Key Takeaways
- The base game (without DLCs) includes ~70 cities. With all map DLCs, it's ~200 cities across 30+ countries.
- TruckersMP (multiplayer mod) is where the real community lives. 5,000+ concurrent players on the Simulation 1 server during peak hours.
- Map DLCs go on sale for 50-75% off during Steam sales (~4 times per year). Never buy them at full price.
DLCs
Q: Which DLCs should I buy first?
| 1 | Scandinavia | Best roads, beautiful scenery, introduces doubles/triples |
| 2 | Vive la France | Expands France, adds toll roads, beautiful countryside |
| 3 | Italia | Mediterranean routes, coastal highways |
| 4 | Iberia | Spain + Portugal, desert and coastal variety |
| 5 | Road to the Black Sea | Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey — most unique landscapes |
| 6 | West Balkans | Newest (2024), excellent road density |
Cargo and tuning DLCs are optional. Map DLCs are what matter.
Q: Do I need DLCs to play multiplayer?
TruckersMP supports all DLCs but doesn't require them. You can play base-game-only on multiplayer.
Mods
Q: Is modding safe?
Yes. ETS2 has official Steam Workshop support. Most popular mod categories:
- ProMods: Vastly expands and improves the base map. 2.5x the map detail. Requires all map DLCs.
- Realistic Graphics Mod: Improves lighting, weather, and textures.
- Sound Fixes Pack: Replaces engine, traffic, and ambient sounds with higher quality versions.
- Truck mods: Individual truck models with higher detail than SCS's base trucks.
Q: Will mods break my save?
Map mods can if removed mid-save. Keep a 'clean' profile without mods and a 'modded' profile for experimentation.
Multiplayer (TruckersMP)
Q: What's the difference between Simulation and Arcade servers?
| Server | Speed Limit | Collisions | Players |
| -------- | ------------ | ----------- | --------- |
| Simulation 1 | 110 km/h (cars: 150) | Yes | 3,000-5,000 |
| Simulation 2 | Same | Yes | 500-1,500 |
| Arcade | No limit | No (ghost mode) | 500-1,000 |
Start on Arcade to learn multiplayer without fear of crashing into people. Graduate to Simulation when comfortable.
Q: Is the Calais-Duisburg road still chaos?
Yes. The C-D road (Calais, France to Duisburg, Germany) is the most congested, most chaotic road in multiplayer. 100+ players on a single road at peak times. It's a meme. Avoid it if you want to actually drive.
Technical
Q: Controller or wheel?
| Keyboard | Poor (binary steering) | Free |
| Controller | Good (analog steering) | $30-60 |
| Budget Wheel | Great | $200-300 (Logitech G29/G920) |
| Direct Drive Wheel | Amazing | $500+ |
A controller is 10x better than keyboard. A wheel is 10x better than controller. The game is designed for analog input.
Q: VR support?
ETS2 has native OpenVR support (beta branch). It's not perfect — the UI wasn't designed for VR — but the immersion of looking around your cabin in VR is unmatched.
Q: Why does my game stutter in cities?
The game runs on a single-core engine (PRISM3D, dating back to 2002). Cities have more objects = more draw calls = CPU bottleneck. Solution: reduce 'Scaling' from 400% to 200% in graphics settings.
Gameplay
Q: How many hours to 'complete' the game?
There is no 'completion.' Players with 5,000+ hours still play regularly. Rough milestones:
| 5 garages + driver fleet | 30-40 |
| Map 100% discovered (base) | 100-150 |
Q: Is ETS2 realistic?
It's 'simcade' — more realistic than arcade racers but less than hardcore sims. Tire physics are simplified, damage is forgiving, and you never need to exit the truck for inspections. It hits the sweet spot between realism and relaxation.