SCS Software has officially released update 1.56 for American Truck Simulator, with quite a few new features and tweaks.
As it often happens with SCS’s games, the changelog is exactly the same as what we saw when the patch launched in beta a few weeks ago, so you shouldn’t expect big surprises, or any surprise, really.
We get some graphics improvements thanks to the Height Blend technique used on textures, and a boost to immersion with more cargo types with dynamic loading.
Specifically,  logger or chipvan trailers will see large tubes, logs, utility poles, and metal scrap loaded dynamically when you start a job.
In terms of quality of life, you can now change the cockpit camera zoom to require either a button hold or a simple press to be activated.
The updated DLC browser will better tempt you to spend money on add-on content, while the career creation has been overhauled.
A new Truck Preference screen has been added between selecting your headquarters and the opening cutscene, showing off the trucks you can aspire to.
The management interface has also been streamlined to be more comfortable and useful. You can check everything out in the video below.
Below you can read the full changelog for patch 1.56.
Changelog
Gameplay
- Dynamic cargo improvements
- Camera zoom – hold/toggle
Visual
- Height blend
UI
- Career creation – redesigned UI/UX and start-up flow
- Management UI/UX improvements
Other
- DLC browser – redesigned
American Truck Simulator is available for PC, and it’s the sister game to Euro Truck Simulator 2. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are also coming.
Fans are eagerly waiting for the Louisiana DLC, and you can already check out its truck stops, welcome centers, buildings, some cities, more settlements, its forests and wetlands, more cities, the bridges, the road network, and Port Fourchon.
That’s not the only DLC coming, as SCS World should soon release an Illinois DLC, and you can already see its truck stops, the city of Marion, Rockford, Quincy, and even more truck stops.
South Dakota is also coming, and we saw its Truck Stops. On top of that, a rework has been revealed for the areas around the famous Route 66.
We’re also expecting a Louisiana DLC, and you can check out its truck stops, welcome centers, buildings, some cities, more settlements, its forests and wetlands, more cities, the bridges, and the road network.
Another big project is the Road Trip feature, spearheaded by the Ford Car Pack, which will expand the simulator’s experience from trucks to cars and pickup trucks, including pure exploration and the delivery of smaller packages.
