ETS2 Germany Rework: four Rhine cities rebuilt

On 16 February 2024, SCS Software previewed the Rhine phase of the Germany Rework for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Duisburg were rebuilt from the ground up instead of receiving minor edits to the original base-map layouts.

Four cities, one dense road network

SCS said a small team of mostly two to four map designers had spent about two years rebuilding the area. The new urban structure was designed to reflect the population density, industries and closely connected roads of the Rhine-Ruhr region.

Cologne gained a driveable Rhine riverfront, trams, recognizable landmarks such as Cologne Cathedral and the Lanxess Arena, plus a new section of the A3 towards Frankfurt. Düsseldorf added modern architecture, churches, steelworks, car factories and an airport with an animated SkyTrain.

Dortmund focused on large junctions and industrial delivery points. Duisburg featured its inland port, the E40, Kreuz Kaiserberg and several bridges linking the city around the Rhine. These changes also gave each location a clearer economy and visual identity.

Release context

The February post was a work-in-progress showcase. The Rhine rework later shipped as part of the free ETS2 1.50 update on 14 May 2024, alongside the Switzerland Rework, rendering improvements and a redesigned interface.

Sources

• Steam: Germany Rework — Rhine: Through Cities
• SCS Software: city-by-city preview
• SCS Software: industries and intersections
• SCS Software: ETS2 update 1.50 release
• ETS2ATSMods: contemporary coverage
• Rutube: Rhine cities video overview