Euro Truck Simulator 2 continues evolving with Update 1.58 now available in open beta, bringing substantial improvements across trucks, physics, user interface, and gameplay systems. After thoroughly exploring this update, I’m sharing a comprehensive breakdown of every major change including truck refreshes, the new driving academy module, completely redesigned UI elements, improved vehicle physics, and how these updates prepare ETS2 for exciting future content.
This detailed guide covers Euro Truck Simulator 2 Update 1.58, currently in open beta testing on Steam. The update features Renault Trucks T refresh with new interiors, Scania R and S customization options, Volvo FH16 improvements, double trailer driving academy, complete Route Advisor redesign, Quick Info pause menu, refined physics simulation, and preparation for upcoming Coaches DLC.
Quick Navigation:
- How to Access Open Beta
- Truck Updates and Improvements
- Double Trailer Driving Academy
- User Interface Overhaul
- Physics and Driving Feel
- Map Changes and Preparation
- Management Screen Polish
- Should You Try the Beta
How to Access Update 1.58 Open Beta
Trying the new update requires opting into the beta program through Steam, which takes just a few simple steps.
Accessing the Beta:
The process to join the open beta is straightforward and reversible if you encounter any issues or want to return to the stable version.
Step by Step Instructions:
- Open Steam: Launch your Steam client on PC
- Locate ETS2: Find Euro Truck Simulator 2 in your game library
- Right Click: Right click on Euro Truck Simulator 2
- Properties: Select “Properties” from the context menu
- Betas Tab: Click on the “Betas” tab in the properties window
- Select Version: Under “Beta Participation” dropdown, select “Open Beta 1.58”
- Update: Steam will automatically begin downloading the update
- Launch: Once the download completes, launch the game normally
Important Beta Considerations:
Open beta versions may contain bugs or issues not present in stable releases. Save your game profile before updating in case you need to revert. You can switch back to the stable version anytime by selecting “None” in the betas dropdown.
Reporting Issues:
SCS Software encourages players to report bugs encountered during beta testing. Use the official SCS Software forums to submit detailed bug reports helping developers refine the update before full release.
Official Update Information:
For complete technical details and official changelog, visit the official Euro Truck Simulator 2 Update 1.58 announcement on Steam where SCS Software provides comprehensive documentation of all changes.
Truck Updates and Improvements
Several popular trucks receive significant updates ranging from complete interior refreshes to expanded customization options.
Renault Trucks T Major Refresh:
The Renault Trucks T receives the most substantial update in 1.58 with changes that modernize the truck significantly while maintaining its character.
New Interiors:
Two completely new interior options debut for the Renault T. The Anthracite interior provides a modern, professional atmosphere with dark tones and clean lines. The Carbon 2024 interior offers a more premium feel with contemporary materials and finishes.
Digital Dashboard:
Both new interiors feature fully digital instrument clusters replacing traditional analog gauges. The modern displays provide clear information presentation and feel significantly more contemporary than the previous cabin.
Camera Mirrors:
The Renault T now supports camera mirror systems instead of traditional glass mirrors. This modern technology reflects real world truck developments and changes the driving perspective.
New Engine Options:
Two new Renault Trucks DTI 13 Turbo Compound engines join the lineup. The DTI13 TC 440 Euro 6 and DTI13 TC 480 Euro 6 provide additional power options for players who want specific performance characteristics.
Smart Racer Paint Jobs:
Two new Smart Racer themed paint jobs allow customization reflecting Renault Trucks’ motorsport heritage. These liveries add personality and visual variety to your fleet.
Updated Exterior Parts:
Refreshed front grilles, badges, and exterior trim pieces modernize the Renault T’s appearance. The updates make the truck feel current without drastically changing its recognizable design language.
Overall Impact:
The Renault T refresh transforms an older feeling truck into a modern, desirable option. If you previously found the Renault outdated compared to other manufacturers, this update addresses those concerns effectively.
