Iceland: Research Trip

A few weeks back, several members of our development team jetted off on an exploratory research expedition to Iceland. Their mission? To gather pristine reference materials for our highly anticipated upcoming DLC. Join us as we dive into their personal reflections and highlights from the journey!

Heading up the expedition was map DLC lead Ivo, accompanied by talented map designers Ashley and Johana. For the first time ever, they were joined by members of our marketing division, who came along to document the entire adventure. Because of this unique collaboration, we will soon be dropping a jam-packed episode of SCS On The Road, offering you an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the entire excursion.

“Visiting Iceland firsthand was truly magical,” reflects Ivo. “Absorbing the landscape with all your senses offers a profound understanding that digital archives simply cannot replicate. It was surreal yet deeply rewarding to ‘meet’ the very environments we’ve been meticulously crafting, instantly finding our bearings in terrain that felt intimately familiar despite seeing it with our own eyes for the first time.”

Although the development of this map expansion is already well underway, this boots-on-the-ground research ensures our artists can capture any missing nuances and deepen their appreciation for the Land of Fire and Ice.

“Almost immediately upon arrival, we started spotting familiar landmarks we’d already built inside the game,” Ashley shares. “Experiencing Iceland in real life was genuinely breathtaking. The sheer scale and diversity of the mountains often left me momentarily speechless. My absolute favorite moments were stepping out during brief rest-stop strolls, soaking in the untamed wilderness up close while framed by towering monoliths.”

Every single traveler was captivated by the island’s raw magnetism, agreeing that physical presence is vital to truly grasping the atmosphere. Johana elaborates: “Photos and internet browsing give you a solid impression of the beauty, but stepping onto the soil hits you on an entirely different level. Street View simply cannot convey true vertical scale—a critical element in landscape design. We were constantly astonished by the monumental height of the mountains and the sheer power of the waterfalls.”

Considering the rigorous itinerary and the multitude of study points required, the crew covered an impressive amount of ground during their week-long stay.

“We successfully navigated the entire western half of the Ring Road—stretching roughly from Lake Mývatn in the north down to Vík in the south—stopping at countless fascinating points along the way,” notes Ivo. “Every turn revealed something entirely novel to our eyes: towering peaks, sweeping fjords, sprawling lava fields, sudden cascades plunging through narrow gorges, and horses and sheep roaming completely unfettered. We also analyzed diverse road infrastructures and distinct urban planning, particularly within Akureyri and Reykjavík.”

Boasting a topography drastically different from any previous project, Iceland offered our map designers an unforgettable masterclass in unique geology. “What struck me most was the unfiltered authenticity of the terrain,” Ivo adds. “Iceland acts as a living geology textbook, which is an absolute treat for science enthusiasts. My personal highlight was exploring Thingvellir National Park; as a history buff, standing precisely where the ancient Viking Althing convened felt like an absolute dream come true.”

One quirky environmental factor the team had to adapt to was Iceland’s near-perpetual daylight. With the sun dipping below the horizon for barely three hours each night, bedtime routines proved tricky, though it granted them maximum productivity hours.

“Coming from home, experiencing broad daylight around midnight takes serious getting used to,” Ivo laughs. “While sleep schedules suffered slightly, it gave us an incredible advantage to maximize every single day of research.”

We also owe a massive debt of gratitude to Volvo Trucks, who generously invited us to collaborate on an upcoming promotional video project. While we can’t spoil those details just yet, we are actively developing a dedicated SCS On The Road episode chronicling the behind-the-scenes magic. This collaboration granted our map designers the rare privilege of riding shotgun in a heavy-duty commercial truck, letting them experience firsthand how a professional trucker’s elevated vantage point alters perspective compared to a standard passenger vehicle.

“Thanks to Volvo, we spent a portion of our transit riding right alongside a local professional driver, providing an invaluable gameplay perspective,” says Ivo. Ashley echoes the sentiment: “Sitting up that high offered an extraordinary field of vision. Overall, it was an immensely cool experience!” Johana chimes in: “Never in a million years did I imagine touring Iceland from inside the cab of a semi-truck. It was an unforgettable adventure and an absolute career highlight!”

Back at the drawing board, our designers were thrilled by how closely their digital creations mirrored reality. “I was genuinely delighted by how familiar the real locations felt compared to our in-game assets,” Ashley notes. “It frequently felt as though I had literally stepped right inside our own video game.”

“I had the chance to visit the coastal town of Ólafsvík, which I am personally designing for the expansion,” Johana concludes. “Inspecting the local harbor firsthand proved immensely useful, especially given the scarcity of detailed online references. Sitting back at my workstation in Prague now, looking at our virtual Iceland in the map editor, a tremendous wave of designer pride washes over me: *yep, this is going to look spectacular!*”

If you are eager to experience these breathtaking landscapes yourself and cruise across Iceland in ETS2, make sure to add this upcoming map expansion to your Steam wishlist!

Don’t forget to follow our official channels on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok to stay up to date with all the latest Iceland developments and studio news. Prefer a direct inbox delivery? You can also subscribe to our newsletter. Until next time, keep on truckin’!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3796990/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__Iceland/

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