special about this person in Montana named Helena that we have decided to write a blog article about them? The thing is, we are actually going to present to you the capital of the Treasure State, which, as the main representative among other cities, has quite a rich history and strong economy that is definitely worth looking into.
The early beginnings of Helena date back to the year 1864, when four men, known as "Four Georgians" discovered gold in the area that is now the main street of the modern city. Once the news of this location spread, the population has rapidly grown, increasing the need to create a formal settlement with an official name. While the sources vary in regards to the initial options, the final decision has most likely been influenced by a city called Saint Helena in Arkansas. Although some tales claim it has been chosen because of the St. Helena island.
When it comes to the implementation of the city into our game, there will certainly be no lack of landmarks to see, as we have featured some interesting buildings in the area, such as the Capitol, banks, an airport, and a truck stop at the center of the town. And speaking of distance, you will also be able to see the Sleeping Giant mountain while driving through the city, with which we have done our best to represent the view as accurately as possible.
Who would’ve thought that the name of this city has absolutely nothing to do with Helen of Troy? Weird! But anyway, if you are still impressed with what you’ve seen in this post, make sure to add Montana DLC to your Steam Wishlist, and if you cannot wait to see more information about the map expansion, follow our social media profiles (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or check out our Montana microsite
Texas - Rest Stops
During the process of describing every detail of an upcoming map expansion for our games, at some point, we have to take a break from topics of beautiful nature and local industry and take a look at some typical trucking facilities. It is time to (masterfully) park your mighty truck, turn off the engine for a while, and explore the Rest Stops that are coming with the Texas DLC for American Truck Simulator!
There will be more than two dozen rest stops available in the DLC with many of them featuring landmark buildings and separate parking spots for trucks and cars. And with such a high amount of these areas, it’s safe to say that The Lone Star State truly goes "all in" on offering the travelers as many opportunities as possible to take the unavoidable break on their journeys.
Some of the local rest stops are quite often hailed as the best in the entire US. After all, with more than 50 million visitors stopping by every year, all of these places have to stay up to date with modern times. But even the ones that are slowly starting to show their age have managed to maintain their charm and practical use to this day!
We hope you are excited to check out every single rest stop that the Texas DLC will have to offer. If you are, you can get ready by taking a quick break on the Steam page and adding Texas DLC to your Steam Wishlist. Also, don’t forget to keep an eye out for our microsite, which contains a lot of interesting and exclusive content. And finally, check out our social media profiles (Twitter,Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and give them a follow to stay in touch with the latest news!
Yesterday we released the 1.45 Open Beta for American Truck Simulator and you have probably noticed that among numerous other changes, there is a massive and long-awaited addition coming to the selection of purchasable trailers - ownable cisterns! Let’s take a more detailed look at this trailer type, which will also be arriving in the 1.45 update for ETS2 as well.
For now, we will be adding two different types of cistern trailers into our games - Fuel Cisterns and Silos (Dry Bulk trailer). Both types will have different customizations and use. And don’t worry, we plan on bringing more versions of this trailer to you in the future!
The fuel cisterns in American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2 will be used for the transportation of combustible liquids. The ATS version will offer 6 connection types (Single, Double, B-double, Rocky Mountain Double, Turnpike Double, Triple) and 2 different customizable body types (Single drain pipe, 4-way drain pipes), while ETS2 side will have a single connection and single body type (Classic). Here is a detailed combined list of available customizations
Chassis type
Paint jobs
Front Mudflaps
Markers
Left, right, rear, front body
Rear fenders
Rear bumper
Rear mudflaps
In regards to silos, in ATS and ETS2 you will be able to deliver a number of bulk materials with them, for example, sand, concrete, or grain. ATS will have 5 connection types (Single, Double, B-double, Rocky mountain double, turnpike double) and a single body type (Classic), while ETS2 will include a selection of 4 connection types (Single, Double, B-double, HCT) and a single body type (Default). The combined list of customizations:
Chassis type
Paint jobs
Front fender
Chassis front left and right
Markers
Left, right, rear, front body (in ETS2 front only for Non-Semi Double Trailer)
Rear fenders
Rear bumper
Rear mudflaps
We are incredibly excited to see you hauling these new cistern trailers in your company and how you will customize them! Be sure to share with us your photos of your newly owned trailers on our Social Media channels (Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram) once you will get your hands on them after the 1.45 update arrives. Also, if you want to stay in touch with all the upcoming changes make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and you will never miss anything important!
American Truck Simulator: 1.45 Open Beta
Today, we are happy to share with you that the 1.45 Open Beta branch for American Truck Simulator is now available to try and test out. Please note, this Beta branch has been released earlier than usual and is a work-in-progress build that contains known issues & bugs. 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 for 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 1.45 Open Beta has in store.
