Exploring New Frontiers: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the British Columbia DLC
Today, we are thrilled to pull back the curtain on one of our most ambitious undertakings yet. We sat down with Davido, the DLC Lead for the British Columbia expansion, to discuss the immense scale, unique hurdles, and creative inspiration involved in bringing Canada to American Truck Simulator for the very first time.
“Hello, I’m Davido, and I serve as the DLC Lead for British Columbia (BC). In this role, I act as the primary project manager, overseeing a talented team of 14 individuals dedicated to the visual fidelity of the expansion. My responsibility is to monitor every asset and road segment, ensuring that our technical and aesthetic benchmarks are consistently met across the map. I spend a significant amount of time collaborating with departments across the company; a DLC isn’t just about visuals—it’s a complex synergy of systems that must integrate seamlessly with our existing game world. Beyond the creative direction, I handle administrative tasks like performance reviews, marketing coordination, and training our map designers. However, I still find time to get my hands dirty in production; for the BC project, I’m personally working on bringing the city of Kelowna to life.”
The Immense Scale of the North
We initially asked Davido about the sheer size and scope of this new territory.
“British Columbia is a staggering landmass—to put it in perspective, it’s roughly equivalent to Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas combined,” Davido explains. “However, a vast portion of that area is comprised of rugged northern wilderness and uninhabited coastal islands. Most urban centers are concentrated in the southern half near the U.S. border. It wouldn’t be practical to build all the way to the Yukon border immediately, as the limited road network there would mean players would be waiting years for the DLC. Instead, we are focusing on about two-thirds of the province, covering the major cities and vital transit corridors. Even with that focus, the workload is roughly 1.5 to 2 times the size of our typical U.S. state expansions.”
New Borders, New Challenges
As American Truck Simulator ventures outside the United States for the first time, we inquired about the specific challenges this international shift presents.
“First and foremost, we are re-engaging with a dramatic landscape where towering mountains, jagged rock faces, and pristine lakes take center stage—similar to the work my team did on Montana, but amplified. Canada also introduces a new set of rules: the metric system, different signage, distinct architecture, and subtle cultural nuances. For the first time in ATS history, we are also implementing functional border crossings. Yet, the most formidable challenge remains the topography. Recreating authentic mountain elevations is a specialized skill. We’ve been exchanging expertise with the designers who recently perfected the Alpine landscapes in our Austria and Switzerland reworks to ensure BC feels just as majestic.”
On-the-Ground Research
To ensure authenticity, a specialized team traveled to British Columbia last summer to document the region firsthand.
“We conducted our research trip last July,” Davido shares. “The group included senior specialists in vegetation and asset design, as well as the designer responsible for Vancouver and the border crossings. We even brought along representatives from our branding and asset departments. While we had planned for ten days, a weather delay in London forced us to condense our schedule, meaning we unfortunately had to skip Vancouver Island. Despite that, we successfully reached almost every other priority location on our list.”
We asked Davido to walk us through their itinerary to better understand the research process.
“We kicked off in Vancouver, exploring the downtown core and the harbor. We spent time documenting the container terminals and river ports to grasp the logistical scale and truck entry points. From there, we ascended into the mountains, stopping at glacial lakes and staying overnight in the Whistler Olympic Village. We then moved toward Kamloops to study the local mines and paper mills. We even reached the Alberta border, crossing the iconic Rogers Pass. Our return journey took us through the Okanagan Valley—a beautiful region famous for its orchards and vineyards—stretching from Kelowna down to the border town of Osoyoos before heading back to Vancouver.”
A Unique Cultural Fusion
Reflecting on the journey, Davido discussed the impressions the province left on him both personally and professionally.
“It was a transformative experience. Personal visits like this provide a level of detail that you simply can’t get from a computer screen. British Columbia is breathtaking; there was a new vista to admire around every corner. Generally, Canada feels like a unique blend of North American and European influences. While the language and the presence of massive American-style trucks feel familiar, there is a distinct sense of Canadian pride and local craftsmanship. And as a European, I have to admit the metric system felt a lot more natural to navigate!”
Capturing the Essence of BC
Defining the “vibe” of British Columbia through its architecture and layout was another key focus of the discussion.
“In the U.S., even small towns have very recognizable landmarks like historic courthouses, post offices, or banks. Canadian small towns are more understated, making it a challenge to find those ‘hero’ assets. Vancouver is the only true metropolis, and its architecture is markedly different from American cities. Furthermore, the massive network of truck stops found in the U.S. doesn’t really exist in the same way here. Consequently, the British Columbia DLC will be much more about the awe-inspiring natural scenery and the specialized industrial hubs that define the province.”
The Road Ahead
Finally, we asked what Davido is most excited for players to experience once the expansion launches.
“Everything, honestly. We’ve reached the stage where the designs for the roads and cities are finalized, and I can confidently say players will be constantly captivated by the view. I’m particularly excited for everyone to see our rendition of Vancouver; it’s a magnificent city that we’ve put a lot of heart into. I’m also looking forward to Victoria, the capital. Even though we couldn’t visit it in person, its unique architecture makes it a standout location. Ultimately, it’s the combination of the peaks, rivers, and forests that will make this journey special.”
The entire team at SCS Software is incredibly proud of the work going into British Columbia. Crossing the border into Canada marks a significant milestone for American Truck Simulator. Translating an entirely new country’s atmosphere and landscape into the game is a monumental task, but we are certain that when you finally hit these roads, you’ll find the experience truly rewarding.
We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into the development of our upcoming expansion. Be sure to add the British Columbia DLC to your Steam wishlist! For more updates, follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube, or subscribe to our newsletter. Safe travels!