The previous map expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2 - West Balkans was released more than a year ago. During this time, there have been three map expansions for American Truck Simulator - Kansas, Nebraska and Arkansas, and now ETS2 has finally received an update. Well, let's go explore the cradle of Western civilization in Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Greece.
| Game | Euro Truck Simulator 2 – Greece |
| Genre | simulator |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Languages | English, Ukrainian |
| Developer | SCS Software |
| Publisher | SCS Software |
| Link | Steam |
The road to Greece
As usual, we will start with a brief recap of the events that took place in the world of Euro Truck Simulator 2 over the past year. Moreover, several very important game updates were released this year.
Update 1.49 was released to the public on November 28, 2023. The main innovation in this update is a used truck dealer, from whom you can buy damaged tractors and vehicles that have already been discontinued and removed from authorized dealerships at a discount. Accordingly, the system of vehicle damage and repair has changed, with major repairs and replacement of parts. A used car dealer is the only place to get some of the trucks that have been in the game since its release in 2012. The bonus of the update is the new HDR sky, new moon and weather effects.
The 1.50 update of May 14, 2024 contained important improvements to the game engine. Although ETS2/ATS are still on DirectX 11 rendering, the games have received the long requested TAA anti-aliasing support, cascading shadows, soft particle system, dust shading, optimized lighting, improved shadows in the distance, fps limiting, and more. The image has really improved. It's not a completely new engine, but it's already a noticeable progress.
In addition, the in-game interface was updated in this patch, which not everyone liked, because after 12 years, they had already gotten used to the old one. As for me, the facelift did the game good. And maybe the most important thing is that Switzerland has been completely renovated - cities, roads, sights, viewpoints. It is a completely new and very nice country with a lot of mountain roads and tunnels.
Update 1.51 dated September 12, 2024 brought a new look to the main menu (again, a facelift was needed here). In addition, this patch improves the shadows in the truck cab, adds a new controller setting and some additional options.
As for the next two updates, it is worth talking about separately.
Driving Academy
The main feature of the 1.52 update dated October 16, 2024 is Driving Academy. Although it is very strange to add a training mode 12 years after the game's release, it was worth it.
The Driving Academy consists of 29 lessons in 4 sections and a challenging final exam in two parts. The training starts with simple things: how to prepare the truck for a trip, how to adjust the rearview mirrors, how to make turns with the trailer overhang.
But then all hell breaks loose - complicated routes with lots of narrow and sharp turns, parallel parking, reversing with a trailer, parking a trailer while reversing, maneuvering in tight spaces, and so on. Even if you've been playing for many years, it's not a given that you'll pass all the lessons even on the third or fifth try without switching to the external camera. But it's worth going through them, and it will definitely help you in the Balkans and Greece.
In fact, SCS Software used to have a separate truck driving training game - Scania Truck Driving Simulator: The Game (2012). Evil tongues say that the studio simply added this game to ETS2/ATS. Of course, this is not the case, Driving Academy is based on the ideas of Scania Truck Driving Simulator, but improves and expands them. By the way, the Driving Academy has two additional, still closed sections with in-depth training, the content for them will be released later.
Germany Rework
The 1.53 update of November 26, 2024 is also worthy of special attention, as it marks the completion of the main work on the Germany Rework project, an update to the game's base map, which was released in 2012. In patch 1.53, we got updated Munich, Mannheim, Leipzig, Dresden, and Berlin, and they are really beautiful. I especially recommend visiting Berlin with all its sights, including the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, TV tower, Museum Island, Tiergarten Park, Holocaust Memorial, etc. It seems to be the most detailed modeled city in the game right now.
It's worth mentioning that the Germany Rework project started back in 2020 and intensified in 2022. The country was updated in parts, and now the final is finally here. It is interesting that SCS Software started updating the map not with their native and small Czech Republic, but with Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It's simple, as we mentioned earlier, German-speaking countries are the main fans of various simulations, and of course, Euro Truck Simulator 2 is one of them. I wonder what part of the map the developers will update next?
New trucks
Three new tractors have been added to ETS2 over the year: Renault Trucks E-Tech T, Scania S BEV and Iveco S-Way, which came out a week after the release of Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Greece.