Scania R and S Customization:
Scania fans receive expanded customization options allowing more personalized truck builds.
Front End Options:
Additional bumper choices provide varied front end appearances. Different lighting configurations let you create exactly the look you want. The customization depth matches what Scania enthusiasts expect from the brand.
Flexibility:
These aren’t massive overhauls but targeted improvements giving players more freedom when configuring their Scanias. Small additions that meaningfully expand personalization options.
Volvo FH16 Updates:
The Volvo FH16 receives a new 6×2 chassis configuration option expanding versatility. General fixes and improvements polish the truck’s existing features. Simple but useful updates for Volvo drivers.
Double Trailer Driving Academy Module
A completely new Driving Academy module teaches players the challenging art of handling double trailers through structured scenarios.
Module Overview:
The Double Trailer Handling module provides comprehensive training for operating trucks pulling two trailers, commonly called doubles. This addresses one of the most requested training topics from the community.
Structured Learning:
The module breaks down double trailer operation into progressive difficulty levels. Players start with basic concepts before advancing to complex maneuvers requiring precision and patience.
Forward Driving:
Early scenarios teach maintaining stability and control while driving doubles in straight lines and gentle curves. Understanding how the second trailer affects handling is crucial before attempting harder challenges.
Maneuvering:
Intermediate scenarios introduce turning, lane changes, and navigating intersections with double trailers. Players learn reading trailer positions and planning movements accounting for the extended length.
Reversing:
Advanced scenarios focus on backing up with doubles, one of the most difficult trucking skills. Step by step guidance teaches angle management, jackknife prevention, and positioning both trailers accurately.
Skill Testing:
The module concludes with comprehensive scenarios testing everything learned. Successfully completing these challenges proves you’ve mastered double trailer fundamentals.
Completion Reward:
Players who finish all Double Trailer Handling scenarios receive Frankie, an adorable dachshund plush that sits in your truck cabin. This cosmetic reward celebrates your achievement and adds personality to your cab.
Achievement Adjustment:
Update 1.58 also adjusts the Driving Academy achievement requirements. The “Nerd of the Road” achievement now requires three star completion on 15 scenarios instead of the previous 23, making it more accessible.
Why This Matters:
Double trailers present unique challenges absent from single trailer operation. Dedicated training helps players develop skills needed for safely and efficiently hauling doubles.
User Interface and UX Redesign
Update 1.58 introduces sweeping changes to Euro Truck Simulator 2’s user interface, modernizing presentation and improving usability.
Route Advisor Redesign:
The old Route Advisor interface is completely replaced with a modern widget based system providing flexibility and cleaner presentation.
Widget Customization:
Instead of one fixed information display, the new system uses modular widgets you can enable, disable, and arrange based on preferences. Want minimal HUD? Show only essential widgets. Need detailed information? Enable everything.
Screen Cleanliness:
By allowing players to hide unneeded widgets, the new Route Advisor reduces screen clutter. This creates cleaner driving view while still providing access to important information.
Personal Preference:
Every player has different information needs. The widget system accommodates varied play styles from minimalist setups to data heavy displays.
Quick Info Pause Menu:
The traditional pause screen transforms into Quick Info, a comprehensive information hub replacing simple pause functionality.
Consolidated Information:
Quick Info displays truck details, current job information, damage status, service options, and controls reference all in one organized location. Information previously scattered across different menus now appears together.
Cleaner Driving Screen:
Some information previously shown in the Route Advisor moves to Quick Info. This redistribution keeps the driving HUD cleaner while ensuring all important data remains just a pause away.
Modern Design:
Quick Info’s visual design aligns with update 1.58’s overall UI direction. Clean layouts, clear information hierarchy, and intuitive organization improve user experience.
Future Preparation:
The Quick Info structure provides foundation for upcoming content like Coaches and Road Trip where different vehicle types require varied information displays.
Truck and Trailer Configurator:
The truck and trailer customization menus receive targeted improvements enhancing usability.
