The RoadKings: A New Challenger Enters the Truck Simulation Arena
The truck simulation genre is about to get significantly more competitive. Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive have announced Road Kings, a next-generation truck simulator that’s setting its sights squarely on the established dominance of American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2. With a closed beta coming in the coming months and a full release planned for 2026, this new contender promises to shake up the trucking game landscape.
What is Road Kings?
Road Kings is an ambitious new truck simulation game that puts players behind the wheel of a 40-ton semi, hauling cargo across the coastal plains of the American South. Starting from Jacksonville to the historic streets of Savannah, players will navigate through a story-driven experience that goes beyond the traditional point-A-to-point-B delivery model.
Developed by Saber Interactive Porto—the studio behind SnowRunner—and published by Focus Entertainment, Road Kings is being marketed as a “next-gen truck simulation” designed specifically for modern hardware including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Closed Beta Registration Now Open
Eager truckers can already sign up for the closed beta test at Focus Entertainment’s TestZone website (https://testzone.focus-entmt.com/). While registration doesn’t guarantee access, it’s your best shot at getting an early look at what could be the genre’s next big thing. The beta is expected to launch within the coming months, giving players their first hands-on experience before the 2026 release.
How Does Road Kings Compare to ATS and ETS2?
The most significant departure from the SCS Software formula is Road Kings’ emphasis on storytelling. While ATS and ETS2 excel at providing a zen-like, meditative driving experience where you’re free to build your trucking empire at your own pace, Road Kings introduces a story-driven campaign. You’ll encounter rivals, allies, dangerous weather, and treacherous road conditions as you build your reputation from rookie driver to veteran owner-operator.
This narrative focus could appeal to players who found ATS and ETS2 too open-ended or lacking in structured progression. However, it remains to be seen whether traditional sim-trucking fans will embrace this more game-like approach or prefer the pure simulation experience they’ve come to love.
Regional Focus vs. Continental Scale
ATS and ETS2 have spent years building massive, continent-spanning road networks. Euro Truck Simulator 2, launched in 2012, now covers most of Europe through its base game and numerous map expansions. American Truck Simulator, since its 2016 launch, has been steadily expanding across the United States with detailed state recreations.
Road Kings is taking a different approach by focusing initially on the American South, specifically the coastal plains between Jacksonville and Savannah. This narrower geographic scope could allow for greater detail and more handcrafted environments, but it also means less variety at launch compared to the sprawling maps ATS and ETS2 players have come to expect.
Next-Gen Technology
Being built from the ground up for current-generation hardware, Road Kings promises graphical fidelity and technical features that older engines simply can’t match. SCS Software has done admirable work updating their engine over the years—adding features like ray-traced reflections and improved lighting—but they’re fundamentally working with a framework that dates back over a decade.
Saber Interactive’s experience with demanding titles like SnowRunner suggests Road Kings could deliver impressive physics simulation, weather effects, and environmental detail. The question is whether this visual and technical leap will be enough to overcome the deep gameplay systems and massive content libraries that ATS and ETS2 have built over nearly a decade of continuous development.
The Business Model Question
One advantage SCS Software has cultivated is player trust through their DLC model. Regular map expansions, truck packs, and cosmetic items have kept ATS and ETS2 fresh without feeling exploitative. How Focus Entertainment and Saber approach post-launch content for Road Kings will be crucial to its long-term success.
Can Road Kings Compete?
The truck simulation market has proven surprisingly robust, with both ATS and ETS2 maintaining active player bases years after launch. There’s clearly room for multiple games in this space, especially if they offer different experiences. Road Kings isn’t trying to be a direct clone of the SCS formula—it’s attempting to blend truck simulation with narrative adventure and modern production values.
Road Kings’ Competitive Advantages:
- Fresh start with modern technology: Built for current-gen hardware without legacy engine limitations
- Story-driven experience: Appeals to players who want more structure and narrative in their trucking
- Saber’s simulation expertise: The SnowRunner team knows how to make vehicles feel authentic
- Console focus: True next-gen console versions from day one, not ports of older PC games
Challenges Facing Road Kings:
- Competing with a decade of content: ATS and ETS2 have hundreds of hours of content and thousands of miles of roads
- Established community: SCS Software has built a massive, loyal fanbase with extensive mod support
- Simulation depth: Matching the nuanced truck handling, realistic traffic AI, and authentic trucking experience will be difficult
- Map size at launch: Starting with just the American South means less variety than established competitors
- Unproven formula: The story-driven approach might alienate sim-trucking purists
The Verdict: A Welcome Addition to the Genre
Rather than viewing Road Kings as a direct threat to ATS and ETS2, it’s better understood as an expansion of the truck simulation genre. Just as racing games range from hardcore sims like iRacing to arcade experiences like Forza Horizon, there’s room for different approaches to trucking games.
