ETS 2 means Euro Truck Simulator 2. This is a truck simulator game released on October 19, 2012. With this game you can cross all of Europe and become a real virtual truck driver! Do not think that, because the game is 7 years old, it no longer evolves, quite the contrary. SCS Software is still developing DLCs that expand the huge European map.
ATS meanwhile means American Truck Simulator. Obviously, we remain in a simulation game, but Europe is over, heading to the United States, you have the fine sands of Nevada. The game appeared on February 3, 2016. Once again, SCS Software is behind this game. Like ETS 2, the developers offer DLCs that expand the region to be explored.
Who is SCS Sofware, the developer of these 2 games?
SCS Software is far from new in the field, the Czech company was founded in 1997 and is based in Prague. To date, 20 games have been released from the studio. Among them we have the 18 Wheels of Steel series, Hunting Unlimited, UK Truck Simulator, German Truck Simulator, etc.
The graphics engine
ATS and ETS2 both run with the technology Prism3D. Active since 2010 on road simulation games with UK Truck Simulator, this engine offers a wide range of functionalities, combining extremely efficient scalable rendering on a wide range of graphics hardware, and advanced physics which manages the de / serialization of objects. Like all good, self-respecting game engines, it comes with a set of powerful tools that support the entire development pipeline. Prism3D is also cross-platform, PC and console, and supports 32 and 64 bit architectures.
Games open to modding
In addition to the free patches, players also have the option of adding several elements to the base game through mods: modifications or new maps, new businesses, new trailers, new trucks and accessories, gameplay improvements (from physics , of the environment…). Some also share their skins (exterior or interior) or other modifications, which they have designed themselves. The games also support mods from the Steam Workshop, allowing mods to be downloaded without going through third-party sites.
ETS and ATS are completely identical games. Only their environments are very far from each other. But these remain two essential references in road simulation today.
ATS source: https://americantrucksimulator.com/
ETS source: https://eurotrucksimulator2.com/