Just recently,
the open beta testing for American Truck Simulator update 1.31 started, and now it’s time to launch a similar phase for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Although update 1.31 adds many common features to both ETS 2 and ATS, there are also differences, which we will discuss today.
As mentioned earlier, the main innovation of version 1.31 is the functionality of the connecting cables between the tractor and the trailer, and we should not forget the updated mirror reflection rendering, which has become more accurate and realistic.
The ETS 2 1.31 update brings several new features exclusively to the European trucking simulator. The first, probably a very long-awaited feature after the release of similar functionality in ATS, is the system of random events on the roads. Now, dozens of different incidents that affect traffic can also occur on European roads. You will now be able to see everything from minor accidents to more serious incidents — including burned-out vehicles and emergency landings of small private planes right on the roadway. The second feature, which the developers kept secret until the last moment, at least until the announcement of the connecting cables system, is the introduction of Scania R and S tractors with an 8×4 wheel configuration.
Among smaller changes in the Euro Truck Simulator 2 1.31 update are new order search filters, an updated information panel with new order data, and the tractor automatically engaging the parking brake upon game launch after an unexpected crash or computer reboot. In addition to the changes listed above, the update includes other minor fixes, tweaks, and corrections. For example, license plates have been updated for some countries, affecting at least trailers and tractors from the UK.
The developers continue to improve tools for creating mods and addons. Currently, they have only halfway transitioned to a new technological process for working with textures, materials, and vegetation on road segments, which is used not only by the developers themselves but also by mod creators. Previously, developers used a kind of “stamp” with pre-made templates to save memory and disk space, but now they consider this approach outdated and suggest using a “brush” tool to simply “paint” what the designer envisions when creating the environment. This approach is more flexible and allows the game to convey all the landscape features. Introducing this functionality requires all modders to resave their previously released works using the updated editor. The developers hope that authors of popular community maps will update their works as soon as possible. Also, with the release of update 1.31, the developers will drop support for outdated maps (released before the 4.38 format). In other words, if a map was last updated before February 2017, it will no longer be supported by the game. The developers hope this change will not affect most popular mods.
Main changes:
- Added a system of connecting cables between the tractor and trailer;
- Improved mirror visualization (correct field of view (FOV) relative to the driver’s head position, as well as accurate rendering of reflections and curved mirror views);
- Random events system on the roads;
- New Scania R and S tractors with an 8×4 wheel configuration.
Minor changes:
- New filters added to the order search screen;
- UK trailers are no longer independent (autonomous) when assigning license plates;
- Parking brake automatically engages after tractor loading (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;
- Faster gear shifting when using new gearboxes (opticruise);
- Fixed/updated vehicle license plates in some countries (Belgium, Norway, Poland, Czech Republic);
- Fixed torque lock issue;
- Fixed tractor damage in dealer centers and when selecting orders through agencies;
- Fixed trailer damage warning messages;
- 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 (pre-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 now reads all data and catalog entries;
- The steering wheel is no longer linked to the wheel model and is an independent object;
- Removed support for deprecated attributes.
On April 21, the open beta test for Euro Truck Simulator 2 update 1.31 was launched.
Anyone interested 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.