Cody + US-14 Wyoming DLC Addition
A much requested update to the Wyoming DLC from our community has arrived with 1.45, which includes the additions of the city of Cody and the US-14!
Self-proclaimed as the “Rodeo Capital of the World”, Cody offers drivers the chance to see famous landmarks and attractions such as the Buffalo Bills visitor center and the Rodeo Stadium; and that's not all! Drivers will also be able to discover and deliver to new industries in Cody, a Truck Trailer service, and a Waste Transfer Station too, which are a small taste of what you can expect to find in the upcoming Montana DLC.
Cody is also known for being the gateway to the Yellowstone National Park, located 52 miles from the east entrance to the country's first national park, which also brings us onto the US-14. Beginning at the east entrance to the Yellowstone National Park is U.S Route 14, one of the original United States highways of 1926.
Drivers will have plenty to see on their drive on US-14, including the Buffalo Bill Reservoir and Dam, Pahashka Teepee, and of course, the stunning scenery and natural beauty that Yellowstone offers its millions of visitors every year.
We can't wait for you to explore it for yourselves. The Cody + US 14 update comes free for current and future owners of the Wyoming DLC for American Truck Simulator as part of the 1.45 update.
Ownable Cistern Trailers
We are also happy to share with you another long-awaited addition coming to the selection of purchasable trailers - ownable cisterns!
For now, we will be adding two different types of cistern trailers into our games - Fuel Cisterns and Silos (Dry Bulk trailer). Both types will have different customization and uses. And don’t worry, we plan on bringing more versions of this trailer to you in the future!
The fuel cisterns in American Truck Simulator will be used for the transportation of combustible liquids. They will feature 6 connection types (Single, Double, B-double, Rocky Mountain Double, Turnpike Double, Triple) and 2 different customizable body types (Single drain pipe, 4-way drain pipes)
Silos will also be an addition in ATS and you will be able to deliver a number of bulk materials with them, for example, sand, concrete, or grain. Apart from having 5 connection types (Single, Double, B-double, Rocky mountain double, turnpike double) and a single body type (Classic), it will have plenty of customizable options as well.
Gas & Truck Stops Rebranding
We've revisited 6 of the brands which we've used for in-game truck stops and gas stations which have been present since the game's release in 2016. Originally when we first designed these areas, we did not have the amazing team of dedicated 2D artists and talent at our disposal, which we have now at SCS Software.
As many of you might have seen originally from our concept art from the Texas and Montana DLC microsites, these new designs bring a fresh, modern and more realistic look to gas stations and truck stops, wouldn't you agree?
We hope you enjoy seeing these newly rebranded areas on your travels throughout American Truck Simulator. Let us know which one is your favourite via our Social Media Channels!
Optional Mods Support for Convoy
One feature our teams have been working on for Convoy, our in-game multiplayer, is support for missing modifications. We recognise that many players do play with third party modifications created by our talented community, but we also understand that not everyone would like to download all the required modifications to join a friends' convoy session.
Thus, our team have come up with a solution to allow you to join Convoy sessions without the need to have all of the required modifications of the host's session. There will be options to opt-in, both on the server's and client's side to enable this if you choose to use this. In most cases, the session will not display the modification that is missing, however in some cases, such as if a player is using a vehicle that you do not have, it will show as a coloured placeholder box in that replicates its size.
If you are a modder in our community, please note that your modification must be tagged as "mp_mod_optional" to be recognised as a MOD that can be ignored by a convoy server that allow for missing optional MODs.
Rain Sensor
When you are out travelling on the road for a while, you are bound to come across a bit of rain at times. Whether it's just a short passing rain shower or a full on storm, it's important for drivers to stay safe while driving on the road during variable weather conditions.
One of the more common safety features found on vehicles today are Rain Sensors! This nifty piece of technology does exactly what it says on the box, it detects the density of the rain and and in turn, adjusts the speed of the wipers for you. This feature is active when you set the wipers of your vehicle to the first position.
This new feature will be available as an option which you can choose to enable in the settings page. So next time you are driving towards some liquid sunshine, you won't have to worry about adjusting your wipers.
Option to hide inaccessible road markers
Another new UI option which we are introducing in this update is the ability to show or hide the X markers which mark inaccessible/undriveable roads for the player. This new option may make the game feel more immersive for some drivers, however we do urge players to take care and follow the correct route, as the invisible barriers which stop you from driving down these areas will still exist and appear for a short time if you hit them!
We hope that you will enjoy this small addition which we know many of you from our community have been requesting for a long time!
