We are thrilled to announce that the 1.59 update for American Truck Simulator is officially live on Steam! A massive thank you to everyone who participated in the Open Beta; your bug reports and constructive feedback on our forums were instrumental in helping our team polish the experience for a smooth launch.
Advisor Update: Finances & Damage Widgets
We have been closely monitoring community feedback regarding the new route advisor. A recurring request was for easier access to vehicle damage metrics and financial data. While our developers are crafting a more comprehensive UI overhaul for the future, we didn’t want to make you wait for those broader changes. Instead, we have prioritized these highly requested features for an immediate release.
You can now enable the new Damage and Finances widgets, which provide quick visibility into truck, trailer, and cargo condition, alongside your current bank balance and a seven-day average profit summary. These widgets are fully customizable via the Widget Settings Menu and, when active, appear conveniently in the bottom-right corner of your screen, just above the GPS.
Tow to Road
To improve quality-of-life and minimize gameplay frustration, we are introducing the “Tow to Road” feature. This tool is designed to quickly recover your vehicle if you become overturned or stuck in ditches and rough terrain. It also helps maintain the flow of multiplayer convoys by allowing players to get back on track instantly, bypassing the need for a service tow and avoiding unnecessary delays.
Should you find yourself in a bind, simply navigate to the Service menu (default hotkey F7) and select the “Tow to Road” option. After a modest service fee, you will be transported to the nearest safe location on the road. You can find more details about this feature on our blog.
Skills Screen Refresh
The Skill Screen has received a visual makeover. While its functionality remains unchanged, the design is now clearer and more intuitive. You can easily track your current level and see exactly how close you are to the next progression tier. Enhanced tooltips and clearer visual feedback make it easier to understand your growth path, and the entire interface has been optimized for better controller navigation.
Quality of Life & UI Improvements
We are continuously refining the user experience. Key improvements in this update include:
- News Banner: A visual refresh that improves readability, including better tooltips when hovering over items.
- World Map: Navigation is now more intuitive for controller users, featuring a new “undo last pin” option and refined controls for managing pins and avoided areas.
- Save Management: Improved save handling with standard icons and clearer “Overwrite” labeling.
- Cutscenes & Input: Garage upgrade cutscenes are now more consistently skippable with the (B) button, and overall D-pad accessibility has been polished.
Traffic Audio Overhaul
Traffic sounds have been rebalanced for a more realistic ambient soundscape. We have softened distant engine noises and emphasized the subtle “hiss” of tires on the road, while also randomizing horn behavior to reduce repetition. Traffic should now feel less obtrusive and more naturally integrated into the environment.
Detour Maintenance
We have decided to temporarily disable the Detour feature to perform necessary maintenance. We have received reports of inconsistent behavior, and we want to ensure the system is fully reliable before bringing it back. Please note that while Detours are sidelined, random road events will continue to occur as normal.
Update Changelog
- Gameplay: New “Tow to Road” recovery feature.
- UI/UX: Added Finance/Damage widgets, redesigned Skills screen, improved news banners, updated world map pin controls, clearer save icons, and better controller D-pad navigation.
- Visuals: Height Blend rendering improvements.
- Audio: Rebalanced and softened traffic sound effects.
- Other: Temporary maintenance shutdown for the Detour feature.
We hope you enjoy these new additions! Stay connected for future updates by following us on X/Twitter, Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, and Instagram, or by subscribing to our newsletter. Happy haulin’, and we’ll see you on the road!