Yes, the Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) map is generally considered larger and more extensive than the American Truck Simulator (ATS) map in terms of overall playable area and covered territory.
While both Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) and American Truck Simulator (ATS) offer expansive truck driving experiences, ETS2 currently boasts a significantly larger map. This difference stems from several factors, including their respective development timelines, the sheer number of map expansions released, and even subtle variations in how real-world distances are scaled within each game.
Overall Map Size and Geographical Coverage
ETS2 has been under development for a longer period and has accumulated numerous paid map expansions covering vast regions of Europe. This extensive development has resulted in a much greater variety of countries, cities, and intricate road networks compared to ATS, which is still progressively expanding its representation of U.S. states.
- ETS2 Coverage: The ETS2 map spans a substantial portion of Europe, including Western, Central, Eastern, and Northern European regions. With many years of consistent DLC releases (e.g., Iberia, Scandinavia, Going East!, Vive la France!, Italia, Beyond the Baltic Sea, Road to the Black Sea, West Balkans), the playable area has grown considerably.
- ATS Coverage: ATS focuses on North America, beginning with California and Nevada. It has been steadily adding more U.S. states through expansions (e.g., Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa). While impressive in its own right, the total road network and geographical area currently covered by ATS are still smaller than ETS2's cumulative map.
Understanding Map Scale Differences
Beyond the sheer number of covered regions, the actual map scale — how real-world distances are represented in the game — also contributes to the perceived size and detail. While it's a common assumption that both games share the same 1:20 map scale, there is a subtle but notable difference:
- ETS2 Map Scale: 1:19
- ATS Map Scale: 1:20
What does this difference mean?
A scale of 1:19 in ETS2 indicates that 1 unit of distance in the game represents 19 units in the real world. In contrast, ATS's 1:20 scale means 1 in-game unit represents 20 real-world units. Practically, this implies that ETS2's map is slightly less compressed than ATS's. For the same real-world distance, ETS2 might feature slightly more in-game distance or detail because the geographical representation is scaled down less aggressively. This subtle difference contributes to the overall feeling of scale and vastness in ETS2.
Comparison Overview
To provide a clear picture, here's a brief comparison of key map aspects:
| Feature | Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) | American Truck Simulator (ATS) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Size | Significantly larger due to more years of development and DLCs | Actively growing, but currently smaller in total area |
| Geographic Focus | Europe (covering multiple countries and regions) | United States (expanding state by state) |
| Map Scale | 1:19 (Slightly less compressed, more detailed representation of real distances) | 1:20 (Slightly more compressed) |
| Expansion Model | Large map DLCs covering entire regions or countries | Individual state-by-state expansions |
Player Experience and Future Growth
The larger map in ETS2 generally translates to more diverse scenery, a greater variety of cargo routes, and longer hauling opportunities across different European landscapes. While ETS2 currently holds the lead in terms of total map size, SCS Software is continually expanding ATS, with new states and content being released regularly. Both games offer unique and engaging trucking experiences, each with their distinct settings, vehicle options, and trucking challenges.
