The developers are pleased to announce that the American Truck Simulator 1.56 Open Beta is now live and available for testing. The team encourages everyone to participate and help them improve the game by reporting any bugs you may encounter on the official forums. Your feedback and reports are invaluable in ensuring a stable and polished final release.

The development team also mentioned that they are adapting to a new internal update cycle. Since future console releases will require them to finalize content earlier, this adjustment helps better coordinate timing across all platforms. It’s a strategic move towards greater consistency and efficiency in their workflow. While this announcement highlights some of the most visible changes, a lot is happening behind the scenes, including groundwork for upcoming projects like the “Road Trip” expansion for ATS.

Visual and Gameplay Improvements

The 1.56 update brings several key changes that enhance the game’s visuals and core gameplay.

Height Blend: This new technique is used to create more realistic and visually appealing transitions between different types of terrain, such as grass, dirt, or stone. By using a height map texture, the game ensures surfaces blend naturally based on elevation and slope, eliminating harsh edges. This method also saves time for map designers, as it reduces the need for manual decal placement.

Dynamic Cargo Enhancements: The dynamic loading and unloading feature has been expanded to cover more cargo types. Truckers using their own logger or chipvan trailers will now see a material handler dynamically managing their loads at selected depots across the USA. This includes large tubes, logs, utility poles, and metal scrap, adding a new layer of immersion to your hauling experience.

Camera Zoom: A small but welcome accessibility feature has been added, giving players the option to choose whether the interior zoom function requires holding the key (the default) or can be switched to a toggle mode. This offers a more comfortable way for all players to take a closer look at the details inside their cab.

Modernizing the UI and Management

Significant changes have been made to the user interface to make it more modern and intuitive.

New Profile Creation: The profile system has been completely redesigned. The old table-style list has been replaced with larger, card-like slots for a cleaner look. Your active profile is always at the top, and switching between profiles is now quicker—simply double-click on a card to jump right in.

Revamped DLC Browser: The DLC Browser has been completely redesigned to make browsing and discovering additional content easier. It now features improved categorization and a refreshed layout that displays more items per row for a cleaner, more modern look.

Management UI/UX Improvements: The developer has updated the screens for managing drivers, trailers, trucks, and garages. These screens now feature redesigned company subscreens with key statistics, a new profit graph, and a quick performance review pop-up. The process of relocating a driver and their truck has also been streamlined, and the Garage and Driver Managers are now unlocked from the start of the game to help new players.

How to Join the Open Beta

The ATS 1.56 Open Beta is now available, but remember that it is not a final, stable version. If you would like to participate in testing, follow these steps:

1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your “LIBRARY”.
2. Right-click on American Truck Simulator and select “Properties.”
3. Go to the “Betas” tab and choose public_beta from the dropdown menu. No password is required. You may need to restart your Steam client for the option to appear.

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