Update 1.31 will add quite a lot of new functionality to the games, including: the addition of
connecting cables between the trailer and the tractor (with various visibility settings), as well as improved mirror functionality. For fans of exploring the game map, a new route CA120 will become available, which will pass through Yosemite National Park. Just remember that when driving commercial vehicles on such roads, you must comply with additional rules and restrictions. Also, three types of dump trailers with bottom unloading will be added to the game.
Players often ask developers to add some interesting features, and update 1.31 will fulfill several such wishes. Now, when searching for jobs, players will have new filters that will help find the necessary cargo faster, and the information panel with order details will be supplemented with new data. Also, do not forget about the many tweaks and fixes that update 1.31 brings to the game, the most noticeable being the automatic application of the parking brake on the tractor when entering the game after an unexpected crash or computer restart.
Developers continue to improve tools for creating mods and addons. Currently, they have only halfway completed the transition to a new technological process for working on textures, materials, and vegetation of road segments, which is used not only by the developers themselves but also by mod creators. Previously, developers used a kind of “stamps” with pre-made templates to save memory and disk space, but now they consider this approach outdated and suggest using the “brush” tool to simply “paint” what the designer intended when creating the environment. This approach is more flexible and allows conveying all the landscape features in the game. In turn, introducing this functionality requires all modders to resave all their previously released works using the updated editor. Developers hope that authors of popular community maps will update their works as soon as possible. Also, with the release of update 1.31, developers will drop support for outdated maps (released before the arrival of format 4.38). In other words, if a map was last updated before February 2017, it will no longer be supported by the game. Developers hope this change will not affect most popular mods.
Main changes:
- Added
connecting cable system between tractor and trailer;
- Improved mirror visualization (correct field of view (FOV) relative to the driver’s head position, as well as correct reflection and curved mirror view visualization);
- Added new road CA120, which will pass through Yosemite National Park;
- Added new dump trailers with bottom unloading.
Minor changes:
- New filters added on the job search screen;
- Parking brake automatically engages after tractor loads (g_park_brake_init);
- Screenshot filenames will now be based on date and time;
- Increased accuracy of displayed order and trip data on the information panel;
- Fixed torque lock issue;
- Fixed tractor damage in dealer centers and when selecting jobs through agencies;
- Fixed warning messages about trailer damage;
- Fixed HDR interpolation.
Tools and mods:
- New brushes added to the map editor for creating and editing landscapes;
- Old maps are no longer supported by the game (before 4.38 format, due to brush functionality introduction);
- Mirror_data;
- Trailer parameters can specify whether it is autonomous or not;
- Variable shift length;
- Tractors in dealer centers no longer appear in the general list; the game reads all data and catalog entries;
- Steering wheel is no longer linked to the wheel model and is an independent object;
- Removed support for outdated attributes.
On April 14, the open beta test of American Truck Simulator update 1.31 was launched – developers warned that the build contains two known issues they plan to fix soon along with other bugs that testers may find. The open testing phase of update 1.31 for Euro Truck Simulator 2 will start a little later.
Anyone can participate in the open testing (no password required). To do this, select the test build of the game (public_beta – 1.31 public beta) in the game properties on Steam, under the “BETAS” tab. You can report found bugs and issues on the
developers’ forum.