For players who love the pure, meditative experience of ATS and ETS2, Road Kings probably won’t replace their favorite games. But for those interested in a more structured, story-driven trucking adventure with cutting-edge graphics, it could be exactly what they’ve been waiting for.
The closed beta will be crucial in determining whether Saber Interactive has successfully balanced simulation authenticity with narrative engagement. If they can deliver the physics and vehicle handling that sim fans expect while wrapping it in an compelling story, Road Kings could carve out its own successful niche.
The best-case scenario for truck simulation fans? Road Kings succeeds and pushes SCS Software to continue innovating, creating healthy competition that benefits everyone. The worst case? Even if Road Kings doesn’t quite hit the mark, it will have shown there’s enough interest in the genre to support new AAA entries, which bodes well for future truck sims.
One thing is certain: 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for virtual truckers. Whether you’re team SCS or ready to try something new, the road ahead looks promising.
Stay tuned to trucksim.top for more updates on Road Kings, including our hands-on impressions once the closed beta launches.
Southern Region mod is frozen right now
We haven’t see new versions of Southern Region map since version 1.54 (May 2025) and it was adaptation of 13th edit with minor new content and mostly compatibility. Since that we’ve seen a lot of changes in the game. Its only author Artyom (aka SimKA) has not enough time to make updates and never share the map with other modders. So to avoid speculations it has been revealed statement on the official community:
1. No new versions are expected at this time. The project has been effectively “frozen” since June. Artyom (author) will unfreeze it when he comes back online.
2. The current version (13.1, for ETS 2 1.54) has been removed from sharemods for violating rules. Furthermore, version 13.1 for 1.56 is no longer particularly suitable, so there’s no point in restoring the link for now.
3. Overall situation with the project is as follows: we’re waiting for Artyom to have enough free time to adapt map for the current version (not even for 1.56, for sure) and we’ll restore the download links (with mirrors).
4. In terms of map builds, it’s best not to use it at all for now. Since the official version is outdated, and when using third-party “improvements,” it’s unclear what the creators have added.
UK Possible Rework Announced in creative manner
Britain in ETS2 is the oldest area in the game, featuring incorrect scale, outdated materials, ancient assets, and a road network that hasn’t aged well. Along with the early Eastern European regions, it stands in stark contrast to the newly added expansions such as West Balkans or Greece, not to mention the stunning quality we’ve seen in recent map updates in Germany and Switzerland.
The Teaser That Started It All
Recently, SCS Software released an intriguing teaser video that’s got the community buzzing. On the surface, it appears to be a charming guide on how to make English tea correctly, complete with proper BBC-style British pronunciation. No trucks, no roads, no explicit mention of any rework—just tea, spoken in the Queen’s English.
But longtime fans of SCS know that the studio rarely does anything without purpose. Why would a Czech game developer suddenly release a video about British tea culture with such attention to authentic pronunciation and cultural detail? The answer seems obvious: Britain might finally be getting the rework it desperately deserves.
Why Britain Needs a Rework
The United Kingdom was one of the first regions added to Euro Truck Simulator 2, and while it was impressive at the time, the game has evolved tremendously since then. Modern expansions showcase:
- Accurate scaling that makes cities feel properly sized
- High-quality materials and textures that bring roads and landscapes to life
- Detailed assets from buildings to vegetation
- Realistic road networks that mirror real-world infrastructure
- Atmospheric lighting and weather effects
Drive through the UK today, then hop over to any recently updated region, and the difference is striking. Britain feels cramped, simplified, and lacking in the character that makes exploring new territories so enjoyable in modern ETS2.
The Big Question: Free or Paid?
This brings us to the inevitable question: if SCS does rework the UK, will it be a free update or a paid DLC?
There’s precedent for both approaches. SCS has historically provided significant free updates to existing map areas, continuously improving the base game. However, the scale of work required to completely rebuild Britain from scratch, essentially would be enormous. We’re talking about:
- Completely remodeling every city
- Rebuilding the entire road network with proper scaling
- Creating new assets for British landmarks and architecture
- Updating materials and textures throughout
- Potentially expanding the map to include more of the UK (Ireland would be a good candidate for DLC)
Given the scope, a paid DLC wouldn’t be unreasonable. Many in the community would gladly pay for a “UK Refresh” or “Britain Reworked” DLC that brings the region up to modern standards. After all, SCS has earned tremendous goodwill with their consistent support and quality improvements over the years.