Controller Optimization:
Navigation improvements make configurator menus easier to use with controllers. Button assignments become more intuitive and menu flow improves for gamepad users.
Clearer Functions:
Previously unclear customization options now include better tooltips and explanations. Understanding what each modification does becomes easier for all players.
Smoother Experience:
General polish makes the customization process feel more refined. Loading times, menu transitions, and option selections all feel quicker and more responsive.
Physics Improvements and Vehicle Behavior
Update 1.58 fundamentally revises how vehicles behave, creating more natural and realistic driving feel across all trucks.
Driving Feel Evolution:
The changes aren’t one dramatic difference but a collection of refinements that combine into noticeably improved driving experience.
Smoother Acceleration:
Throttle response feels more natural and progressive. Trucks accelerate in ways that better match real vehicle behavior rather than artificial game feel.
Relaxed Cruising:
Maintaining highway speeds feels more comfortable. The trucks settle into cruise more naturally without constant minor input corrections.
Refined Handling:
Steering inputs produce more predictable results. The connection between your actions and truck response feels tighter and more realistic.
Why Physics Changed:
The physics overhaul primarily prepares ETS2 for upcoming vehicle types like coaches and cars featured in future DLC content. However, these improvements benefit all vehicles.
Throttle Behavior:
Throttle torque calculations now properly account for engine characteristics creating more accurate power delivery. Combined with realistic engine resistance during coasting, the driving dynamics feel significantly improved.
Wheel and Axle Simulation:
How wheels interact with road surfaces received attention. Contact patches, friction calculations, and load distribution all contribute to better handling characteristics.
Collision Geometry:
Road collision models were refined eliminating subtle inconsistencies that affected wheel contact. Smoother road curvature in collision geometry improves stability and predictability.
Audio Integration:
Engine sounds and audio cues better match the improved physics, creating cohesive experience where visual, physical, and audio feedback align properly.
Keyboard Throttle Option:
A new optional feature helps keyboard players achieve smoother throttle control. When enabled, pressing throttle doesn’t immediately go to full power but allows modulation through key presses.
Long Term Vision:
These physics changes represent the starting point for bigger improvements supporting upcoming content while enhancing current gameplay quality and realism.
Map Updates and Future Preparation
Subtle but important map changes appear throughout the game world preparing for future content additions.
New Signage:
Updated road signs appear in various locations matching real world European traffic sign evolution. These small details enhance immersion and visual accuracy.
Road Markings:
Some cities receive refreshed road markings with clearer lane definitions and updated painting styles. The changes improve navigation clarity in urban environments.
Layout Adjustments:
Certain city areas feature minor layout modifications improving traffic flow and realism. These tweaks address long standing awkward intersections or unrealistic road configurations.
Bus Stations and Terminals:
Larger bus stations and coach terminals appear in several cities. These additions directly prepare for the upcoming Coaches DLC where players will operate buses and coaches.
Infrastructure Development:
The map updates show ETS2’s world evolving organically. New infrastructure appropriate for different vehicle types integrates naturally into existing environments.
Why This Matters:
These preparatory changes demonstrate SCS Software’s long term planning. Rather than suddenly adding coach specific infrastructure, they’re gradually building it into the game world so everything feels cohesive when coaches arrive.
Management Screens Improvements
Company management interfaces receive polish focusing on usability and clarity rather than complete overhauls.
Driver Management:
Tracking hired driver progress becomes easier with improved skill visibility. The currently selected training for each driver highlights clearly in the skills overview.
Skill Development:
Understanding how your driver team develops over time gains better visual representation. Progress tracking helps you make informed decisions about training investments.
Trailer Management:
The trailer manager interface receives clarity improvements making fleet organization simpler. Finding specific trailers and managing ownership feels more intuitive.
Truck Management:
Similar refinements apply to truck fleet management. Viewing owned vehicles, their condition, and assignment status becomes clearer through improved information presentation.
