Research Trip: The Isle of Ireland

Capturing the true essence of Ireland demands a proper road trip. Back in June, members of the Euro Truck Simulator 2 map team traded their monitors for the open road, embarking on an extensive reconnaissance mission for the upcoming Isle of Ireland DLC. Armed with cameras and thousands of kilometers ahead of them, the crew traversed bustling urban centers, charming rural villages, dramatic coastal cliffs, and sweeping landscapes, gathering the essential reference material needed to bring this highly anticipated expansion to life. Here are some standout moments from their expedition.

The expedition brought together five core members of the SCS Software crew: Ivan, World Map Design QA Lead; Josef from the Road Department; map designers Kristian and Libor; and Honza, Project Lead for the Isle of Ireland DLC.

That wasn’t all, however. Alex, one of our Community Managers, and Cenda, an exceptionally talented videographer, also joined the venture to document the entire expedition and provide a behind-the-scenes look at our development process. We are eagerly anticipating sharing more from this remarkable journey in an upcoming special episode of SCS On The Road.

Their voyage commenced in Dublin, serving as the launchpad for a sprawling journey across the Irish landscape. The carefully planned itinerary spanned from the capital down to Rosslare Harbour, Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Limerick, Galway, Westport, Sligo, Benbulbin, Londonderry, Bushmills, the Giant’s Causeway, and Belfast, before culminating back where it started in Dublin. As you can imagine, the team managed to take in a staggering amount of local scenery!

This undertaking would not have been possible without the generous assistance of our partners at Škoda Ireland. A sincere thank you goes out to Raymond Leddy and his team for supplying two Škoda Octavias, which effortlessly carried our crew across thousands of kilometers of winding Irish asphalt and proved to be the ultimate travel companions.

We would also like to express our gratitude to JUDr. Pavel Vošalík and the diplomatic team at the Czech Embassy in Ireland for helping organize several exclusive facility tours, including a behind-the-scenes look at a cement plant in Limerick. This granted us invaluable, firsthand insight into daily industrial operations, deepening our understanding of how these facilities function and highlighting the crucial part professional truck drivers play in loading, hauling, and delivering materials every day.

Curious about what the team experienced along the way? We sat down with several developers to discuss their personal highlights, the locations that made a lasting impression, and the wealth of reference data they gathered to faithfully recreate Ireland within ETS2.

Honza

“Embarking on this research expedition to Ireland was an exceptional experience. Experiencing a region firsthand is vastly different from studying reference photos on a screen; no photograph or StreetView image can fully replicate the authentic atmosphere of being on the ground. Having walked and driven through the actual terrain, I now possess a much clearer vision of our end goal—how the map should look and, crucially, how it should feel.

We knew going in that vegetation would demand careful attention, but visiting confirmed just how vital it is to get it right. And yes—Irish grass really is remarkably vibrant green. That striking hue has to translate directly into the virtual world.

We also uncovered countless subtle details we might have otherwise overlooked. Once you are physically there, you notice the pervasive presence of public art—murrals adorning building facades and utility boxes transformed into canvases for local expression. These micro-details inject immense character and are precisely what makes a virtual world feel genuinely alive.”

“As for personal highlights, the West Coast, the Caha Mountains, Killarney National Park, and Connemara were unforgettable. The Antrim coast was equally mesmerizing, and among the cities, Galway completely stole my heart.”

Kristián

“This project is the first map DLC I’ve had the privilege of contributing to, and I am deeply grateful to have participated in this trip, allowing me to soak in the atmosphere firsthand. I toured nearly all the specific routes I am tasked with designing, stretching from Waterford to Rosslare Harbour. Many of these corridors have undergone substantial infrastructure updates over the past two years—changes that haven’t even reached Google Maps yet. I also explored the customs depot near the film studios in Belfast.

Witnessing these environments in person fundamentally altered my perception of scale and atmosphere, revealing stark contrasts against static digital maps. I am confident this experience will elevate the realism of our virtual world and grant players a truly immersive driving experience, backed by comprehensive reference data that bridges the gaps left by online street views.”

Libor

“I fell in love with Ireland the moment we began researching the DLC through reference photographs, so receiving the opportunity to visit in person was a dream come true. My primary objective was to inspect the N71 corridor winding through Killarney National Park and its surrounding areas. The imagery available prior to our trip was captured under dreary, overcast skies, but a map designer needs to observe how sunlight interacts with the landscape to accurately replicate natural color palettes.

Fortunately, the weather cooperated brilliantly, enabling me to capture the precise visual references required for my work. Beyond color tuning, the visit gave me a genuine sense of terrain topography, mountain scale, and floral diversity—elements nearly impossible to gauge from photographs alone. Being there provided vital context not just for major landmarks, but for the intricate nuances of traffic management and regional road layouts.

Attention to these exact details remains a core philosophy at our studio. Ireland boasts a stunning diversity of landscapes and iconic structures, and we are dedicated to delivering an authentically immersive Irish trucking experience.”

Josef

“I joined the expedition representing our road engineering division. At SCS, my responsibilities center around right-hand-drive prefabs for both the Isle of Ireland DLC and upcoming UK map updates. Essentially, these involve constructing functional 3D models of every intersection type—ranging from simple junctions to complex multi-lane roundabouts.

Both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom incorporate distinctive road design elements seldom seen on mainland Europe—such as retroreflective road studs (‘cats’ eyes’) and boxed junction markings. Roundabouts are ubiquitous, frequently regulated by sophisticated traffic light systems and, of course, motorists drive on the left side of the road.

Observing these networks firsthand was invaluable as I finalize implementation for our game’s infrastructure. The reference materials we brought back will streamline this process considerably.

Naturally, my job requires me to constantly analyze the asphalt beneath my wheels, though that proved slightly challenging when distracted by breathtaking vistas accompanied by the distant bleating of sheep. That tranquility is what makes Ireland so enchanting.

Furthermore, during my four years at SCS, this marked my first opportunity to visit a complex interchange I had personally modeled rather than viewing it purely through a monitor. Arriving at a location and instantly recognizing its layout produced a wonderful sense of déjà vu.”

Ivan

“Witnessing Ireland in person proved immensely beneficial for our QA protocols. While our team analyzes reference photos, video feeds, and StreetView daily, experiencing the nation firsthand offers an entirely different perspective. The island won me over instantly with its distinct atmosphere, striking landscape variations, and regional identities.

Covering so much ground—from bustling metropolitan hubs to remote country lanes where traffic is practically nonexistent—allowed the true scale of the geography to sink in. Road networks, architectural styles, and local flora possess subtleties that static online references simply cannot convey. This immersive exposure has already enhanced my workflow.

When reviewing map segments now, familiar locations evoke genuine memories—the hotel we stayed in, a particular stretch of highway, or a spot where we stopped to grab lunch. That personal connection makes evaluating environmental authenticity much more intuitive and helps catch subtle discrepancies that might otherwise slip past. I am certain these insights will help us polish the Ireland DLC into an exceptionally believable experience for our players.”

We hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at our research expedition across Ireland. If you are looking forward to the upcoming Isle of Ireland DLC, be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist! You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don’t miss the upcoming episode of SCS On The Road: Isle of Ireland Research Trip, where we delve even deeper into the adventure. Until next time, keep on truckin’!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3851260/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2__Isle_of_Ireland/

 

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