Alternatively, SCS might surprise us with a free major update, continuing their tradition of supporting the base game while funding development through new expansion sales.
Looking Forward
Whether that tea-making video is a clever hint or just SCS having some fun, one thing is certain: Britain deserves the same love and attention that recent expansions have received. The UK was there at the beginning of ETS2’s journey, and it would be wonderful to see it brought up to the standard that reflects how far the game has come.
What do you think? Is a UK rework on the horizon? And more importantly, what would you most want to see in a reworked Britain?
Complete evolution of ETS2. All DLC Trailers & Releases (2012-2027)
Nordic Horizons DLC will come soon, possible challenges
We still have no release date of new DLC for ETS2 – Nordic Horizons, bug we have good signals that the expansion will be released soon in 2025. Early trailer and gameplay preview from SCS usually means that the DLC is in final pre-release stage and since we never have open betas for chargeable content we get Nordic Horizon instantly.
It is still discussable on which version of the game the DLC will come and it could be 1.56 or additional major version on this branch like 1.56.5 (as we got West Balkans on 1.48.5 instead of 1.49). Another option is early release on 1.57 with short lifecycle of current 1.56 version.
It will be challenge for map mod community – they have to adapt to new DLC or even merge with their content if the new area with collide with existing mod structure (e.g Promods). The mods locked on the game version can also loose compatibility.
Anyway we are waiting for new big DLC (Greece was very small) to discover new roads in Nordic Countries – Sweden, Norway and Finland and also waiting for Scandinavia rebuild which will be good update for this beautiful expansion.
In video below I collected gameplay timelaps, trailer, available teaser footages provided by SCS on their media channels.
Map Combo Study 09.25.2025
We switched to ETS2 and ATS 1.56 but no map combos available yet. I’ve strted to prepare setups for both games but busy times on new work don’t give me enough time to provide new map combos fast. Obviously not all maps have been updated to new game version but I believe on upcoming weekends I can show you at least classic combinations for both games. Until that and if you are still on 1.55 you can enjoy massive combos for previous version of he game below.
If you just started with mods and map combination please see beginner’s guide. If you ask obvious questions explained in that guide most probably you will be send to watch it again.
As always before you start please always check if the guide you see latest and actual (check dates and videos availability). Please also follow rules and requirements – correct load order, DLCs compatibility and avoid extra mods that did not mentioned in the guide. Every single mod (not only map) can break the game and you will have a problems.
ETS2 Giga Map Combo for ETS2 1.55 – Tutorial – September, 10 2025
ATS Final Big Map Combo for ATS 1.55 with 19 Maps – September, 6 – 2025
Guide mentioned above and could be helpful:
ETS2 1.56 Released
A couple days after American release of 1.56, SCS pushed the update for ETS2 and as well as in ATS here we have see no significant changes from open beta branch. Base game changes like new Profiles UI or Height Blend effect are the same as in ATS but in European sim some new content revealed for DLCs.
ETS2 1.56
Changelog
Gameplay
- Camera Zoom – Hold/Toggle
Vehicles
- HS-Schoch Tuning Pack DLC Update
- Special Transport DLC Update – CZ LOKO
- Schmitz Cargobull Trailer Pack DLC Update
Visual
- Height Blend
UI
- New Profile Creation and Start-up Flow
- Management UI/UX Improvements
Other
- DLC Browser
As always more details on SCS Software blog.
ATS 1.56 Released
SCS released 1.56 for American Truck Simulator. No other updates comparing to open beta started on August 27th. Below you can see changelog and my short video about changes in 1.56.
Changelog
Gameplay
- Dynamic Cargo Improvements
- Camera Zoom – Hold/Toggle
Visual
- Height Blend
UI
- New Profile Creation and Start-up Flow
- Management UI/UX Improvements
Other
- DLC Browser
More details in SCS Software blog
Map Combo Study 09.04.2025
The cycle of ETS2 and ATS 1.55 is going to the end and we already have open betas for 1.56 for both games. It means less time for map combos for current version. We do not expect significant map changes in new version of the game so I hope most map mods will receive mostly compatibility updates.
Regarding 1.55 – I’m planning to combine final setup for ATS this week and refresh 1.55 Mega.
If you just started with mods and map combination please see beginner’s guide. If you ask obvious questions explained in that guide most probably you will be send to watch it again.
Below you can find massive setup for 58 maps for ETS2 and still actual American 17 maps combination.
