Euro Truck Simulator 2 remains an excellent driving simulation for players who enjoy taking their time, managing a business and watching Europe pass behind a windshield. Its appeal is not adrenaline, but the satisfying routine of a successful journey, a better truck and a growing bank balance.
Released on October 18, 2012, SCS Software’s game continues to evolve. Available since June 18, 2026, update 1.60 adds a built-in radio, visual improvements in some cabs and a clearer delivery widget. The game is still available on Steam, with a French interface.
The road is the main gameplay loop
- Relaxed gameplay rewards precision, anticipation and consistency.
- Progression covers skills, garages, drivers and customization.
- Content continues to expand through map expansions and the Steam Workshop.
- Technology remains accessible, although performance depends on your configuration.
- Verdict: a strong choice for simulation fans, but a poor fit for players seeking a story-driven campaign.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 turns an ordinary delivery into a small personal story. You choose a route, monitor your fuel, meet deadlines and negotiate turns with a trailer that is not always cooperative. Mistakes cost money; clean journeys make you want to leave again.
Driving becomes more demanding when you move away from the most permissive assists. Braking, speed and maneuvering then become genuine concerns. A controller remains accessible, while a wheel offers greater precision and immersion. The keyboard works, but lacks the same finesse.
The pace demands concentration. The first few hours can feel slow, and that is deliberate. Euro Truck Simulator 2 gives the road room to breathe, sometimes close to the point of monotony.
Progression gives each trip a purpose
The economic system is the game’s quiet core. Revenue lets you buy a truck, expand a garage, hire drivers and unlock new possibilities. Skills open more profitable cargoes and longer journeys.
This progression works because it is easy to understand. You quickly see why you are accepting a job and what your next investment could change. The limitation is equally clear: drive, deliver, improve, repeat.
Longevity depends on your desire to complete regions, collect trucks or optimize your company. Official expansions and Workshop creations can keep you busy for dozens or even hundreds of hours. That remains an estimate tied to the available content, not a playtime imposed by the game.
A European map that keeps growing
The base map includes more than 60 European cities, thousands of miles of roads and many recognizable landmarks. Its scale is compressed, but landscapes, interchanges and industrial areas give each journey a distinct identity.
The regions are not equally consistent. Some historic areas show their age, while recently reworked sectors are more detailed and lively. Update 1.59 notably rebuilt Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. This gradual evolution is one of the game’s strengths, although the most polished content is sometimes sold separately.
Update 1.60 improves the everyday experience
Version 1.60 focuses mainly on comfort and presentation. The built-in radio accompanies journeys, some interior materials are improved and the mission widget makes delivery information easier to read. Rest changes and the Volvo FH update complete the version, according to SCS Software’s official communication.
A gradual evolution that respects the formula
Compared with its earliest versions, Euro Truck Simulator 2 has grown through successive layers rather than one major overhaul. Update 1.59 modernized Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, while 1.60 concentrates on cabs, the interface and comfort features. That approach suits the simulation genre, where fidelity and continuity often matter more than a spectacular change of formula. The comparison remains limited because the available information provides neither a direct previous installment nor a specific competing build.
For players, the benefit is concrete: long journeys are easier to follow and interiors look more polished on the affected models. The pace itself does not change. Those who already enjoy relaxed driving will find a more comfortable experience, while players seeking action will still encounter the game’s central limitation.
Performance depends on the setup
Euro Truck Simulator 2 remains relatively accessible for a game of this scale. The Steam page lists, on Windows, a minimum of 8 GB of RAM, a Core i5-6400 or Ryzen 3 1200, and a GTX 660, RX 460 or Intel HD 630. The recommended configuration rises to 12 GB of RAM, a Core i5-9600 or Ryzen 5 3600, and a GTX 1660 or RX 590.
These recommendations do not guarantee a specific frame rate. Smoothness varies with resolution, traffic density, draw distance and the mods in use. To preserve performance, start with native resolution, a reasonable render scale and carefully adjusted mirror settings.
