When we launched Steam Controller last month, we quickly saw that initial demand exceeded our expectations. Switching to a reservation queue has (hopefully) cut down on the headaches on the customer side, and for us it's also been helpful as we plan ahead and try to get as many out as quickly as we are able.
We have no plans to stop making Steam Controller. But as we look at the current demand compared to how many we know we can make by the end of the year, we want to manage expectations as much as we can with regards to when folks can expect to receive their order.
Starting today, the Steam Controller page will show you a time frame by when you can expect to receive your order email, based on when you reserved.
To keep it simple, we're showing one of three estimated order windows:
By September 2026
By December 2026
In 2027 (with additional information on specific timing to come)
What does this mean if I already have a reservation?
When you are logged in to your Steam account and go to the Steam Controller page, you'll now see your expected order window.Β
What if I haven't reserved yet?
You still can! We will continue to accept reservations, and you'll see an estimated order availability before you click the "reserve now" button.
Though the current estimation for orders placed today forward indicate a 2027 date for shipping, we will update that estimate as we get closer.
For anyone with reservations OR hoping to make reservations:
We will still be emailing customers with an option to purchase once their place in the queue comes up. You'll have 72 hours to complete your order, otherwise you will be removed from the list and we'll go to the next folks in line.Β Β
We are excited to announce that the 1.60 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 is now officially released! Let's dive in and take a look at what's in store.
As always, we would first like to thank everyone who participated in the open beta phase and helped us fine-tune all the new content by reporting issues to the dedicated section on our forum. Now let's see what's new in the 1.60 update!
Game Radio
With the 1.60 update, we are introducing Game Radio, a brand-new in-game radio system designed to make every drive feel more immersive and authentic. Rather than just playing music, Game Radio gives you five stations with their own distinct sounds, identities, and moods, each one built to shape the atmosphere of your journey in a different way.
Players can tune into Rust FM, Escape, PUMP IT!, Pop Gear, and Roadio, spanning guitar-driven rock and American roots music to electronic, pop, and lo-fi. Each station features carefully curated tracks, handpicked to hold up across many hours on the road. Escape is also a radio station designed to help content creators, and we are committed to do our best to keep it stream-safe.
Game Radio also introduces a new in-game widget displaying station info, track titles, and artist names while driving. Players can customize widget behavior through the Widget Options menu (F6). This update also brings a range of improvements to the existing radio and music player systems.
Game Radio arrives with its musical foundation in place, with more planned for future updates. You can find out more information about Game Radio in our dedicated blog post.
Improved Material System
The Improved Material System significantly improves the lighting and visual quality of vehicle interiors in selected trucks. Its main focus is to enhance how interior materials react to light, which results in a more readable, detailed, and visually pleasing cabin environment.
During the development of Project Road Trip, we implemented a wide range of visual and technical improvements. One of the most significant changes was a redesign of the materials used in vehicle interiors. As a result, it makes differences between materials such as leather, fabric, plastic, and metal far more apparent, even in low-light conditions. The new solution uses multiple variants of dynamic cubemaps, allowing all materials to reflect their surroundings more naturally and respond to ambient light in a more realistic way.
The entire system was designed from the start with the interiors of trucks in both games in mind, so the base games and their existing fleets will gradually benefit from these improvements as well. The first trucks to benefit from the Improved Material System in ETS2 are the DAF NGD and MAN TG3 TGX models. With future updates, we will gradually add this technology for other trucks across both games. You can read more about this feature here.
Light Tweaks
We have carried out minor adjustments to the global lighting, primarily focused on exposure and contrast balancing, along with subtle visual refinements for bad weather conditions. The work mainly consisted of smoothing out and polishing the overall visuals to achieve a more consistent and refined look.
Volvo FH Series 6 Update
With this update, truckers can customize their Volvo FH Series 6 with a selection of several new aerodynamic parts, including the newly designed aerodynamic roof deflectors available for the Sleeper Cab, Globetrotter, and Globetrotter XL cab variants. These updated components help create a smoother and more refined roof profile, blending seamlessly into the truck's overall design.
Alongside these additions, all Aero cabin variants also have the option to add new distinctive black aerodynamic A-Pillar trim, as featured on the newest generation of Volvo FH truck. These new additions reflect Volvo Trucks' ongoing efforts to improve aerodynamic efficiency and optimise airflow around the cab to help enhance energy efficiency and overall vehicle performance.
Job Details Widget
Based on feedback from our #BestCommunityEver and upcoming widget designs, the Job Details Widget is introduced with the 1.60 update. Its primary purpose is to enable a new, more immediate, and concise way of displaying relevant job info. Also, in response to community feedback, the GPS now displays the estimated arrival day and time, along with the remaining travel time and distance.
You can enable the Job Details Widget through the Widget Options menu (F6). The widget displays key job information, including cargo type and weight, delivery location, job income (colour-highlighted), and the remaining time to complete the job, so players will have this info available immediately without the necessity to pause the game. You can read more about the feature here.
Expanded Rest Mechanic
This new feature gives players greater control over their rest periods by allowing them to choose how long they want to sleep and exactly when they want to wake up, instead of being limited to a predefined rest duration.
Alongside this change, the Fatigue system is now split into two separate values: Rest State and Mandatory Break, each represented by its own icon in the UI.
The Rest State, symbolised by a bed icon, now gradually depletes rather than recovers over time. Extended periods of driving will steadily reduce the Rest State, while resting will restore it at a faster rate.
