Euro Truck Simulator 2
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a truck simulator game developed and published by SCS Software for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS and was initially released as open development on 19 October 2012. The game is a direct sequel to the 2008 game Euro Truck Simulator and it is the second video game in the Truck Simulator series. The basic premise of the game is that the player can drive one of a choice of articulated trucks across a condensed depiction of Europe, picking up cargo from various locations and delivering it. As the game progresses, it is possible for the player to buy more vehicles and depots, as well as hire other drivers to work for them.
The game has sold over 5 million units on Steam as of July 2019, according to the metrics website Steam Spy.
Gameplay
Players choose their HQ's location in any of the game map's cities. At first, the player can only take what is known as Quick jobs—these jobs involve making hired driver deliveries while employed by a delivery company, with a provided truck and all expenses covered. As the player earns money or takes bank loans, they can eventually afford to buy themselves a truck, acquire a home garage, and start accepting better-paying jobs by using their own truck instead of being a driver for hire with gear being supplied. Money earned in the game can be spent on upgrading or purchasing new trucks, hiring NPC drivers to take on deliveries, buying more garages and expanding the home garage to accommodate more trucks and drivers. The skills of the drivers hired by the player also grow with experience and the player can create a huge fleet of the trucks and drivers expanding the business across Europe.As players progress and earn money, they are also able to purchase their own trailers, which can be fully customized in the same way as trucks. Player-owned trailers can be used to receive and deliver cargo at existing storage locations. Like trucks, trailers can also be allocated to company employees, resulting in higher income.
The player gains experience points after each delivery. A skill point is awarded after each level-up. Skill points can be used to unlock deliveries that require different ADR classes, longer distance deliveries, special cargo loads, fragile cargo loads, deliveries that are urgent and eco-driving. This progression allows the player to take on better-paid jobs.
The base game features 71 cities in twelve different countries, over twenty different types of cargo and over fifteen fictional European companies. There are six map DLCs that expand the game to more countries and locations, and multiple other truck and trailer DLCs.
The game also features a "Radio" feature, which allows players to play imported MP3 and OGG files. It also allows the player to listen to Internet radio.
The game includes two new truck companies, Scania and Renault, with MAN returning from the original game. Initially, DAF, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo trucks were not officially licensed and had their names changed to DAV, Ivedo, Majestic and Valiant respectively. Later updates included the official branding for the DAF XF, Volvo FH, Iveco Stralis, Scania Streamline and Mercedes-Benz Actros. In 2017 the new Scania S and R were introduced. The MAN TGX Euro 6 was added as a playable vehicle on 8 February 2019, followed by the Renault T on 26 September 2019.
Development
Initially released for Windows and available for purchase & download via SCS's own website, the game would eventually be added to Steam in January 2013. Expanding beyond the Windows version, SCS announced in March 2013 that they were developing a Mac version of the game. One month later they released a Linux beta version of the game to the public through Steam. On 27 February, they stated "the Mac OS port of ETS 2 is taking longer than anybody would like, but trust us, we are still working hard on it." Finally, on 19 December 2014, they announced on their blog that the OS X version of the game is ready for a public beta available on Steam. On 21 January 2015 a 64-bit version of Euro Truck Simulator 2 was released, which allows for more memory to be used by the game.In July 2013 a large update was released, fixing various graphical glitches, improving the toll booths and included the ability to switch off the trucks' speed limiter from within the gameplay options.
In October 2013, SCS announced support for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset which became available in the beta 1.9 update released in March 2014.
In May 2014, ETS 2 was updated out of beta with patch 1.10. In July 2014, ETS 2 released an open beta of patch 1.11 on Steam. The full patch contains 3 new cities in Austria and Italy, along with an improved layout and UI, a way to adjust your seating in the cabin, and a feature that allows you to sell/trade your garages. In January 2015, ETS 2 was updated with support for 64 bit, and officially released for OS X. On 8 September 2015, SCS Blog announced the completion of 5 years of their blog as well as the upcoming feature in v1.21.
In February 2019, SCS released Update 1.34 for ETS 2 which added a brand new truck, the MAN TGX Euro 6 and numerous bug fixes.
In June 2019, SCS released Update 1.35 for ETS 2 which added loads more features such as GPS voice navigation, DirectX 11 Experimental Support, Razer Chroma support and various map changes across Europe, with the most predominant changes happening in Germany to the Autobahn system.
In December 2019, SCS released Update 1.36 ETS 2 which added a new French Island Corsica for Vive la France DLC, DX11 full support, Detours, Chinese and other non-Latin character input, Anti-aliasing improvements and more.
