Under the Hood: A Comprehensive Overhaul of the Cargo System

◊ In a recent "Under the Hood" blog post, SCS Software unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of the cargo system for both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, set to debut in the upcoming 1.54 update.

◊ This initiative addresses the complexities that have arisen from the exponential growth of cargo types and trailers, which rendered the previous system cumbersome and inefficient.

◊ Historically, each cargo-trailer combination was manually crafted and stored as a unique model, leading to an unwieldy number of assets and complicating the integration of new content. The revamped system introduces a dynamic approach, where cargo and trailers are procedurally matched based on compatibility. This automation determines the appropriate placement and securement of cargo, significantly streamlining the development process.

◊ Programmer Simon, known as 50keda, highlighted that the new system eliminates the need for manually managing each combination, allowing the code to automatically merge cargo and trailers based on simplified rules.

◊ Senior Vehicle Artist Smety noted that this change addresses previous complications, especially with the introduction of new cargo and branded trailers, by reducing the necessity for multiple specific models for each trailer type.

◊ Producer Karel emphasized the project's scope, noting the transition from managing thousands of individual combinations to implementing a more efficient system of "smart" assets. This shift not only optimizes the development workflow but also enhances the potential for future expansions and improvements.

◊ The redefined cargo system is poised to enhance both the player experience and the efficiency of content creation, marking a significant advancement in the evolution of SCS Software's trucking simulators.

Go read the full blog post: https://blog.scssoft.com/2025/02/under-hood-cargo-system-redefined.html