The first two cars are electric, with good dynamics, impressive acceleration and traction characteristics, but... the game's infrastructure is not yet ready for electric cars, there are no charging stations, so Renault Trucks E-Tech T and Scania S BEV cannot be owned, they are available only in one-time contracts with a range of up to 350 km. We are waiting for ETS2 electrification.
The third truck is the new Iveco S-Way, which replaced the Iveco Stralis. The Stralis and Stralis Hi-Way have been in ETS2 from the very beginning, and although the S-Way has been produced by Iveco since 2019, the vehicle has only just appeared in the game. And it's nice.
Another thing worth mentioning is the KRONE eTrailer dynamic trailers. This is a trailer with built-in batteries and motors that helps the tractor by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20-40%. They also improve dynamics, especially in high gears. These trailers are also not available for purchase (there are still no chargers for them in the game), but you can try them out in the transportation market.
The cradle of civilization
And now we have finally reached Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Greece. Well, we always say that the latest update is the best, and we won't be original this time, because it is.
The developers went all out when working on Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Greece. There seems to be more mountain serpentines in the game than on the rest of the map, some of them are simply incredible and very picturesque. For example, the Vlora (Albania) - Ioannina (Greece) road is by far the best route in all SCS Software simulations. It is well worth a drive. The Janina-Trikala-Lamia and Lamia-Patri roads are very interesting. And, of course, the developers had a blast on the islands.
At one time, Corsica, which was added as a separate free add-on to Euro Truck Simulator 2: Vive la France! was one of the best cities in ETS2, now the Greek islands of Kefalonia (hello Assassin's Creed series!), Lesbos, Chios, Rhodes, and Crete are competing for this title. The islands have mountain serpentines, picturesque landscapes, hidden and very narrow roads.
Speaking of narrow roads. We strongly advise you to go through the Driving Academy, because some freight depots and workshops in Greece are located in such nooks and crannies that you can't even squeeze through without cargo, and it's a real problem with a yacht in a trailer.
Greece is a beautiful and hospitable country, with ancient monuments, delicious food, and a pleasant atmosphere (not in summer and not at the resorts, of course). I've been to Greece twice, and both times not on the beaches, so I was very pleased to see a bunch of typical Greek gags in the new DLC, such as gas stations right on the ground floor of apartment buildings, small roadside cafes with pretentious names, micro-chapels in honor of those killed in car accidents, ferries, tourist attractions, etc.
The only thing that surprised me was the appearance of Thessaloniki and Athens. Why is Athens represented in the game by a concrete plant, and Thessaloniki by a bus station? And where are the Acropolis, the Temple of Hercules, the Gallery Arch, the Roman Rotunda, the White Tower? It seems that the developers were unable to reach an agreement with Greek bureaucrats to add these monuments to the game. It's a shame.
But still, Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Greece is a great addition to a good game. By the way, you can buy it as part of the Balkans Bundle at a discount.
What's next?
The plans for the next DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 are known - it's Nordic Horizons. At one time, we guessed where SCS Software would go after West Balkans, so let's try this time, especially since there are few options left.
We explained last time why Ukraine or Belarus will not be added soon. So the real question is whether to make Ireland and Iceland a separate mini-expansion or to add Turkey. We would bet on Turkey. Firstly, there are many more ETS2 players and fans in this country, and secondly, it is an interesting region that will give SCS Software access to Asia.
In addition, in order to add Ireland, you need to update the UK first, and this is a piece of work no less than in the case of Germany. And this raises the question of which region SCS Software will update next. The studio is faced with the task of electrifying the game as quickly as possible, and it will be simply difficult in unupdated regions. So the UK, Poland, or the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary? That's a tough question. Let's put our money on Poland, because it is already surrounded by newer pieces of the map on all sides, and there is simply no desire to enter this region now. And the Czech Republic and Slovakia can be updated like Switzerland, in the meantime.
In fact, the way SCS Software has been supporting the game and working with the community for 12 years deserves the highest praise. It is truly a model. We hope it will continue to be so. Greece has been explored, and now we are waiting for the opportunity to go north in Euro Truck Simulator 2 – Nordic Horizons.