The Mandatory Break system, indicated by a "P" icon along with the remaining hours before a required stop, functions more strictly. In Euro Truck Simulator 2, drivers may drive for up to 10 hours before taking a mandatory break, which requires 9 consecutive hours of rest. You can read more about this feature here.
Note: This update is for the Steam Deck Beta and Preview channels, and includes new features that are still being tested. You can opt into this in Settings > System > System Update Channel.
These notes contain all changes since the current stable SteamOS 3.7 release, with the new changes since the previous 3.8.9 Beta noted below
New in 3.8.10
Fixed a 3.8 regression preventing the typing of certain characters (including [c]<>()[/c]) on the Steam on-screen keyboard in Desktop mode
Fixed a case where FPS limits would fail to apply when downscaling games from a higher resolution
Fixed Desktop Mode night color settings inappropriately remaining active when switching back to Game Mode
Fixed a 3.8 regression that would sometimes cause a Game Mode crash when exiting certain games (such as Forza Horizon 6)
General
Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected
Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models
Fixed a bug on Steam Deck OLED where rebooting would occasionally cause a loss of speaker output until rebooted again
Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware
Added support for waking from sleep via connected Steam Controller
Added preliminary support for HDMI VRR for devices with native HDMI output
Updated Arch system base
Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes
Fixed an issue where "Allow Tearing" wouldn't have the intended effect in certain configurations
Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game
Substantially improved speed of future OS updates on high-speed connections
Improved support for the screencasts in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)
Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games
Improved VRR frame pacing
Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active
Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers
Fixed an issue where video output could become frozen while using Remote Play
Fixed a possible session crash when using Game Recording with certain "Maximum video height" settings
Added missing graphics features needed for titles such as "Crimson Desert"
Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position
Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivorβ’") and Starfield resulting in a session crash
Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode
Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS
Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen
Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session
Fixes for experimental nested desktop mode
Numerous stability and security updates
Fixed an issue on certain TCL TVs where the display may remain blank using the Steam Deck Dock when VRR is enabled (requires a Dock firmware update)
Bluetooth
Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD
Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts
Audio
Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available
Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)
Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode
Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity
Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in
Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume
Accessibility
Added an option to force mono audio output
Desktop Mode
KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default
Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode
Improved support for rotated displays
Better scale factor out of the box on TVs
Adds support for external HDR displays
Adds support for VRR displays
Adds support per-display scale factor
For more information, see Plasma release announcements
In today's blog, we take you along on a trip to the town ofΒ Akureyri, which you will be able to visit yourself when the upcoming Iceland DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 releases. So let's take a look!
Akureyri is the fourth-largest city in Iceland and is often referred to as the Capital of the North due to its location and importance to the region. Nestled on the shores of EyjafjΓΆrΓ°ur, Iceland's longest fjord, the town enjoys a spectacular setting beneath snow-capped mountain peaks, with the GlerΓ‘ River flowing through its heart.
The earliest records of settlement in the area date back to the 9th century. However, it was not until the 18th century that Akureyri began to develop into an important commercial center, thanks to its harbor and proximity to rich fishing grounds. Today, it is Iceland's second-largest port and serves as a major hub for the country's fishing industry, as well as for cruise ships and cargo transport.
Drivers traveling along Route 1, also known as the Ring Road, will pass directly through the center of Akureyri. From there, several side roads branch off toward the harbor, industrial areas, and local food-processing facilities. In the port district, truckers can deliver cargo to a marine logistics center, a shipyard, and an electronics manufacturing depot.
One of Akureyri's most recognizable landmarks is Akureyrarkirkja, a striking church designed in 1940 by GuΓ°jΓ³n SamΓΊelsson, the architect behind HallgrΓmskirkja in ReykjavΓk, Iceland's most famous church.
Players will also recognize a number of other landmarks inspired by their real-world counterparts, including the Hof Cultural and Conference Centre on the waterfront and the Akureyri Art Museum, with its famous colorful pavement leading to its entrance. The town is also a great spot for whale watching tours, which is why we've also included the local whale watching center.
We hope you'll fall in love with Akureyri, with its colourful houses and stunning natural surroundings. If you do, you might even buy a garage in town and transform it into your company's northern Iceland branch.
Also, remember to give our X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok a follow as you'll receive updates not only about Iceland, but also other news from our games straight to your feed. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.Β Until next time, safe travels!
We're excited to announce that the 1.60 updateforAmerican Truck Simulator has officially been released and is now available on Steam!
Before we head to the news, we would like to thank everyone who took part in the Open Beta and reported any issues or provided general feedback on our forum. This makes it much easier for our team to fine-tune everything and helps ensure a smooth transition to the full update release.
Game Radio
With the 1.60 update, we are introducing Game Radio, a brand-new in-game radio system designed to make every drive feel more immersive and authentic. Rather than just playing music, Game Radio gives you five stations with their own distinct sounds, identities, and moods, each one built to shape the atmosphere of your journey in a different way.
Players can tune into Rust FM, Escape, PUMP IT!, Pop Gear, and Roadio, spanning guitar-driven rock and American roots music to electronic, pop, and lo-fi. Each station features carefully curated tracks, handpicked to hold up across many hours on the road. Escape is also a radio station designed to help content creators, and we are committed to doing our best to keep it stream-safe.
Game Radio also introduces a new in-game widget displaying station info, track titles, and artist names while driving. Players can customize widget behavior through the Widget Options menu (F6). This update also brings a range of improvements to the existing radio and music player systems.
Game Radio arrives with its musical foundation in place, with more planned for future updates. You can find out more information about Game Radio in our dedicated blog post.
