American Truck Simulator makes good on 26 days of rampant community speculation by revealing the Road Trip update, which is going to let you just cruise the US in regular cars

On March 19, American Truck Simulator developer SCS Software released a short, enigmatic teaser video filled with engine sounds that triggered rampant speculation among the community. Now, nearly a month later, the developers have revealed that this was a hint for a project titled “Road Trip,” which will allow players to navigate the roads from behind the wheels of everyday vehicles.

“Previously, we’ve expressed our goal to enhance the ways players can interact with the game world – not merely through operating Class 8 trucks and transporting cargo, but by exploring that same world using various types of vehicles and experiences,” the developers state in their announcement post.

“Road Trip symbolizes a move in that direction. Once launched, it will enable players to enjoy the expansive environments of ATS not only from the cab of an 18-wheeler but also from the driver’s seat of a robust pickup truck or even a sports car. We hope this fresh viewpoint will attract not only longtime fans but also those who may be experiencing the world of ATS for the very first time.”

The announcement includes several work-in-progress images of various vehicles, and the developers are quick to point out that this is all still “in the early phases” of development. However, they are already exploring new gameplay mechanics to facilitate exploration, with one initial concept being an “exploration journal” that will allow players to unlock themed postcards as they travel.

I’ve been playing ATS on and off since it debuted in 2016, and I’ve always cherished the game primarily as a road trip simulator. Its 1:20 scale representation does an exceptional job of capturing the essence of driving through the US, and being able to achieve that without the constant pressure of delivering a load on time sounds delightful.

Of course, SCS is not abandoning the “truck” aspect of American Truck Simulator, as the studio has “formed a dedicated team” to focus specifically on the Road Trip project. While I adore cruising 18-wheelers across America, I’m starting to think this could very well become the game’s ultimate feature.

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Dustin Bailey joined the GamesRadar team as a Staff Writer in May 2022, and is currently located in Missouri. He has been covering games (with occasional forays into anime and professional wrestling) since 2015, initially as a freelancer, then as a news writer at PCGamesN for nearly five years. His passion for games was ignited somewhere between Metal Gear Solid 2 and Knights of the Old Republic, and nowadays you’ll often find him splitting his free time between retro gaming, the latest blockbuster action-adventure titles, or a long haul in American Truck Simulator.