American Truck Simulator: 1.59 Open Beta
SCS Software released beta version of ATS 1.59 and as always you can read about all changes of the official blog. To try beta go to Steam client → LIBRARY → right-click on American Truck Simulator → Properties → Betas tab → Beta Participation drop-down menu → public_beta. No password is required. Sometimes you will have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.
Changelog
Gameplay
- Tow to Road Feature
UI/UX
- Advisor Update – Finances & Damage Widgets
- Skills UX Redesign
- QoL UI/UX Changes
- Improved News Banner Readability
- World Map Pin Enhancements
- Save Icon Update
- Garage Cutscene Skipping
- D-pad Accessibility Improvements
Visuals
- Height Blend Improvements
Sounds
- Traffic Sound Rework
Other
- Detour Feature Maintenance
ETS2 Benelux Rework: Everything We Know So Far
If you’ve been waiting for SCS Software to finally modernize one of Euro Truck Simulator 2’s oldest regions — your time is coming. Project Benelux is well underway, and based on everything revealed so far, it’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious base-map overhauls in the game’s history.
What Is Project Benelux?
Announced in February 2025, Project Benelux covers a complete ground-up rebuild of all three Benelux countries — Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. SCS Software It follows directly from the Germany city rework completed in update 1.53. The region had remained almost completely unchanged since ETS2’s initial release back in 2012.
The project is a major team effort. Lead designer Jan H. confirmed that 10 map designers are working on the project, alongside contributors from the Research, QA, Assets, and Programming departments.
New Cities and Roads
Among the headline additions are brand-new cities like Antwerp and Eindhoven, plus major road routes including the A2 motorway, a large portion of the E40 highway, and the scenic N57 road in the Netherlands.
Here’s a breakdown of every location confirmed so far:
Brussels, Belgium — the Belgian capital’s road network has been reworked, connecting major industrial areas like Forest and Anderlecht to strategic logistics districts such as Schaerbeek.
Antwerp, Belgium — previewed in December 2025 as one of the new cities being added as part of the rework.
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg — SCS promises the city will be elevated to the quality standard players expect from modern ETS2, delivering an experience that is far from small despite the country’s size.
Eindhoven + DAF Trucks Facility, Netherlands — Eindhoven is being introduced as a completely new city, with recognizable landmarks including the Lichtnaald sculpture and the iconic UFO-shaped Evoluon building. The DAF Trucks manufacturing facility in Eindhoven is also included.
Groningen, Netherlands — the city has been fully rebuilt from the ground up. A major highlight is the accurate recreation of the N7 ring road, including its real-life underground section. Industrial areas include furniture stores, logistics depots, grocery warehouses, and a large modern sugar factory. Closer to the city center, drivers will pass the Verbindingkanaal canal, the main railway station, the bus terminal, and the architecturally striking Groningen Museum.
New Gameplay Features
Players can look forward to delivering to reworked depots and entirely new industries, including a sugar beet processing factory, as well as new landmarks scattered across the region.
The team has been open about the unique challenges of the region: the Benelux countries are rich in complex highway infrastructure, waterways, canals, dams, locks, and drawbridges, with terrain ranging from flat northern plains criss-crossed by canals to the dramatic scenery of the Ardennes in Belgium and Luxembourg.
One notable first for the ETS2 base map: the Benelux rework will introduce custom depots to Europe — a feature that had previously only been available in American Truck Simulator.
When Does It Release?
No official release date has been announced. SCS head Pavel suggested during a Christmas 2025 stream that Benelux was targeting update 1.58 SCS Software, though the rework did not ship with 1.58 when it released in February 2026. Given the increasing frequency of devblogs through early 2026, a release in the first half of the year seems likely.
Project Benelux isn’t a visual touch-up — it’s a full reconstruction of one of the game’s oldest map sections. New cities, reworked capitals, hundreds of kilometers of new roads, canals, drawbridges, custom depots, and new industries, all built from scratch by a dedicated team of over 10 map designers. It’s going to be a big one.
Keep an eye on the official SCS blog at blog.scssoft.com for the latest updates.
World of Trucks Events Temporarily Paused
SCS Software has announced a temporary pause of World of Trucks events. According to the developers, this decision was made to allow time for improvements to the systems and infrastructure that support these events.
The goal of this rework is to better integrate event features directly into the game. Planned improvements include the ability to track progress, view achievements, and claim rewards without leaving the game interface.
The studio also mentioned additional ideas currently in development, but more details will be shared later when plans are finalized. Events are expected to return once these improvements are completed.
In the meantime, SCS Software will continue releasing new content and updates for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.
How to Download and Setup Promods 2.81
Latest Promods 2.81 for ETS2 1.58 is currently requiring all map DLC. In the guide below as always you will find step by step instruction, but please watch carefully and don’t ask about archives on the Youtube.
Support Trucksim!
Hello everyone and welcome to Trucksim blog,
I revived my Patreon and supporter already getting extra content and faster updates.
I wanted to have an honest conversation with you about Trucksim and its future.