Improved Material System
The Improved Material System significantly improves the lighting and visual quality of vehicle interiors in selected trucks. Its main focus is to enhance how interior materials react to light, which will result in a more readable, detailed, and visually pleasing cabin environment.
During the development of Project Road Trip, we implemented a wide range of visual and technical improvements. One of the most significant changes was a redesign of the materials used in vehicle interiors. As a result, it makes differences between materials such as leather, fabric, plastic, and metal far more apparent, even in low-light conditions. The new solution uses multiple variants of dynamic cubemaps, allowing all materials to reflect their surroundings more naturally and respond to ambient light in a more realistic way.
The entire system was designed from the start with the interiors of trucks in both games in mind, so the base games and their existing fleets will gradually benefit from these improvements as well. The first trucks to benefit from the Improved Material System in ATS are the Mack Anthem and the Western Star 49X. With future updates, we will gradually add this technology for other trucks across both games. You can read more about this feature here.
Light Tweaks
We have carried out minor adjustments to the global lighting, primarily focused on exposure and contrast balancing, along with subtle visual refinements for bad weather conditions. The work mainly consisted of smoothing out and polishing the overall visuals to achieve a more consistent and refined look.
Players' Company Paint Jobs
Players are now able to customize their trucks and trailers with a brand-new collection of company-themed paint jobs inspired by the selectable company identities available when creating a driver profile. These designs bring a more cohesive and professional visual style to your fleet while fitting naturally into the world of ATS.
One of the biggest focuses during development was ensuring that every paint job feels unique, depending on the type of trailer it is applied to. Rather than simply using one design across all trailer models, our teams carefully adapted each company's paint scheme to match the shapes and details of different trailer types. Whether youβre hauling cargo with a tanker, transporting materials in a dumper, or pulling a traditional box trailer, each variant features its own tailored details and layout. You can find out more in our blog here.
Kenworth TourAmerica Paint Jobs
We're also pleased to introduce the TourAmerica paint jobs for the Kenworth W900 and Kenworth T680 2022 as free content for all players. Inspired by the iconic TourAmerica T600 livery from the 1990s, this special design was recently reimagined by Kenworth as part of the Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and honoring the legacy of American trucking. You can see more in our blog here.
Job Details Widget
Based on feedback from our #BestCommunityEver and upcoming widget designs, the Job Details Widget is introduced with the 1.60 update. Its primary purpose is to enable a new, more immediate, and concise way of displaying the relevant job info. Also, in response to community feedback, the GPS now displays the estimated arrival day and time, along with the remaining travel time and distance.
You can enable the Job Details Widget through the Widget Options menu (F6). The widget displays key job information, including cargo type and weight, delivery location, job income (colour-highlighted), and the remaining time to complete the job, so players will have this info available immediately without the necessity to pause the game. You can read more about the feature here.
Expanded Rest Mechanic
This new feature gives players greater control over their rest periods by allowing them to choose how long they want to sleep and exactly when they want to wake up, instead of being limited to a predefined rest duration.
Alongside this change, the Fatigue system is now split into two separate values: Rest State and Mandatory Break, each represented by its own icon in the UI.
The Rest State, symbolised by a bed icon, now gradually depletes rather than recovers over time. Extended periods of driving will steadily reduce the Rest State, while resting will restore it at a faster rate.
The Mandatory Break system, indicated by a "P" icon along with the remaining hours before a required stop, functions more strictly. In American Truck Simulator, drivers can stay on the road for up to 14 hours before they must take a mandatory break, requiring 10 consecutive hours of rest afterward. You can read more about this feature here.
The June edition of Steam Next Fest is live, with developers all over the world sharing their upcoming releases with you before they even launch! Peep our trailer (above) for a taste.
All week you'll find free demos to play across all genres, plus livestreams and developer chats throughout the week. Don't forget to wishlist your favorites to stay in-the-know as those games get ready for their official debut.
Steam Next Fest is on now through June 22nd at 10 a.m. Pacific. See you there!
Steam Next Fest is a week-long celebration featuring hundreds of FREE playable demos as well as developer livestreams and chats. Players try out upcoming games on Steam pre-release, developers gather feedback and build an audience ahead of their Steam launch, everyone wins!
Announcing the next edition of Steam Next Fest, a week-long celebration of upcoming games. Save the date for the June 2026 edition, headed to Steam June 15 through 22! Explore and play hundreds of demos, watch developer livestreams, and chat with the teams about their games in progress, coming soon to Steam.
A new SCS On The Road episode has just arrived! Buckle up and join us as we take you along for the amazing Volvo Days: Influencer Day event, where we were invited by Volvo Construction Equipment.
After the last one two years ago, Volvo CE once again hosted its well-known Volvo Days event at their Customer Center in Eskilstuna, Sweden, showcasing its latest products to customers and the public.
This year, Volvo invited us to attend the event and also approached us to help connect them with content creators from our community to take part in the Influencer Day, held on May 28. Together, we joined fellow influencers such asΒ Gamekeepers_cz, TheNorthernAlex, Polmanzan, Iwona Blecharczyk,Β and others for a day that began with an amazing machine show and continued with hands-on experience operating Volvo CE equipment and Volvo trucks. Now, let's watch the episode!
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Volvo Construction Equipment and their staff for inviting us to this incredible event, providing great hospitality, and giving us the opportunity to experience their vast product line hands-on! You can find more information about the Volvo Days event here.
And if you would like to transport some Volvo CE machines in our games, you can check out the Volvo Construction Equipment DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 here, and for American Truck Simulator here.
