When American Truck Simulator developers SCS Software announced it was to add licensed cars, back in July 2025, the Traxion team was intrigued and also a little puzzled as to what you would do with them.
It’s a simulation title, so they had to be recreated accurately, which visually seems to be the case. But also, drive authentically (the verdict remains out) and, as some are sports cars such as the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, could you race across the nation?
Then again, that seemed unlikely, given the title’s slow-paced vibe. Perhaps it was going to be Amazon deliveries?
Now, a new gameplay system, titled Atlas, has been showcased, confirming what players can expect when they take to the wheel of cars in the truck sim.
The theme is exploration, with objectives to tick off across four main categories:
Tourist boardsPoints of interestViewpointsPhoto trophies
Tourist boards, of which in the work-in-progress presentation there appear to be 13, are key to progression. Finding one of these then unlocks other items to visit for that region, such as the points of interests (of which at least 67 will be included).
Points of interest simply need to be driven through (so no need to stop), which in turn completes that task. Viewpoints, meanwhile, see you park up and trigger a cutscene of the surrounding area. Photo trophies require you to open the photo mode in set locations.
Sort all of the gaming admin out in each region to unlock a postcard, building up a collection in the Atlas menu or even displaying them on your car or truck dashboard.
Initial roll-out plans
Not every region DLC for American Truck Simulator will support the new Road Trip tasks initially.
The first batch will be:
CaliforniaOregonWashingtonIdahoMontanaWyomingSouth Dakota
“We will then be gradually adding them to all the other states as well,” said the SCS Software spokesperson.
The first Road Trip DLC pack will be Ford-themed, before later a RAM & Dodge pack arrives. Any of these cars can be used to complete the new objectives. Provided you own each of these packs (upon their release), you can also run the tasks with trucks, too.
The cars can also be used for other jobs, which are to be announced later, although a brief shot does show a small package on the passenger seat of a Ford Crown Victoria, so maybe our Amazon delivery dreams will come true, too.
There’s no release date for the Road Trip DLC packs presently. ATS and its Euro Truck Simulator 2 sibling are also expected to make the leap to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.