Road Trip: Atlas Brings Exploration to ATS
American Truck Simulator is getting a brand-new way to explore its vast map with the introduction of Atlas, an exploration-focused gameplay feature arriving with Road Trip. The new system encourages players to discover landmarks, hidden gems, viewpoints, and other interesting locations while learning more about the places they visit. 🗺️🚛
A New Way to Explore
Atlas is designed to give players another reason to venture off the beaten path. Accessible through the in-game desktop under the Navigation tab, the feature revolves around Tourist Boards scattered throughout the map.
After selecting a Tourist Board, the player's GPS will guide them to its location. Once there, several exploration locations in the surrounding area will be revealed, giving drivers a list of places to discover.
Points of Interest, Viewpoints & Photo Trophies
Atlas features three different types of exploration locations: Points of Interest, Viewpoints, and Photo Trophies. Each offers a different way to experience the world of American Truck Simulator.
Points of Interest are a brand-new type of discoverable location. Unlike Viewpoints and Photo Trophies, players don't need to stop or activate anything. Simply driving through the designated area is enough to mark the location as explored.
Players can also revisit discovered Points of Interest through the Atlas or Gallery. A live camera feed allows drivers to take another look at the location, even showing their truck if it is currently parked there.
Learn Something Along the Way
Atlas isn't simply about collecting locations. Every newly discovered area comes with a short description containing interesting information about the place. Players can return to the Atlas interface whenever they want to read these descriptions again.
A new on-screen notification also lets drivers know whenever they discover something new, accompanied by a short celebratory sound effect. The notification widget can be enabled or disabled through the game's widget settings.
Collect Unique Postcards
Completing all exploration locations connected to a Tourist Board comes with its own reward. Once every location has been discovered, the board will be marked as completed and players will receive a unique postcard inspired by the region they explored.
These postcards can be displayed directly on the dashboard of the player's vehicle, giving dedicated explorers a small collectible to show off during their journeys.
Players can also use Atlas to review previously discovered locations, read their descriptions, and replay any unlocked cutscenes.
Available Beyond Cars
Atlas will become available to players who own either of the Road Trip DLCs: the Ford Car Pack or the RAM & Dodge Car Pack. However, the feature isn't restricted to car gameplay. Players will also be able to explore the world and complete Atlas discoveries while driving their trucks.
Expanding Across the Map
At launch, Tourist Boards will be available across California, as well as the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota DLC regions. SCS Software plans to gradually expand Atlas to the remaining states in future updates.
This means Atlas will continue to grow alongside the American Truck Simulator map, giving players more locations to discover and more reasons to revisit areas they've already driven through.
A New Reason to Hit the Road
With Atlas, SCS Software is adding a fresh exploration layer to American Truck Simulator. Instead of simply passing through a town or landmark on the way to a delivery, players will now have a reason to slow down, explore their surroundings, and learn more about the world they've been driving through.
Whether you're hunting for hidden locations, collecting postcards, or simply looking for an excuse to take the scenic route, Atlas promises to make every journey a little more rewarding. 🗺️🚛