Two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of opening our doors to the public as part of the Open House Praha Festival, welcoming visitors to our headquarters in Prague. As a festival dedicated to architecture, urbanism, and exceptional spaces that are not normally accessible to the public, Open House Praha offers a unique opportunity to explore some of the city's most interesting buildings and interiors.
As the first tenant of the Roztyly Plaza office building in Chodov, awarded Building of the Year 2024, we were proud to take part in this event and share our workplace with visitors. Throughout the weekend, guests joined guided tours across our offices, discovering not only where we create our games but also the architectural and technological solutions that make this space unique.
Designed by Studio Perspektiv, our offices span several floors and are built around the concept of an adventurous journey through a microworld where nature and technology intertwine. During the tours, visitors learnt more about the architectural vision behind the interior design, as well as the technical aspects of the workspace, including its acoustic design, ventilation systems, and the solutions implemented to create a comfortable and inspiring environment for our teams.
Guests were also able to explore many of the facilities available to employees, including the fitness center, rooms dedicated to massages and meditation, spaces for board games, and even our own movie theater. One of the most striking features of the interior is the monumental red staircase known as Diamant, which connects all three floors of the company and serves as a central architectural element of the space.
Alongside the architectural and technical aspects of the offices, we were happy to share more about SCS Software, our projects, and the work that takes place within these spaces every day. It was a pleasure to meet so many visitors, answer their questions, and showcase the environment where our teams collaborate and create.
A big thank you goes out to everyone who stopped by, as well as to the organizers of Open House Praha for making this event possible. We truly enjoyed welcoming you to our offices and sharing this experience with you.
If you weren't able to visit us during Open House Praha, or would simply like to take another look around, you can explore our offices virtually through Google Street View.
Expanding American Truck Simulator into Canada is much more than just adding new roads and cities. As our teams work on bringing British Columbia, our first Canadian province to ATS, a lot of work is taking place behind the scenes to ensure it feels authentic and recognizable.
From unique architecture and roadside infrastructure to region-specific environmental details, creating a believable Canadian setting requires a lot of effort. To learn more about the process, we spoke with Wety, one of our Map Designer on the British Columbia DLC, who is responsible for coordinating many of the generic assets that will help bring the province to life.
Could you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little about your role on the British Columbia DLC?
"Hi! I'm Wety, and I've been working as a Map Designer on Davido's team for the past five years. I joined SCS as a junior map designer with no previous experience in game development, but with a huge passion for video games. I've loved games ever since I was a kid playing DooM on a 486 PC.Β
Alongside building parts of the map itself, many designers also take on additional responsibilities. Some focus on vegetation and biomes, while others specialize in roads and intersections. My area of responsibility is generic assets, which means helping identify, plan, and coordinate the assets that will be used throughout a DLC."
For players who may not be familiar with the term, what exactly are generic assets?
"In game development, assets are essentially everything the game is made from. Buildings, roads, vehicles, trees, sound effects, animations, and much more all fall under that category. Generic assets are assets that can be reused multiple times across different locations. Things like houses, small stores, power lines, trash bins, and countless other environmental details. Their purpose is to reduce development time while still creating a believable world. If every object in the game had to be unique, it would take an incredibly long time to build a map of this scale."
British Columbia is our first Canadian province in American Truck Simulator. From your perspective, what are some of the biggest visual differences between Canada and the United States that players will notice?
"One of the first things that stood out to me is how much the landscape is dominated by mountains. In British Columbia, it often feels like you're constantly surrounded by them. While there are mountainous regions in the United States as well, the areas I worked on previously didn't have quite the same feeling.
The southern part of the province still has some similarities to the American landscapes players may be familiar with, but further north and inland, the scenery becomes distinctly Canadian. Another thing I noticed is how bike-friendly many Canadian communities are. Dedicated bicycle lanes and cycling infrastructure are everywhere, and they quickly become a recognizable part of the environment."
How many new generic assets are being created specifically for British Columbia?
"Players will encounter around 130 new models throughout cities and rural areas, along with roughly 40 additional assets created specifically for depots and ferry terminals. We're also introducing several decorative Canadian-themed brands to help strengthen the province's identity, with around 14 new brands planned alongside numerous smaller advertisements and environmental details."
How does the creation process work, and how do you decide which assets should be made?
"The process starts with our Research Team. They travel through the region and identify things that appear frequently enough to justify creating dedicated assets for them. After that, I review the list together with other map designers and the DLC Lead. At this stage, we already need a fairly good idea of how the map will look so we can prioritize assets that will actually be used.Β
We also check whether similar assets already exist from previous DLCs and can be reused. Once we've decided what needs to be created, we prepare documentation for our Asset Team. This includes reference photos, approximate dimensions, colour variations, and other important details. Then our talented 3D artists work their magic. Afterwards, we review the finished assets, provide any necessary feedback, and once everything looks right, they're ready to be placed in the map." How closely do you work with the Asset Team throughout development?
"Ideally, not too much! That might sound strange, but it usually means everything is progressing smoothly. Once the initial documentation is prepared, the Asset Team generally has everything they need. Of course, questions still come up from time to time. Sometimes they need clarification on a specific detail, and occasionally we realize we've overlooked something and request additional assets later in development. It's very much a collaborative process."
Can you share a few examples of new assets that really help capture the character of British Columbia?
"One of my favourite examples is the Canadian bear-resistant trash bins you'll find throughout the province. They're designed so people can open them easily, but bears cannot. They're a small detail, but they instantly help establish a sense of place. Another great example would be the dry toilets commonly found at rest areas and recreational sites.
