Euro Truck Simulator 2
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is an open world truck simulator game developed and published by SCS Software for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS and was initially released as open development on 19 October 2012. The game is a direct sequel to the 2008 game "Euro Truck Simulator" and it is the second video game in the "Truck Simulator" series. The basic premise of the game is that the player can drive one of a choice of articulated trucks across a condensed depiction of Europe, picking up cargo from various locations and delivering it. As the game  progresses, it is possible for the player to buy more vehicles and depots, as well as hire other drivers to work for them. The game has a never-ending play style. The game has sold over 9 million units as of March 2021, according to a press release by Renault Trucks. Gameplay. Gameplay follows an open world style, with players being essentially free to travel anywhere in their lorries, provided they can keep up with fuel, maintenance and toll costs, alongside fines if they incur any. When starting out, players choose their HQ's location in any of the game  map's cities. At first, the player can only take what is known as quick jobs—these jobs involve making hired driver deliveries while employed by a delivery company, with a provided truck and all expenses (fuel, road tolls, ferry crossings) covered. As the player earns money or takes bank loans, they can eventually afford to buy themselves a truck, acquire a home garage, and start accepting better-paying jobs by using their own truck instead of being a driver for hire with gear being supplied. Money earned in the game can be spent on upgrading or purchasing new trucks , hiring NPC drivers to take on deliveries, buying more garages and expanding the home garage to accommodate more trucks and drivers. The skills of the drivers hired by the player also grow with experience and the player can create a huge fleet of the trucks and drivers expanding the business across Europe. As players progress and earn money, they are also able to purchase their own trailers, which can be fully customized in the same way as trucks. Player-owned trailers can be used to receive and deliver cargo at existing storage locations. Like trucks, trailers can also be allocated  to company employees, resulting in higher income. The player gains experience points after each delivery. A skill point is awarded after each level-up. Skill points can be used to unlock deliveries that require different ADR classes, longer distance deliveries, special cargo loads, fragile cargo loads, deliveries that are urgent and eco-driving. This progression allows the player to take on better-paying jobs. The base game features 71 cities in twelve countries, over twenty types of cargo and over fifteen fictional European companies. There are seven map DLCs that expand the game to more countries and locations, and multiple  other truck and trailer DLCs. The game also features a "Radio" feature, which allows players to play imported MP3 and OGG files. It also allows the player to listen to Internet radio. Trucks. The game includes two new truck companies, Scania and Renault, with MAN returning from the original game. Initially, DAF, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo trucks were not officially licensed and had their names changed to DAV, Ivedo, Majestic and Valiant respectively. Later updates included the official branding for the DAF XF, Volvo FH, Iveco Stralis, Scania Streamline and Mercedes-Benz Actros. In 2017 the new Scania S  and R were introduced. The MAN TGX Euro 6 was added as a playable vehicle on 8 February 2019, followed by the Renault T on 26 September 2019. On 6 April 2021, Renault Trucks unveiled their new T-High range of trucks through a joint venture with SCS Software, becoming the first time a new truck has been announced through a video game. About three months later, on 10 June 2021 SCS Software announced the release of the new DAF XG and XG+ models, a day after their official reveal. Then, on 6 December of that year, the company announced  the release of the EfficientLine 3 model of the MAN TGX, followed by the release of the new model of the DAF XF a few days later on 14 December. Development. Initially released for Windows and available for purchase & download via SCS's own website, the game would eventually be added to Steam in January 2013. Expanding beyond the Windows version, SCS announced in March 2013 that they were developing a Mac version of the game. One month later, they released a Linux beta version of the game to the public through Steam. On 27 February, they stated "the Mac  OS port of ETS 2 is taking longer than anybody would like, but trust us, we are still working hard on it." Finally, on 19 December 2014, they announced on their blog that the OS X version of the game is ready for a public beta available on Steam. On 21 January 2015, a 64-bit version of "Euro Truck Simulator 2" was released, which allows for more memory to be used by the game. Downloadable content. Map expansion packs. "Euro Truck Simulator 2" offers several DLC base map expansion packs. Below is a list of major expansion packs provided  by the developers. Reception. The game was generally well received by critics, holding a score of 79/100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". In a review for "Destructoid", Jim Sterling praised the game's accessibility, noting how easy the GPS and map features were to use, as well as the option to stream European internet radio, and the multitude of control options available. They also praised the graphics, stating that "[f]rom the shape of the traffic lights to the atmosphere of the backdrops, there's a sense of individuality to each new territory you uncover, and the trucks themselves are  lovingly recreated with an intricate level of detail", although they did criticise the AI of the other vehicles on the road. In a similarly favourable review, Tim Stone of "PC Gamer" called it "unexpectedly engrossing", praising the size of the map and the variation of the roads and scenery available. He did however have reservations about the accuracy of the surroundings, commenting "no one seems to have told SCS’s countryside crafters that rural Britain features long green things called hedges. Cities are often depicted with the shortest of visual shorthand – a few warehouses, the odd landmark if you’re  lucky." Rock, Paper, Shotgun listed "Euro Truck Simulator 2" ninth on their list of "The 25 Best Simulation Games Ever Made".