What This Project Is
For over 5 years, I’ve been creating detailed map combo tutorials, hidden road guides, and 100% discovered profiles for both ETS2 and ATS. Every major game update, every DLC release, every map mod version – I’m there documenting it, testing combinations, and making sure you have working setups.
The blog (trucksim.top) and YouTube channel exist because I genuinely love this community and these games. But here’s the reality: this is a hobby that takes significant time and effort.
The Real Numbers
Currently, the YouTube channel generates about $40-50 per month from ads. To put that in perspective:
- Each map combo tutorial takes 6-10 hours (testing, recording, editing, writing)
- 100% map discovery guides take 50-60 hours of gameplay per version
- Hidden roads compilations require meticulous exploration and documentation
- The blog requires constant updates, hosting, and maintenance
I earn more in a couple hours at my regular job than the channel generates in a month. This has always been about community contribution, not income.
Why I’m Setting Up Patreon
I want to keep creating these guides. The community clearly finds them valuable – you watch them, use the profiles, and follow the tutorials. But as the games grow more complex (70+ map combos, over 350 hidden roads in ATS and ETS2, massive map expansions), the time commitment keeps increasing.
Patreon isn’t about getting rich. It’s about making this sustainable as a hobby without feeling like I’m working for free.
What You Get
Free Content (Always):
- All YouTube tutorials remain free
- All blog guides remain free
- All profiles and save files remain free
- Nothing changes for people who can’t or don’t want to support
For Patreon Supporters:
- Early access to new map combos and guides (1-3 days before public release)
- Early access to discovered profiles
- Behind-the-scenes content about the creation process
- Input on which content to prioritize next
- My genuine gratitude for keeping this sustainable
Tiers
$3/month – Coffee Supporter
- Early access to all guides and profiles
- Patron-only updates
$10/month – Elite Supporter
- Everything above
- Vote on upcoming content
- Special thanks in video descriptions
- Custom map combo consultation (within reason)
The Bottom Line
If 50 people support at $3/month, that’s $150 – roughly what it costs me in time to maintain this project monthly at a minimum wage equivalent. If 100 people support at $3/month, I can justify dedicating more regular time to this instead of feeling guilty about not working on paid projects.
If you’ve ever:
- Saved hours using one of my profiles
- Successfully set up a complex map combo thanks to a tutorial
- Found all the hidden roads using my guides
- Appreciated having free, detailed documentation
…and you can afford $3-10/month, please consider supporting.
If you can’t afford it – that’s completely fine. Everything stays free. I mean that sincerely.
What Happens If Support Doesn’t Come?
Honest answer: I’ll keep making content, but less frequently. I’ll focus only on major updates (new DLCs, significant map releases) instead of every minor version. The quality won’t drop, but the quantity will.
Thank You
Whether you support financially or just watch/read – thank you for being part of this community. Truck sim modding is a niche, but it’s a passionate one, and I’m proud to contribute to it.
Let’s keep this truck rolling (sorry, had to).
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/punkito YouTube: youtube.com/@trucksim Blog: trucksim.top
— Punkito (Trucksim Top)
ETS2 1.59 Update Introduces Volvo Trucks Experience Center
The upcoming 1.59 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 will introduce a unique new location created in collaboration with Volvo Trucks — the Volvo Trucks Experience Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. This famous facility, located in Volvo’s hometown, combines brand exhibition areas with a professional test track designed to demonstrate the performance and technology of Volvo’s latest trucks.
In the game, the center has been recreated almost at a true 1:1 scale, allowing players to explore the facility and drive the full testing circuit. The track features a variety of driving conditions including fast curves, technical corners, elevation changes, and downhill sections, giving players a chance to test truck handling, braking, and stability beyond normal highway driving.
SCS Software paid special attention to detail when recreating the location, including parking areas and the surrounding environment to match the real-world site as closely as possible. Players will be able to discover the entrance near Gothenburg while exploring the map, although access requires ownership of the Scandinavia DLC.
The developers also visited the real Experience Center to collect references, sounds, and driving impressions, even testing trucks like the Volvo FH Electric and FH16 780 to ensure authenticity.
This addition highlights the strong partnership between SCS Software and Volvo Trucks and promises ETS2 players another realistic and immersive driving experience when update 1.59 releases.
Illinois gameplay
38 minutes gameplay of upcoming expansion for American Truck Simulator is available on official SCS Youtube channel. That means that new DLC is around the corner.
I also collected available footages from developers with new expansion teasers:
American Truck Simulator: Everything We Know About the Upcoming Illinois DLC
American Truck Simulator: Everything We Know About the Upcoming Illinois DLC
American Truck Simulator continues its expansion into the American Midwest, and one of the most anticipated upcoming map expansions is the Illinois DLC. This new state will bring players to the heart of the U.S. transportation network, featuring major cities, iconic highways, and a diverse economy centered around agriculture, industry, and logistics.
Based on official developer posts from SCS Software and available previews, here is everything currently known about the upcoming Illinois map expansion.
Welcome to the Prairie State
The Illinois DLC was officially announced in February 2025. The state is often called the Prairie State, known for its vast farmland, historic towns, and one of the most important transportation hubs in the United States.