They're surprisingly distinctive and appear throughout British Columbia. I also really like some of the new residential houses we've created. Many feature steeply sloped roofs designed to prevent heavy snowfall from accumulating during winter. It's a practical design choice that immediately gives the architecture a distinctly Canadian feel."
You had the opportunity to visit British Columbia for research. What were some of your biggest takeaways from seeing the province in person?
"What impressed me most was how much nature dictates everything. In many parts of the United States, towns and roads can spread across relatively flat terrain, making straight roads and grid-like layouts common. British Columbia is very different. Roads often follow rivers, valleys, and mountain passes because that's simply where the terrain allows them to exist. As a result, roads constantly rise, fall, twist, and turn. It creates some incredible scenery, but it also makes recreating the region much more challenging from a map-building perspective."
Were there any locations, towns, or details that immediately stood out to you?
"My favourite place we visited was Whistler. Many people know it as the mountain resort that hosted events during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, but it's also simply a beautiful place surrounded by spectacular mountains and forests. The entire area has a unique atmosphere, and it's easy to see why it's such a popular destination. It was memorable for another reason too, I ended up buying a hat there after accidentally sunburning my bald head while we were in Vancouver!"
How important is real-world research when creating assets and making a region feel authentic?
"It gives you perspective. A lot of details that you see in photos or videos don't seem significant at first. But then you're there, trying to get rid of some trash, and you find one of these anti-bear trash bins that resists your attempts to open it. Then you realize why, and it all makes sense. Suddenly, you know those big boys are in the forests around you."
Or you have to almost get hit and yelled at by a cyclist on a sidewalk to realise that those lines are for bicycles, and that people take them there seriously. And all those mountains you can see in pictures? In real life, they're way bigger than you can even imagine.
When players first hit the road in British Columbia, what details should they keep an eye out for?
"Beyond the obvious road-related additions such as new crash barriers, reflective posts, and road markings, players should pay attention to the architecture and agricultural areas. You'll encounter new apartment buildings and residential neighbourhoods inspired by the suburbs surrounding Vancouver, as well as large fruit farms complete with distinctive farmhouses and hacienda-style buildings.Β
Players may also spot wind machines used to protect crops from freezing temperatures, a detail commonly found in orchard regions. Another familiar sight making a return with a new look are the towering grain elevators that stand as landmarks across the landscape. One of these will be located very close to the border and should be easy to spot during your travels. And of course, don't forget to watch for the large 'Welcome to British Columbia' signs when entering the province."Β Finally, what are you most excited for players to experience when they explore British Columbia for the first time?
"More than anything, I hope players enjoy it. We can spend countless hours researching, building, and refining every detail, but ultimately what matters most is whether players have fun driving through the world we've created. So I simply hope everyone has a great time truckin' through British Columbia."
We'd like to thank Wety for taking the time to share the work that goes into creating the assets that help define a region's identity. We hope you've enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at the process and perhaps learned a thing or two along the way! If you'd like to see more articles like this, be sure to leave a comment and let us know what other topics you'd like us to explore.
We look forward to sharing more from the British Columbia DLC in the future. If you're excited for this new region, be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! Until then, keep on truckin'!
Note: This update is for the Steam Deck Beta and Preview channels, and includes new features that are still being tested. You can opt into this in Settings > System > System Update Channel.
These notes contain all changes since the current stable SteamOS 3.7 release, with the new changes since the previous 3.8.8 Beta noted below
New in 3.8.9
Fixed a 3.8 regression where "Allow Tearing" could result in graphical artifacts beyond the expected tear line
Improved dynamic detection of HDMI audio channel count on hotplug
Even more stability and security updates
General
Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected
Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models
Fixed a bug on Steam Deck OLED where rebooting would occasionally cause a loss of speaker output until rebooted again
Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware
Added support for waking from sleep via connected Steam Controller
Added preliminary support for HDMI VRR for devices with native HDMI output
Updated Arch system base
Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes
Fixed an issue where "Allow Tearing" wouldn't have the intended effect in certain configurations
Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game
Substantially improved speed of future OS updates on high-speed connections
Improved support for the screencasts in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)
Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games
Improved VRR frame pacing
Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active
Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers
Fixed an issue where video output could become frozen while using Remote Play
Fixed a possible session crash when using Game Recording with certain "Maximum video height" settings
Added missing graphics features needed for titles such as "Crimson Desert"
Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position
Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivorβ’") and Starfield resulting in a session crash
Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode
Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS
Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen
Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session
Fixes for experimental nested desktop mode
Numerous stability and security updates
Fixed an issue on certain TCL TVs where the display may remain blank using the Steam Deck Dock when VRR is enabled (requires a Dock firmware update)
Bluetooth
Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD
Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts
Audio
Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available
Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)
Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode
Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity
Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in
Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume
Accessibility
Added an option to force mono audio output
Desktop Mode
KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default
Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode
Improved support for rotated displays
Better scale factor out of the box on TVs
Adds support for external HDR displays
Adds support for VRR displays
Adds support per-display scale factor
For more information, see Plasma release announcements
Our #BestCommunityEver, today we'd like to share with you an early look at a feature currently in development for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, known internally as the Multi-Function Display (MFD).
As many of you know, over the years, both games have continued to grow with new systems, gameplay features, assists, vehicle options, and controls. While this has allowed players to tailor their experience in a variety of ways, it has also gradually increased the amount of information, shortcuts, and menus players need to manage on the road.
With the MFD, our goal is to create a more unified and intuitive way to access vehicle functions directly in-game, without needing to interrupt your experience or remember dozens of key-binds.