Changelog
Map
Cody + US-14 Addition to Wyoming DLC
Gas & Truck Stops Rebranding
Gameplay
Optional MOD Support for Convoys
Rain Sensor Option
Option to hide inaccessible road markers
Vehicles
Ownable Cistern Trailers (Dry Bulk and Fuel Tank)
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 → 1.45. No password required. Somtimes you have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.
Texas - Intermodal Terminals
When you get your hands on the wheel in American Truck Simulator, after hours and hours of driving on the roads it can be easy to sometimes forget that cargo and materials can be transported by other means as well. In Texas DLC, you will have the chance to visit Intermodal Terminals, which are special areas where the so-called transport modes meet.
In case you are new to the name of this unique area or you just need a brief revision, intermodal is a term that is being used when referring to transportation involving two or more modes of transport. Therefore the terminals serve as places that offer a swift and safe movement of goods; which are mostly stored in whole trailers or containers without the need to unpack and repack; from trains, trucks, or ships.
For Texas, in addition to trucks (of course!), trains play a very important part in this process and the immersion overall. After all, the arrival of local railroads has managed to change the entire economy of the state due to the travel no longer being slow and unreliable. This is why you will have a chance to see several railway stations on your trucking journeys and miles of busy railroads.
If you are looking forward to the large intermodal terminals and this type of transport sounds interesting to you, make sure to add Texas DLC to your Steam Wishlist and eventually you will be able to visit these places yourself! Also, don’t forget to keep an eye out for our microsite, which contains a lot of interesting and exclusive content. And finally, check out our social media profiles (Twitter,Instagram,Facebook, TikTok) and give them a follow to stay in touch with the latest news!
Tucked away in the heart of the northern Rocky Mountains is the city of Missoula, Montana. A laid-back Western town, which began life as a trading post. Today, we are excited to share with you more about this city which will be featured in our Montana DLC for American Truck Simulator!
The city's proximity to three major rivers and acres of lush forest means that visitors can enjoy an array of outdoor activities including kayaking, camping and more! Missoula also has a vibrant downtown area too, with its unique shops, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and even a river running through its core.
But what industries can truckers looking for work find? Missoula will feature an array of local industries including a nearby timber harvest and sawmill, general warehouses that supply local businesses and new depots such as a truck trailer service and landscape supply.
So whether your visiting for business or pleasure, Missoula has something for everyone. We look forward to sharing more of Montana with you in the near future. Be sure to check out the official Steam store page and if you wish to support us, be sure to add Montana to your Steam Wishlist. Also, to never miss out on anything important, you can also follow our social media profiles (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), subscribe to our newsletter, or check out our Montana microsite.
Among other industries featured in the Montana DLC, there is only one with state-defining historical importance. So, without further ado, let's dig into what the Mining Industry will have to offer in the upcoming map expansion.
There’s a good reason why Montana has the nickname The Treasure State and why the front and center of the state flag are a miner’s shovel and pick, with the state motto "Oro Y Plata", which means "Gold and Silver" in Spanish. The first gold was discovered in the local area in 1852, which, along with a discovery of other major minerals, paved the way for gold rushes in the region in 1862, attracting tens of thousands of miners to the area. This rapid increase in population also meant the expansion of the economy and railroads system, so it is not surprising that in 1889 Montana officially became a state.
Even though modern-day Montana looks at many treasures other than minerals, the industry still remains quite a strong part of the local economy. Thanks to this, you will have the chance to travel to a landmark Signal Peak Coal Mine. Even though this mine uses mainly trains for the transport of coal, truckers play an important part in the area due to hauling of materials to the adjacent Heavy Machine Service, which is used for fixing large dumpers used for extraction in the mine.
Part of the mining industry is also Silene Gas Factory and Talc Factory. We have already touched on these structures in our previous blogs, but it’s important to mention that these depots will be unique and exclusive for Montana. The former was created according to a 1:1 reference, and the latter will be featured in two locations within the state. Both of these factories will offer plenty of job opportunities and materials to haul.
What do you think? Will this industry be your treasured part of the upcoming Montana DLC? If so, make sure to add the DLC to your Steam Wishlist, and if you cannot wait to see more information about the map expansion, follow our social media profiles (Twitter,Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or check out our Montana microsite.
American Truck Simulator - 1.45 Update: Cody and US-14
Despite the fact that our feature-packed 1.44 update was released just weeks ago for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, our teams are already working hard to create new content for the 1.45 update for American Truck Simulator, some of which we are thrilled to share with you today!
The City of Cody
Step into the world of the Wild West in Cody, a small Wyoming frontier town with immense natural beauty and cultural attractions. Founded by the legendary Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" 1896, this Old West town offers an authentic western experience for visitors around the world.
