American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2 Update to V1.61 With Proximity Exploration and Trailer Improvements

SCS Software has released V1.61 for American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2, bringing quality-of-life improvements and map changes that signal the approaching launch of both games' major upcoming DLC packs.

The most significant shared feature in V1.61 is Proximity Exploration, a new mechanic that automatically reveals a small area around the player's truck as they drive. This reduces the need to manually cover every inch of road to achieve full map discovery. Secret roads still require direct exploration, but the system helps players work toward 100% completion without the tedious requirement of traversing every segment. Players can toggle the feature on or off based on preference.

Both games also receive improvements to their material systems. The enhanced materials now display more realistic lighting across leather, plastic, cloth, and metal surfaces using dynamic cubemaps for better reflections and ambient lighting. In American Truck Simulator, the International LT and International LoneStar trucks get the upgrade. Euro Truck Simulator 2 applies the improved materials to the Volvo FH Series 6, Series 5, and Series 4, as well as the DAF NGD and MAN TG3 TGX.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 V1.61 includes a complete overhaul of livestock trailers, replacing the old belly-axled design with a modern lowered chassis featuring dual wheels. Players can choose between straight or lowered three-axle configurations with aluminium or fully paintable body options. The rework also expands paint customization to include up to four color sections on different trailer parts. AI traffic and Freight Market versions now use the updated design.

The Schwarzmüller Trailer Pack DLC receives its first major update in V1.61, with a fully revised low-loading trailer based on Schwarzmüller's current real-world model. SCS Software indicates this rework is the first step in a larger modernization plan for the entire DLC pack.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 also adds the Volvo FH Series 6 100 Year Edition to commemorate Volvo Trucks' centennial. The special edition features anniversary-specific paint jobs, Centennial logos, unique exterior striping, and an exclusive interior with black leather door panels, custom stitching, and dashboard ambient LED lighting available in red or blue. Customization options include a black leather steering wheel and two-tone seats combining black leather with grey textile.

Map updates in Euro Truck Simulator 2 prepare infrastructure for the upcoming Coaches DLC. Bus stations in Karlstad, Aarhus, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion have been improved or added, while Nuremberg receives a new bus station with updated landmarks. Border crossings now feature vehicle-specific navigation and new accessible areas designed for the new game mode. No release date has been announced for Coaches mode.

American Truck Simulator V1.61 adds new cargo types including seed containers, trailers, and trusses. The update introduces Tourist Boards across California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota (marked as work-in-progress), laying groundwork for the upcoming Road Trip DLC. This mode will allow players to explore the map using Ford, Dodge, and RAM cars, pickups, and SUVs instead of trucks. Like Coaches, Road Trip has not received a release date, though V1.61's targeted map changes suggest the DLC is imminent.