Introducing the Multi-Function Display
The MFD is an in-game interface accessible from both interior and exterior camera views. From there, you can quickly navigate through various categories and vehicle systems such as driving assists, lighting controls, vehicle adjustments, media functions, trip information, and more.
One of the main goals of this feature is to reduce interruptions while accessing vehicle systems and information. In most situations, opening the MFD will not pause gameplay, and vehicle controls will remain responsive during interaction.
At the same time, we know usability and minimising distraction are extremely important. So, a lot of our work during prototyping and testing is focused on making sure the system feels quick, readable, and comfortable to use. Weβve also drawn inspiration from modern vehicle interfaces in an effort to create a more believable menu, while still keeping quick access to some of the more abstract gameplay settings for convenience.
Designed Around Accessibility and Discoverability
Another important goal behind this feature is discoverability.
Over time, ETS2 and ATS have accumulated a very large number of functions and controls that many players may never fully discover or use. The MFD is intended to help surface these systems more naturally by presenting available functions together in-context, while also displaying their related key-binds directly within the menu.
This does not mean we expect every player to suddenly change the way they interact with the game overnight. Some players prefer using dedicated key-binds and muscle memory, and those methods will continue to remain important. Instead, we see the MFD as an additional layer that can make operating your vehicle easier and more approachable, especially as both games continue to evolve.Β
Different control setups are also something we are carefully considering throughout development. The MFD is being designed to support keyboard, mouse, wheel, and controller users alike, with customisable navigation controls.
Building on Recent Interface ImprovementsΒ
The MFD has been part of a vision to improve the overall in-game driving interface and accessibility of vehicle systems for quite some time. At the same time, we know recent interface-related changes have sparked a lot of discussion within the community, and many of your comments and observations have helped shape internal conversations about where improvements can still be made.
This ongoing feedback has already led to several additions to the updated Route Advisor. Since its release, we have introduced a Damage Widget displaying truck, trailer, and cargo condition, a Finances Widget for tracking your company savings and income, and, with 1.60, a Job Info Widget with details about your current delivery, each of which may be individually hidden.
We are also reworking the Quick Info menu to better align with other in-game interfaces and reflect community feedback. Our current direction is focused on creating a simpler layout that does not obstruct the view while still allowing quick access to functions such as the controls layout, widget settings, Photo Mode, and Services and Adjustments. Functions related to Services and Adjustments are also being integrated into the MFD, allowing players to access them from either interface.Β
These are relatively small additions on their own, but they're part of a much larger ongoing effort to improve usability, information access, and customisation while driving. We know there is still more work ahead, and we are continuing to explore further improvements and adjustments throughout development.
That is also one of the reasons we wanted to begin sharing this feature earlier in its development process.
Still a Work in ProgressΒ
The MFD is still in active prototyping. While the core direction and functionality are already taking shape, many details may continue to evolve as we conduct further internal testing and gather feedback during later stages of development.Β
We are very excited about the possibilities this system opens up, not only for trucks, but eventually for other vehicle types as well.
As always, we look forward to hearing your constructive thoughts once the time comes to put the feature into your hands. Until then, we hope you enjoyed this early look at what is currently being worked on behind the scenes.
Behind every new feature in our games is a dedicated team of talented people working together to bring ideas to life. In this special edition of our Meet the Team, we'd like to introduce some of the people who have been instrumental in creating Game Radio, from the earliest concepts to its implementation in bothΒ Euro Truck Simulator 2Β and American Truck Simulator.
Mrazik - Producer
"During our console development efforts, I've quickly realised that the game's soundscape is an underexplored territory within our games. There's a saying that 'sound is half of the picture', and especially when you're chilling out with a controller in hand, you appreciate a well-tailored musical experience smoothly integrated into the game. I have made it my personal challenge to tackle this effort and venture into the unknown, forming a vision and a team to deliver a result I would personally love as a player myself, and I'm extremely proud of everyone who fell in love with the idea and helped make it a reality.
We've got many plans on how to develop the radio platform in the future, and this is just the starting line. I genuinely hope you love the end result as much as I do, because every road trip is better with a soundtrack!"
Damiana -Β Radio Producer & Audio Designer
"Before joining SCS Software, I spent over five years shaping the sonic identity of Czech Radio podcasts as a sound designer, composer, and co-editor. When I got the opportunity to bring that experience to SCS nine months ago as Radio Producer & Audio Designer and to lead the Game Radio project, it was a no-brainer.
As someone who lives and breathes music, I know how much a single song can change an experience. It sets the mood, triggers unexpected emotions, and makes a fictional world feel real. That mindset naturally carried over to SCS, where I took full creative ownership of the in-game radio stations from the ground up. Iβm responsible for defining each stationβs brand and sonic identity, curating and processing music for in-game use, and coordinating closely with the whole team (who are amazing, by the way) to make every frequency feel alive.
Iβm incredibly excited to hear feedback from the community and to keep building the next chapter of our gameβs radio world."
Zuzka - Junior Game Designer
"Hi, truckers! My name is Zuzka, and Iβve been working at SCS Software for almost three years now. I started out as a 2D graphic designer, then moved on to leading the 2D branding team for ATS, and finally landed my current position as a UX game designer. In this role, I took on the task of creating Game Radio. In addition to designing the behaviour of the feature and solving all related issues, I also helped establish guidelines for the creation of the visual identity of each Game Radio station, so I had the opportunity to combine my skills as a UX designer with my graphic design background. All of this has been done with the support of an enthusiastic team of great colleagues who did their very best to bring you an enjoyable experience.