In ATS, Illinois will allow players to:
- Drive along historic routes such as Route 66
- Explore the state capital Springfield
- Visit the massive metropolitan area of Chicago
- Travel through agricultural regions and industrial corridors
The state sits in a key geographic position connecting the Midwest with the rest of the country, which makes it an important logistics hub both in real life and in the game.
Cities Expected in the Illinois DLC
According to teasers and previews, Illinois will include a mix of major cities and smaller towns. The currently known or expected cities include:
- Chicago
- Springfield
- Peoria
- Champaign
- Bloomington
- Rockford
- Quincy
- Effingham
- Marion
- East St. Louis
- Moline
These locations will allow players to experience a mix of large metropolitan areas, mid-sized industrial cities, and smaller agricultural communities.
Detailed City Previews
Peoria
One of the cities already showcased by SCS is Peoria, located along the Illinois River.
In ATS, the city will include:
- Industrial depots related to heavy equipment manufacturing
- A custom river port depot
- Scenic riverfront driving routes
- Connections via Interstate 74 and US Route 24
Peoria’s strong manufacturing heritage and river logistics will play an important role in the cargo economy of the region.
Champaign
Another previewed city is Champaign, part of the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area.
Highlights expected in ATS include:
- University-inspired landmarks and buildings
- A recognizable downtown skyline
- Agricultural industries such as corn and soybean farming
- Depots like food processing plants, warehouses, and retail stores
The region will represent the agricultural heart of Illinois, providing a variety of cargo opportunities for players.
Smaller Towns and Settlements
In addition to the main cities, the Illinois DLC will feature at least 11 smaller settlements. These towns help make the map feel more realistic and provide additional road connections and scenery.
One example shown by the developers is Monmouth, a historic agricultural town in western Illinois near the Iowa border.
These settlements will likely include:
- Small agricultural communities
- Scenic rural roads
- Truck stops and service areas
Industries and Cargo
Illinois is one of the most economically diverse states in the U.S., and the DLC will reflect that with a wide range of industries.
Expected cargo sectors include:
- Agriculture (corn, soybeans, farm supplies)
- Food processing
- Manufacturing and heavy equipment
- Logistics and warehousing
- River and rail transportation
The state is also known for its role in national exports and manufacturing, making it a natural fit for ATS freight operations.
Roads and Truck Stops
Developers have already teased several truck stops and highway facilities located across the state, including rest areas near:
- Peoria
- Rockford
- Effingham
- Rend Lake
These locations will provide realistic rest areas for long-distance trucking routes through the Midwest.
Illinois is expected to feature major interstate connections, including corridors linking the state with neighboring DLC regions.
Expected Release Window
While no official release date has been announced yet, community expectations suggest the Illinois DLC may arrive sometime in 2026, possibly as one of the next ATS map expansions after the current development pipeline.
Final Thoughts
The Illinois DLC represents an important step in the eastward expansion of American Truck Simulator. With major logistics hubs like Chicago, historic highways like Route 66, and a mix of industry and agriculture, the Prairie State has the potential to become one of the most interesting regions in the game.
As development continues, we can expect more previews showcasing new cities, industries, landmarks, and highways from this upcoming expansion.
For now, Illinois already looks like a promising addition to the growing ATS map.
ATS 1.58 Secret Roads of Route 66 Rework
I continue to discover reworked map of Route 66 in ATS 1.58 and found already 15 hidden markable roads. Not sure that I will update Big guide until Illinois DLC this spring. Latest videos attract less attention and have very low views.
Below you can see couple videos with hidden paths in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.
And overall 1.58 changes and Route 66 teasers
Trucksim Showcase 02.25.2026
I have a lot of raw content prepared and even more ideas planned. The only thing I’m missing is time. Lately, I’ve been trying to balance my personal life with this hobby project, and that naturally slows things down.
As I mentioned before, the number of Trucksim videos on the channel will likely continue to decrease. The channel is no longer growing the way I once expected. To be honest, I feel somewhat dependent on YouTube’s algorithms and the uncertainty of ad revenue. Income from YouTube and the blog is quite small, and Patreon is still at $0.
Because of that, I’ve decided to dedicate more time to my personal life and reduce the amount of high-effort editing and complex guide scripting.
That said, my enthusiasm for trucking games hasn’t changed at all. I still love this genre, and I will continue creating both new types of content and traditional, regular videos.
About the Guide Series
For those who follow the channel for guides, I currently have three main series:
I don’t have specific plans yet for the first two. However, the Map Combos for the current game version are slowly in progress. I’m collecting mods, building a structured list of links, and monitoring communities for the latest fixes and compatibility issues.
Since I plan to reduce the number of setups (and therefore videos), I will probably start with something bigger and more comprehensive than what we currently have.
Like the entire modding community, I depend on mod releases and updates. I don’t plan to rush out a combo setup just to be first. I’m not interested in clickbait or quick tricks to gain views. Instead, I will release a combination setup that I personally enjoy and would actually use myself — even if that means it comes out later and gets fewer views.
So for now:
No dates.
No commitments.
And no answers to questions like, “When will the 500-map combo be available?”
When it’s ready — and when I’m truly satisfied with it — I’ll share it.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