Downloadable content
Map expansion packs
Euro Truck Simulator 2 offers several DLC base map expansion packs. Below is a list of major expansion packs provided by the developers.| Name | Release date | Description |
| Going East | 20 September 2013 | In January 2013 SCS Software announced a downloadable content package — Going East!, expanding the game map into Eastern Europe. The DLC saw the introduction of thirteen new cities across Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary and was released in 20 September 2013. In July 2015, Hungary gained 2 more cities: Pécs and Szeged along with some roads in Austria and Hungary. |
| Scandinavia | 7 May 2015 | On 7 May 2015 SCS released a second DLC similar to Going East!, called Scandinavia. It features a map extension to Scandinavia and features Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The DLC also contains 2 new types of trailers: a livestock trailer and a trailer for transporting trucks. The latter can be picked up at the Volvo Trucks and Scania factories in Sweden, which have been recreated in the game. |
| Vive la France! | 5 December 2016 | In 2016, SCS Software officially announced a new DLC named Vive la France !. It adds 15 new cities from France, of new roads, famous landmarks, enhanced vegetation, new cargoes to haul, new industries, and new companies. It was released on 5 December 2016. The island of Corsica received its free expansion as part of 1.36 update in late 2019. |
| Italia | 5 December 2017 | On 11 August 2017, SCS announced the Italia DLC, which was released on 5 December 2017. It expanded the game into mainland Italy and Sicily, and the northern Italian cities included in the base game received an upgrade. Sardinia was added in the 1.35 update as a free addition of the expansion pack. The DLC was released exactly one year after SCS's previous DLC. |
| Beyond The Baltic Sea | 29 November 2018 | The Beyond the Baltic Sea DLC was announced by SCS Software on 2 March 2018, consisting countries within the Baltics and the adjacent parts of southern Finland and western Russia. The pack includes border checkpoints in Russia. It was released on 29 November 2018. |
| Road to the Black Sea | 5 December 2019 | On, SCS Software released a teaser video announcing the development of another expansion pack which will feature Romania, Bulgaria and the European part of Turkey. It was released on 5 December 2019. |
| Iberia | TBA | An upcoming expansion pack for Euro Truck Simulator 2 from the shows the next map set in Iberia, consisting of both Spain and Portugal. |
''Paint Jobs''
A set of Halloween-themed paint jobs was released exclusively on Valve's Steam store on 24 October 2013. On 10 December 2013, a set of winter themed paint jobs called Ice Cold were released. These themes can be applied to any truck in the game. On 4 April 2014, SCS Software released six more paint jobs in a DLC pack called "Force of Nature" and all paint jobs are still Steam DLC only. The Going East! DLC however, is both Steam and Non-Steam DLC. Finally, in the 1.10/1.11 update there are 5 new paint schemes with the UK, Irish, Scottish, American, and Canadian flags. On 3 October 2014, SCS Software released some colorschemes based on the German flag, prior to the 24th anniversary of the reunion of Germany.During December 2014 and January 2015 on World of Trucks only, there was an exclusive paint skin that many players still have called the Ravens Paint Pack. It included only two Raven style paints, and was only unlocked if you delivered Christmas trailers the approximate distance from Praha, Czech Republic to the Geographic North Pole which in the end came down to 2,760 miles. The Ravens Paint Pack DLC was originally not available for purchase; however on 6 March 2017 SCS Software released it as a paid-DLC, with some additional content, through Steam for US$1.99.
''High Power Cargo Pack''
High Power Cargo Pack DLC expands the cargo range in the game by adding custom cargoes. The new cargoes are usually large, long and heavy and include a helicopter, various tractors and drillers, air conditioners and even a yacht. An extra bonus included with the pack is a special Heavy Duty customizable paint job.''Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack''
On 16 September 2016 SCS released the first officially licensed trailer pack for the game. The Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack add five new and original modeled Semi-Trailers of the Austrian-based semi-trailer conductor Schwarzmüller into the game.''Cabin Accessories''
The Cabin Accessories DLC adds various items to customize the cabin of your truck, such as banners, pennants, bobbleheads, a portable navigator and even fuzzy dice which will respond to the cabin's movements. It was released on 30 September 2015.Steam Workshop integration
In the 1.23 beta, SCS Software integrated Valve's Steam Workshop into the game, allowing mod authors to upload their creations onto the Euro Truck Simulator 2 Steam Workshop page. This lets players subscribe to a mod and Steam will download and install it to their game. These mods range from trailers and companies to new trucks and sound packs. Mod authors use a tool named SCS Workshop Uploader to get their mods published on the Workshop Page.''Heavy Cargo Pack''
On 12 May 2017, SCS released the Heavy Cargo Pack DLC which added eight new cargo types. Each cargo is large and very heavy in weight, and is transported on a special trailer with steerable rear axles.''Special Transport''
The Special Transport DLC was released on 13 December 2017, consisting of even heavier cargoes that exceed regular cargo regulations, with escort vehicles that will help guide the player deliver cargo at short distances. Unlike regular and heavy cargoes, the player cannot make stops at rest areas, gas stations or deviate away from escort vehicles.''Krone Trailer Pack''
Released on 18 September 2018, the Krone Trailer Pack is the second licensed trailer pack to be added, the DLC adds 6 new trailers and various accessories.Reception
The game was generally well received by critics, holding a score of 79/100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".In a review for Destructoid, Jim Sterling praised the game's accessibility, noting how easy the GPS and map features were to use, as well as the option to stream European internet radio, and the multitude of control options available. He also praised the graphics, stating that "rom the shape of the traffic lights to the atmosphere of the backdrops, there's a sense of individuality to each new territory you uncover, and the trucks themselves are lovingly recreated with an intricate level of detail", although he did criticise the AI of the other vehicles on the road.
In a similarly favourable review, Tim Stone of PC Gamer called it "unexpectedly engrossing", praising the size of the map and the variation of the roads and scenery available. He did however have reservations about the accuracy of the surroundings, commenting "no one seems to have told SCS’s countryside crafters that rural Britain features long green things called hedges. Cities are often depicted with the shortest of visual shorthand – a few warehouses, the odd landmark if you’re lucky."
Awards
listed Euro Truck Simulator 2 ninth on their list of "The 25 Best Simulation Games Ever Made".| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
| 2012 | PC Gamer | 'The Sim of the Year 2012' Award | ||
| 2016 | Steam Awards | The 'I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won An Award' Award | ||
| 2016 | Steam Awards | The 'Sit Back and Relax' Award | ||
| 2018 | Steam Awards | The "Most Fun with a Machine" Award |