I hope you will love Game Radio as much as we do! Rest assured that the development of the radio is just getting started with this update, and we have plenty of exciting ideas in store for you."
Raivis - Junior Programmer
"I've been at SCS for almost two years now, though it really doesn't feel that long. During this time, I've worked as a programmer on various features, both for the game itself and for the supporting tools.
These past few months, I've been the main programmer for Game Radio, which was exciting because I got to create something new, not just tweak an existing feature, although there were plenty of things that needed to be changed for existing stuff as well.
As for the future, I'm excited for what we have planned for this feature, and I can't wait to work on it."
Petr -Β Console & UI/UX QA Lead
"Hi, my name is Petr, and I've been part of SCS Software for five and a half years. During the development of Game Radio, I worked closely with our Game Design team, brainstorming what we wanted the radio feature to offer and how we could improve the overall user experience. I also helped coordinate production efforts, organised internal playtesting sessions across the company, and participated in functional testing to ensure everything worked as intended.
Throughout development, I gathered a lot of valuable feedback from both our colleagues at SCS and members of the community on social media. Seeing people's reactions and suggestions has been incredibly rewarding, and I'm excited about the future of Game Radio and the opportunities we have to continue expanding the feature with new ideas and improvements."
Misha - Researcher
"My name is Misha, and I've been working at SCS Software for the past 3 years as a researcher, with my biggest project so far being the British Columbia DLC. For the radio feature, alongside research, I've mainly focused on building the identities of the radio stations - defining their philosophy, values, and overall creative direction.Β
What I enjoy most about this work is turning a large amount of ideas and research into something clear and meaningful. The process can feel chaotic at first, but over time, each station develops its own distinct personality, which then shapes everything from the visual identity to the content itself.
Outside of work, my two biggest passions are composing music and playing video games, so working on the radio feature has been an ideal combination of both worlds for me. I'm really excited for players to experience our in-game world while listening to the new radio stations we've been creating!"
Ales - Junior Producer
"Hi, Iβm AleΕ‘, and July marks my first completed year onboard the SCS truck. Prior to working here, I dedicated my working efforts in the gaming industry to community management, PR, and marketing. In SCS, I have the privilege to explore possibilities of being a producer, which I very much enjoy. Generally, I focus on the production of map DLCs for American Truck Simulator, but as a producer, I have the option to try to lend a helping hand to various projects, such as Game Radio.Β
Unlike other members of the team, my contribution was mostly indirect, focusing on operational support, coordination of tasks and meetings, and overall team progress.Β
I am very much looking forward to any endeavours of Game Radio, since, in my honest opinion, it has huge potential to add a nice melodic flavour to further enhance the experience of driving the roads of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator."
Karina - 2D Graphic Designer
"My journey with SCS Software started almost five years ago, back when I was still a university student. Since then, Iβve become a 2D artist and had the opportunity to work with the 2D design team on the branding for the in-game radio stations. We especially enjoyed this unique task because each station had its own atmosphere and visual style that we needed to capture. It was a refreshing change from our usual routine, and Iβm really looking forward to seeing the stations become part of the game."
We hope you've enjoyed getting to know some of the talented people who helped bring Game Radio to life. Features like this are the result of collaboration across multiple departments, and we're always proud to shine a spotlight on the individuals whose passion and expertise make them possible.
Game Radio will make its debut in update 1.60 for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, and we can't wait for you to experience it for yourself. We'd like to thank everyone involved in the project for sharing their insights, and we hope this behind-the-scenes look has given you a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into every update. You can find out more about Game Radio here.
As always, thank you for your continued support, and be sure to let us know what you think once you hit the road with Game Radio. Donβt forget toΒ follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our newsletter. Until next time, keep on truckin'!
The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:
General
Improved Pipewire session logic on Linux. If persistent capture permissions are granted to Steam, there will only be an active Pipewire session when streaming or recording.
Remote Play
Added a 100 Mbit/s bandwidth option
The "Unlimited" bandwidth option allows adaptive bitrate up to 250 MBit/s when connecting to the latest Steam beta
In-Game Overlay
Fix beta regression with crashing a small number of games on startup on some system configurations
[p]Added display of lowest and highest sticker price in the last 7 days in the Cologne 2026 Major Shop.[/p][/*]
[p]Added stickers showcase to the Cologne 2026 Major Hub tile on the main menu.[/p][/*]
[p]\[ MISC ][/p]
[p]Added multi-select functionality in Storage Units deposit/retrieve UI.[/p][/*]
[p]Added appropriate error message when user's inventory is full and they try to redeem Weekly Care Package rewards, Armory items, or items in the Major Shop cart.[/p][/*]
[p]Fixed number wrapping rules in some languages.[/p][/*]
Excited to get delivering in South Dakota? Then this blog is for you! Today, we're happy to share more of the custom depots you'll deliver to and from in our upcoming South Dakota DLC for American Truck Simulator. From busy agricultural industries to a large scrapyard, let's take a closer look at what our teams have been busy creating!
Unlike standard prefabs, these depots have been carefully assembled by our map designers using a variety of assets, giving each one a distinct look and feel. Many of them are based on real-world locations, which perhaps some of you might recognise if you live locally or visit South Dakota often.