Settings to adjust first
On a modest machine, prioritize smoothness by reducing mirrors, draw distance and secondary effects. On a more recent configuration, version 1.60’s material improvements make some truck interiors more detailed without turning the game into a technology showcase.
A calming art direction built for readability
The game is not chasing spectacle. Its art direction prioritizes clearly defined roads, recognizable signs, identifiable industrial areas and landscapes varied enough to avoid a uniform highway.
The cabs are often the most convincing elements. The dashboard, mirrors and lighting reinforce the feeling of driving a heavy vehicle. Version 1.60 further improves some interior materials and lighting on several models. Signs of age remain visible in certain areas and details, but the overall atmosphere remains distinctive and almost meditative.
Platforms, price and multiplayer
Steam’s French listing references Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Windows, macOS and SteamOS/Linux. It also lists single-player, online co-op, Steam Workshop, Steam Cloud and Convoy mode. Multiplayer is enjoyable for sharing journeys, although it retains the same leisurely pace.
The base game is enough to understand the core loop. Map expansions become worthwhile once you already want to explore new regions. Buying the entire catalog at once is difficult to recommend: there are many DLCs and the combined cost rises quickly. Steam sales are therefore worth watching in our latest news.
The limits of a deliberately slow simulation
The main weakness is the pace. If you need constant objectives, dialogue and twists, the road may feel empty. Missions also become more alike after several hours, despite differences in cargo and distance.
The economic model can be frustrating too. The base game is generous, but the most complete map depends on a catalog of expansions. Performance and visual quality are also uneven everywhere. The technology progresses through layers of updates rather than one major overhaul.
Verdict: should you buy Euro Truck Simulator 2?
Yes, if you want a relaxing simulation, long-term progression or an experience to share with a few friends. Euro Truck Simulator 2 remains effective because it understands its own pace. It makes an ordinary journey feel satisfying.
Impatient players, fans of story-driven campaigns and anyone unwilling to buy expansions should wait for a sale or look elsewhere. For everyone else, the base game remains easy to recommend. Start without DLC, try the core loop, then add only the regions that genuinely make you want to return to the road.
What comes next remains open
The available official communication confirms update 1.60 and its release date, June 18, 2026. No later schedule is provided in the available information, so future developments should be described cautiously.
Known schedule: update 1.60 has been available since June 18, 2026. No additional public timeline is indicated in the verified sources.
Which regions or historic areas will be modernized next? That will matter to players waiting for a more consistent map without immediately buying new expansions.
Will the built-in radio and comfort improvements remain central to future versions? The available sources do not establish whether SCS Software will continue this gradual expansion or pursue a broader evolution.
Frequently asked questions
Is Euro Truck Simulator 2 still available today?
Yes. The official Steam page still offers it for purchase and download on PC, with a listed demo and a regularly updated version.
Which platforms can you play Euro Truck Simulator 2 on?
The game is officially listed on Windows, macOS and SteamOS/Linux through Steam. The page consulted does not list a PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo version.
Can you play in co-op?
Yes. Steam lists online co-op and Convoy mode, which lets you deliver and chat with other players.
Do you need to buy the map expansions right away?
No. The base game is enough to discover driving, progression and company management. You can then buy expansions based on the regions you actually want to explore.
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To check the information at the source, see the official source.
Verified sources
These links can be used to verify the key information used in this article.
- store.steampowered.com: official French Steam page, consulted on 2026-08-03: availability, release date of 2012-10-18, PC platforms, listed price, genres, features, content, languages, system requirements and reviews; primary source.
- blog.scssoft.com: official SCS Software post published on 2026-06-18: Euro Truck Simulator 2 update 1.60, Game Radio, improved interior materials, mission widget, rest changes and Volvo FH update.
- shared.akamai.steamstatic.com: official Steam gallery consulted on 2026-08-03: direct game visuals used to illustrate driving, landscapes, trucks, the interface and Convoy mode.
