Today, we’re peeling back the curtain on another pivotal aspect of our upcoming Coaches DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2. While maneuvering a coach offers a refreshing perspective on the open road, the essence of this new experience is rooted in the infrastructure—the terminals and stops where every journey begins and concludes.
When “Project Coaches” first took shape, we realized that the existing bus station prefabs scattered across the ETS2 landscape were merely cosmetic. While they served as scenic placeholders for years, they weren’t engineered for functional gameplay. Consequently, a core pillar of our development process has involved meticulously reworking these legacy assets. We are refreshing layouts and rebuilding them from the ground up to mirror real-world locations and blend seamlessly into the existing environment.
Beyond refurbishing, expanding our map coverage was essential. We caught up with Dominik, the Producer of Project Coaches, to discuss the scope: “We faced a monumental task in widening the network of bus stops across Europe. Many existing DLC regions lacked the necessary infrastructure. Our primary goal was to ensure that even players exploring disconnected road networks could take on bus contracts. We prioritized major capital cities while scouting locations where transit hubs could realistically exist.”
Integrating these additions into an established world is a complex undertaking. Expansions like Italia or Road to the Black Sea were never designed with bus mechanics in mind, necessitating a delicate retrofitting of existing city layouts.
One of our map designers noted: “Updating existing cities is significantly more challenging than building from scratch. In regions nearly a decade old, we have to leverage vintage assets and design techniques to ensure new terminals don’t feel jarring or out of place.”
Even in newer map zones, space is at a premium. “It’s a constant puzzle,” they added. “Trying to squeeze a high-capacity terminal into a dense urban environment requires a careful balance between our creative vision and the technical limitations of the original map layout.”
In some instances, this has required us to expand city limits, allowing for more authentic placement of coach stations. Our wider team is collaborating closely, with specialists providing technical guidance to ensure that every terminal functions perfectly within the game engine.
Simon B from our QA team reflected on the progress: “Watching these locations transition from concepts to interactive hubs has been rewarding. The design team has truly outdone themselves, creating immersive stations that bring the real world to life through stunning architectural detail.”
He added, “With a project of this scale, there are always minor kinks to iron out, but our team’s proactive approach ensures that every station meets our high standards. I’m eager for players to experience the final, polished result.”
The Coaches DLC is more than just a new vehicle; it’s a comprehensive overhaul of how you navigate the ETS2 world. We are committed to ensuring these updates breathe new life into our established road networks.
If you’re looking forward to this release, please add the Coaches DLC to your Steam Wishlist! It is the best way to support our ongoing development and ensures you’ll get an alert the moment it goes live. Follow our official social media channels for the latest updates. See you on the road!