Before start please always check if the guide you see latest and actual. Please also follow rules and requirements – correct load order, DLCs compatibility and avoid extra mods that did not mentioned in the guide. Every single mod (not only map) can break the game and you will have a problems.
Mega Map Combo for ETS2 1.55 – Tutorial – August, 27 2025
ATS Big Map Combo (08.02.2025)
Guide mentioned above and could be helpful:
ATS combo requires latest Iowa DLC and some mods also cargo DLCs dependent. Please see the guide for smart shopping of American DLC with bundles.
ETS2 1.56 Open Beta
A day after American open beta for version 1.56, SCS announced the release for ETS2 and it is now available to test. Base game changes like new Profiles UI or Height Blend effect are the same as in ATS but in European sim some new content revealed for DLCs.
Changelog
Gameplay
- Camera Zoom – Hold/Toggle
Vehicles
- HS-Schoch Tuning Pack DLC Update
- Special Transport DLC Update – CZ LOKO
- Schmitz Cargobull Trailer Pack DLC Update
Visual
- Height Blend
UI
- New Profile Creation and Start-up Flow
- Management UI/UX Improvements
Other
- DLC Browser
As always more details on SCS Software blog and you can also try these changes joining beta branch. Go to Steam library – right-click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 – Properties – Betas tab – Beta Participation drop down menu – public_beta. No password is required.
ETS2 1.56 News
Alongside with ATS 1.56 Open beta release we have some news for European trucking sibling of SCS Software. I still do not believe that we will see Nordic Horizon DLC this fall despite the fact that we saw the trailer, the good signal that the release is around the corner. But this time the trailer was prepared for Gamescom presentation and probably the expansion will be released not in 1.56 cycle. But new game version can be released September-October 2025 and below are the updates we will see in it.
HS-Schoch DLC Update
With the arrival of the upcoming ETS2 1.56 HS-Schoch Tuning Pack is receiving a substantial refresh and expansion.
Accessory finishes:
- Chrome
- Paintable (can now be customised in any colour of your choice)
- Matte paintable (also fully colour-selectable)
Grilles and Light Bars:
- Roof bars will have new LED and non-LED versions
- Front light bars will now feature LED, non-LED, and even strobe versions
- Bottom grilles will also be updated, with slot-based options as well as an LED version
It will be brought also two brand-new paint jobs.
Since the release of the HS-Schoch Pack, several new trucks have been added to ETS2. With this update, SCS includes bars for all the vehicles that were not part of the game at the time of the DLC’s original launch.
Schmitz Cargobull DLC Update
The highlight of this update is the Schmitz S.CS High Capacity Transport (HCT). This configuration features two trailers connected with a dolly. Schmitz Cargobull now becomes the second brand in Euro Truck Simulator 2 to feature a 32 m HCT trailer setup.
Also arriving in this update is the Schmitz S.KO City chassis, equipped with a steering axle, which provides greater manoeuvrability in tighter spaces. While this feature is primarily aimed at navigating urban environments, in ETS2, you are free to take it anywhere you like. Whether threading through narrow streets or tackling longer journeys, this new option adds variety and flexibility to your trailer fleet.
CZ LOKO Locomotives
With the upcoming 1.56 update, it will be revealed new cargoes from the company CZ LOKO, a renowned manufacturer of locomotives, both to the Euro Truck Simulator 2 base game and also as part of the Special Transport DLC.
In the base game, it will added the locomotives MUV 75 and EffiShunter 300. While these aren’t the largest or heaviest machines you’ll encounter, don’t underestimate them – make sure your truck is well-prepared to handle the load. The MUV 75 tips the scales at over 14 tons, while the EffiShunter 300 weighs in at a hefty 36 tons.
The Special Transport already features oversized cargoes such as the Articulated Hauler, Large Reservoir Tank, Giant Silo, and many more. Now, the roster is expanding with a true heavyweight – the EffiShunter 1000, a massive locomotive built by CZ LOKO.
Truckers will haul this behemoth on a lowbed trailer. The total height (including the trailer) reaches an impressive 5.3 meters, with a length of 16 meters and a width of 3.1 meters. Navigating corners with the EffiShunter 1000 in tow will demand precision and nerves of steel.
Your truck will need a powerful engine for this job – the locomotive alone weighs 80 tons, plus another 10 tons for the trailer. That’s 90 tons of pure challenge rolling behind you.
It will be available to deliver the EffiShunter 1000 along three routes: Berlin to Szczecin, Kassel to Hamburg, and Bremen to Travemünde. Each journey will be escorted by two escort vehicles to help ensure a safe trip from departure to delivery.