Agriculture plays a major role in South Dakotaβs economy, and players will find plenty of job contract opportunities from a range of farming industries across the state. One such location can be found near the city of Aberdeen, where you'll discover a large farm facility featuring numerous silos used for storing crops and seeds before they are shipped further afield. Set amongst the vast prairies and open spaces that define much of South Dakota's landscape, drivers will be treated to panoramic views and seemingly endless horizons as they travel between jobs. This is just one of the many farms that make up South Dakotaβs number one industry.Β
The agriculture industry covers much more than just seeds and crops, however, and nearby the city of Mitchell, players will discover a custom farm livestock depot inspired by a real-life facility. You'll be sure to spot plenty of livestock roaming the nearby fields, as South Dakota famously has the highest cattle to people ratio in the U.S., with approximately 4 times as many cattle as people living in the state!
For those who enjoy heavy industry and rugged terrain, the Spearfish area will feature a large quarry-inspired depot nestled within the scenic Black Hills region. Hauling materials in and out of this site will require careful driving through winding roads and rough terrain, all while surrounded by impressive rocky landscapes and industrial machinery.
In the city of Lead, youβll find the largest open pit in South Dakota. It is a closed gold mine and a clear visual dominant of the city. In the mine's underground, 4,850 feet deep, we can find a unique research laboratory. It is the deepest underground laboratory in the United States and it houses experiments connected to dark matter and neutrinos, which need to be conducted far below the Earthβs surface, shielded from cosmic radiation. This research facility also serves as an inspiration for one of our locations in the South Dakota DLC. Our players will be able to explore a part of the facility and experience the atmosphere of a place like this for themselvesΒ
Nearby Aberdeen, players will also come across a large scrapyard depot inspired by a real-life agricultural salvage facility. Spanning a huge area filled with rows of machinery, stacked equipment, scrap piles, containers, and industrial vehicles, this custom depot is based on a well known scrapyard business where people travel from across the region in search of spare parts, equipment, and older vehicles.
Grain transportation remains a key part of South Dakotaβs economy, and nearby Mitchell, players can deliver to and from a large grain elevator situated amidst the surrounding countryside. Surrounded by open fields, this agricultural landmark captures the scenic character of South Dakotaβs farming regions. Standing tall above the prairie, grain elevators like this serve as important hubs for storing and transporting crops throughout the Midwest, and are a familiar sight for truckers travelling America's backroads and highways alike.Β
We look forward to sharing even more from this upcoming DLC for American Truck Simulator in the future, right here on our blog. If you're excited to be haulin' in the Mount Rushmore State, be sure to add South Dakota to your Steam Wishlist, your support means a lot to us. Until next time, happy haulinβ!
Note: This update is for the Steam Deck Beta and Preview channels, and includes new features that are still being tested. You can opt into this in Settings > System > System Update Channel.
These notes contain all changes since the current stable SteamOS 3.7 release, with the new changes since the previous 3.8.7 Beta noted below
New in 3.8.8
Fixed a 3.8 regression where the performance HUD might crash when capturing performance data
Temporarily rolled back improvements to slow charger detection
Fixed an issue where MSI Claw controls would stay stuck in desktop mode
General
Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected
Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models
Fixed a bug on Steam Deck OLED where rebooting would occasionally cause a loss of speaker output until rebooted again
Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware
Added support for waking from sleep via connected Steam Controller
Added preliminary support for HDMI VRR for devices with native HDMI output
Updated Arch system base
Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes
Fixed an issue where "Allow Tearing" wouldn't have the intended effect in certain configurations
Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game
Substantially improved speed of future OS updates on high-speed connections
Improved support for the screencasts in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)
Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games
Improved VRR frame pacing
Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active
Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers
Fixed an issue where video output could become frozen while using Remote Play
Fixed a possible session crash when using Game Recording with certain "Maximum video height" settings
Added missing graphics features needed for titles such as "Crimson Desert"
Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position
Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivorβ’") and Starfield resulting in a session crash
Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode
Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS
Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen
Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session
Fixes for experimental nested desktop mode
Numerous stability and security updates
Fixed an issue on certain TCL TVs where the display may remain blank using the Steam Deck Dock when VRR is enabled (requires a Dock firmware update)
Bluetooth
Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD
Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts
Audio
Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available
Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)
Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode
Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity
Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in
Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume
Accessibility
Added an option to force mono audio output
Desktop Mode
KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default
Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode
Improved support for rotated displays
Better scale factor out of the box on TVs
Adds support for external HDR displays
Adds support for VRR displays
Adds support per-display scale factor
For more information, see Plasma release announcements
We are excited to introduce the TourAmerica paint jobs for the Kenworth T680 2022 and W900 as free content in the upcoming 1.60 update for American Truck Simulator!
A few months ago, Kenworth unveiled a special-edition paint scheme as part of the Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide effort commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and celebrating the enduring spirit of American trucking.
Inspired by the iconic TourAmerica T600 paint scheme of the 1990s, this striking design combines red, white, and blue colors - a classic styling with contemporary finishes. We are happy to support the celebrations by bringing this beautiful paint job to American Truck Simulator, where it will be available for both the Kenworth W900 and Kenworth T680 2022.
Now, ATS drivers can join in the festivities as well and pay tribute to trucking heritage with a unique paint job that honors both a legendary design and a major milestone in American history.
These paint jobs are already available in the ongoing 1.60 Open Beta for American Truck Simulator. If you're taking part, be sure to give your Kenworth a fresh new look and hit the road in style!
Steam Bullet Fest is on now through June 15th at 10 am PT. As you can see from our trailer, there are all kinds of shoot-'em-ups offering discounts all week long!
You'll find hack-n-slashes, anime side scrollers, incremental bullet hells, and more. Join us now for Steam Bullet Fest, on through June 15th at 10 am Pacific!
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