Big rigs, buses, cars—why is just driving so addictive? “ETS2” & “ATS” Hands-On & Developer Interview [TGS2026]

In today’s world, large trucks are indispensable as one of the key players handling massive volumes of freight. Two truck simulators from SCS Software—*Euro Truck Simulator 2* (hereinafter ETS2) and *American Truck Simulator* (hereinafter ATS)—feature these trucks as their main characters.I hadn’t played this series before, but I had the opportunity to try them out at the “TGS 2026” venue, so I’m sharing this report.

This time, I tried out three titles: the PS5 version of ETS2, the “Coaches” passenger transport module for ETS2, and the passenger car DLC coming to ATS. I also had the chance to interview the developers, so I’ll share that as well.

Before I started, my understanding of the truck simulator genre was limited to thinking, “It’s just a matter of loading up cargo and driving to your destination, right?” That perception changed within 10 minutes of starting to drive.

I never realized that “just driving” could be so nerve-wracking

The first game I played was the PS5 version of *ETS2*.

The main objective of this game is actually quite simple: load cargo onto a large truck, drive to your destination, and deliver it—that’s it. There are no rival trucks to compete against, and no need to drive even a second faster.

However, when I actually tried driving, I found it to be quite nerve-wracking.

First, there’s the speed limit. Since it’s a large truck, it obviously can’t stop easily. But driving too slowly won’t get the job done either. On top of that, you have to be constantly aware of the cars around you.Because the truck is so long, even something as simple as changing lanes requires a completely different sense of distance from the cars behind you compared to a typical driving game. Checking the mirrors, glancing at the speedometer, looking ahead—before I knew it, my whole body was tense.

And what confused me the most was how traffic rules change when crossing national borders. In this game, set in Europe, whether you drive in the left or right lane changes depending on the country. Even though I understood it intellectually, the moment I crossed the border, I’d freeze for a split second, thinking, “Wait, which side is it now?” That sense of panic is something you rarely experience in other driving games.

Additionally, the PS5 version has been announced to support DualSense haptic feedback and trigger effects. With the sensation of road surfaces and vehicle behavior feeding right back to your hands, it feels like the game has been carefully designed to serve as a solid entry point for players who prefer controller-based gameplay.

You’re Carrying People, Not Cargo

Next, I tried out the new “Coaches” module for *ETS2*.

This one features buses instead of trucks. In other words, you’re not carrying cargo—you’re carrying passengers. This single difference completely transformed the driving experience.

In this game, you need to drive carefully to prevent passengers from becoming dissatisfied. Conversely, driving carefully will improve your rating. And, naturally, since this is passenger transport, there’s a schedule to follow.

The fact that these two factors come into play simultaneously is both challenging and fun. You want to hurry to stay on schedule, but you can’t drive recklessly. If you slam on the brakes or make sudden turns, your rating will plummet—as you’d expect.

With a truck, there are situations where you can get away with driving a bit roughly as long as the cargo remains intact. But a bus is different. That’s because you’re carrying people, not goods. This obvious fact is thrust right in your face as a core element of the game system.

The mindset of “transporting goods efficiently and quickly” that you developed while driving a truck doesn’t apply to buses. Even on the same map and the same roads, everything changes—from how you turn the wheel to how you use the accelerator. This shift was more striking than I could have imagined.

Finally, Official Passenger Cars

And finally, “ATS.” The big news is that a passenger car DLC is finally being officially added. This time, I got to try out the “Ford” pack. You can drive Ford cars on American roads.

…And the first thing I thought when I got behind the wheel was, “This is fast.”

Basically, the core task remains the same: delivering cargo to your destination—that’s all there is to it. But you’re driving a regular passenger car. It picks up speed in an instant, and if you turn the wheel the same way you would in a truck, it spins out instantly. The driving habits ingrained from operating heavy vehicles end up backfiring.

Besides, even though the vehicle type has changed significantly, you’re still driving on regular roads. You have to strictly obey speed limits and be mindful of the cars around you. Just because the car is lighter doesn’t mean you can drive carelessly.

Trucks, buses, passenger cars. Even though the vehicles differ, the fundamental experience of “driving on the road” remains consistent. It was precisely because I played all three games in a row that I realized this so clearly.

No one in the gaming industry had done this before

After the hands-on session, I had the opportunity to speak with Bartosz Moskala, Head of Marketing, and Jakub Mraz, Lead Developer and Producer for the console version. Below is a summary of our conversation.

――What inspired you to create titles like these?

SCS Software: The biggest reason was that when we entered the market with *Euro Truck Simulator* and *American Truck Simulator*, no one else in the gaming industry was doing this. We saw potential there.

We believe there are broadly two types of players in this genre. One is people who love the large vehicles themselves, such as trucks and rigs. The other is people who aren’t particularly attached to trucks but enjoy the “Zen-like” experience of casual driving.

Whether it’s for an hour or two, you can switch off your mind and feel like you’re somewhere else. Our games provide that kind of experience. We wanted players to relieve stress and enjoy a pleasant drive—we saw that as one of the game’s main attractions.

――This time, in addition to trucks, you’ve added buses and passenger cars. Could you tell us why you decided to include these two?

SCS Software: First and foremost, we’re not moving away from trucks. Trucks will always be our core audience.

That said, we draw our inspiration from our players. The communities for *Euro Truck Simulator* and *American Truck Simulator* are known for their vibrant mod scenes, and among those mods, cars and buses were particularly popular. We’ve been hearing requests like, “I want to drive a car instead of a truck” or “I want to drive a bus,” for many years now.

It took us a long time, but we now have open-world environments in Europe and the U.S. that we’ve spent over a decade building. So we thought, “Let’s use that experience and these maps to deliver the experience you all want”—that’s why we added buses and passenger cars.

――With the introduction of passenger cars, I imagine requests like “I’d like to see that car added too” will only increase. Do you have any plans to add more vehicle models in the future?

SCS Software: Of course we do. The DLC pack you’ve experienced this time features Ford vehicles, but we’ve already prepared Dodge vehicles for the next pack. Other manufacturers will follow after that.

This pack is just the beginning. We’ll likely be adding cars one after another for years to come. After all, there are so many cars out there. Naturally, everyone has their own favorite brands and models. While we can’t satisfy everyone, we’ll gradually expand our offerings.

――Finally, please share a message for your fans.

SCS Software: Of course, we’d love for you to give the game a try—but for those who haven’t experienced our game yet, you can get a free demo on Steam. Please try that first to see if it’s right for you.

We welcome you all to our world.

As a first-time player of the series, experiencing each of the three games in succession made me keenly realize that what these two titles have built up over more than a decade is “the road itself.” Whether a truck, a bus, or a passenger car drives on it—that alone changes the experience so much. I can confidently say that you won’t truly understand that sense of wonder until you play it yourself.

So, if you haven’t played yet, why not start with the demo, just as the developers suggest? That strangely nerve-wracking yet mysteriously calming experience is truly one of a kind.

“Euro Truck Simulator 2” and “American Truck Simulator” are now available on Steam. They are also scheduled for release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.