Self-proclaimed as the “Rodeo Capital of the World”, Cody offers drivers the chance to see famous landmarks and attractions such as the Buffalo Bills visitor center and the Rodeo Stadium; and that's not all! Drivers will also be able to discover and deliver to new industries in Cody, a Truck Trailer service, and a Waste Transfer Station too, which are a small taste of what you can expect to find in the upcoming Montana DLC.
Cody is also known for being the gateway to the Yellowstone National Park. Located 52 miles from the east entrance to the country's first national park, which brings us to our next topic...
US-14
Beginning at the east entrance to the Yellowstone National Park is U.S Route 14, one of the original United States highways of 1926!
Drivers will have plenty to see on their drive on US-14, including the Buffalo Bill Reservoir and Dam, Pahashka Teepee, and of course, the stunning scenery and natural beauty that Yellowstone offers its millions of visitors every year.
From Yellowstone Lake to the hot lava lakes and geysers, drivers will be able to explore even more of this beautiful part of the world. We highly recommend not being tied down with a delivery slot when exploring this area, as you'll want to take your time around here!
We can't wait for you to explore it for yourselves and like our previous updates, all this content will come free to the owners of Wyoming DLC for American Truck Simulator as part of the 1.45 update. We will be sure to let you know when it will be ready, so make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Texas - Water Tanks
What if we told you there is a massive structure type in The Lone Star State with a fairly underrated meaning and purpose that might just go over your head (literally) from time to time? Today, we will draw attention to the local Water Tanks featured in Texas DLC, so you will always remember to look upwards when passing them by on your trucking journey throughout this wonderful state.
The reason why we have labeled water tanks as "underrated" is that you might think to yourself that they are simply massive storage tanks located at the edge of cities. It is, however, precisely due to their placement within the town area that quite often gives them a purpose of welcome signs as well. This means that they serve as sort of beacons of status and displays of pride in cities and their local citizens. After all, the names are usually written in big, bold letters, so you are always perfectly aware of where exactly you are at that moment.
And if you were wondering why these structures are built so high above the ground (from 100ft/30m to 200ft/60m in the map expansion), it has a very logical and practical explanation. The height makes good use of gravity in order to provide a pressurized flow of water to the buildings in their surroundings. With some of the tanks dating back more than half a century ago, this is quite a well-thought-out system.
We hope we didn’t manage to make your head spin from all this talk about heights and big structures. If you are still fully with us, make sure to add Texas DLC to your Steam Wishlist! Also, don’t forget to keep an eye out for our microsite, which contains a lot of interesting and exclusive content. And finally, check out our social media profiles (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and give them a follow, or subscribe to our newsletter, to stay in touch with the latest news!
Imagine a world in which you are driving through a vast and colorful nature of a state, you look out of the window, and you see only fields and forests. While it depends on the situation, in general, this sounds pretty dull, right? Thankfully, the wonderful Montana DLC and its environment will offer plenty of variety due to the water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and dams.
There are two noteworthy rivers featured in the upcoming map expansion - the Yellowstone River (approximately 692 miles/1,114 km long) and the Missouri River (about 2,341 miles/3,767 km long). While the latter is actually the longest river in the whole US, both of these examples flow through quite a hefty of locations that you will be able to drive through, whether it will be some of the cities, or simply in the open environment.
Other water areas that you will be able to pass by are lakes. And trust us, the Flathead Lake, located in northwest Montana, is unlike any other. After all, how often do you hear about a lake covering 197 square miles (510 square km), that has a monster living in its waters?! Indeed, the so-called "Flessie", inspired by Loch Ness "Nessie", is a mythical creature that is supposed to be dwelling in the depths of this lake according to Native American legends and local stories. Well, at least our relaxing truck simulator has zero chance of giving you a serious scare in the form of a beast, or does it?
One more major reservoir to mention is the Fort Peck Lake, which is the fifth largest artificial lake in the US, and it is formed by Fort Peck Dam and the already mentioned Missouri River. The dam actually has quite a popular spillway, which is used as an "overflow" during high water levels.
And finally, the Lake McDonald (fast food meal not guaranteed), is the largest lake in the Glacier National Park, and it is hardly a surprise the adjacent nature presents a wonderful view for anyone who visits this area. Would you pay this national park a visit if you had the chance?
We hope you will be able to keep your head above water while driving past all these marvelous places in the upcoming Montana DLC for American Truck Simulator. If you liked what you saw in this blog, make sure to add the DLC to your Steam Wishlist, and if you cannot wait to see more, follow our social media profiles (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), subscribe to our newsletter, or check out our Montana microsite.