Garage Management:
Managing multiple garage locations benefits from interface polish. Navigating between facilities and tracking garage specific information feels smoother.
Quality of Life:
These aren’t revolutionary changes but thoughtful improvements making daily company management tasks less tedious and more enjoyable.
Tutorial System Redesign
How new players learn Euro Truck Simulator 2 receives significant rethinking focused on natural, contextual learning.
Contextual Hints:
Instead of one lengthy tutorial overwhelming new players, the redesigned system provides helpful hints at relevant moments during actual gameplay.
Learning Through Playing:
Tips appear when you encounter related situations. About to make your first delivery? Information about delivery procedures appears. This contextual approach aids retention.
Non Intrusive:
For experienced players, the hint system stays out of the way. If you already know something, hints don’t interrupt your gameplay or force tutorial completion.
Better Onboarding:
New player onboarding improves significantly. Learning ETS2’s systems feels more natural and less like homework before the real game begins.
Should You Try Update 1.58 Beta
Deciding whether to opt into the beta depends on your priorities and tolerance for potential issues.
Reasons to Try the Beta:
You want to experience the latest improvements immediately. You enjoy providing feedback helping developers refine features. You’re curious about the game’s future direction. You primarily play single player where save compatibility isn’t critical.
Reasons to Wait:
You prefer stable, fully tested releases. You play multiplayer where version mismatches cause issues. You have limited troubleshooting patience for beta bugs. You want the complete polished experience rather than work in progress.
My Take:
Update 1.58 represents substantial quality of life improvements across the entire game. The truck updates alone make trying worthwhile for Renault fans. The UI improvements modernize dated interfaces. The physics refinements enhance every drive.
However, beta status means potential bugs exist. If you encounter game breaking issues, reverting to stable version is easy. Trying the beta helps SCS Software gather feedback improving the final release.
Expected Full Release:
While SCS Software hasn’t announced the exact full release date, open beta typically runs for several weeks allowing thorough testing. Expect full release within one to two months based on typical patterns.
What This Update Really Means
Update 1.58 significance extends beyond its individual features to what it represents for Euro Truck Simulator 2’s future.
Foundation Building:
Many changes exist specifically to prepare for upcoming content like Coaches DLC and Road Trip feature. SCS Software is building proper foundations rather than cramming new content into inadequate systems.
Ongoing Evolution:
After years of development, ETS2 continues receiving meaningful updates rather than minimal maintenance. This demonstrates SCS Software’s commitment to long term game development.
Quality Focus:
The physics improvements, UI polish, and management screen refinements show focus on quality over quantity. Making existing systems better matters as much as adding new features.
Player Respect:
Free updates providing substantial improvements respect the player community. Instead of paywalling every enhancement, SCS Software improves the base game for everyone.
Future Excitement:
The preparations for coaches and different vehicle types signal exciting directions ahead. ETS2 evolves beyond pure trucking simulation toward broader transportation experiences.
Final Thoughts
Euro Truck Simulator 2 Update 1.58 delivers comprehensive improvements touching nearly every aspect of the game. The Renault Trucks T refresh brings modern interiors and technology to a dated favorite. Scania and Volvo receive appreciated customization expansions. The Double Trailer Driving Academy provides valuable training for challenging maneuvers.
The completely redesigned Route Advisor and Quick Info system modernizes the interface with flexibility meeting varied player preferences. Physics refinements make driving feel more natural and realistic without dramatic changes to familiar truck handling. Map updates and infrastructure additions prepare the world for upcoming vehicle types.
While individual changes range from substantial to subtle, their combination creates meaningfully improved experience. The update demonstrates SCS Software’s ongoing commitment to evolving Euro Truck Simulator 2 rather than abandoning it for newer projects.
Whether you opt into the beta or wait for stable release, Update 1.58 represents important milestone in ETS2’s continued development. The improvements enhance current gameplay while laying groundwork for exciting future content.
Download the beta if you want immediate access to these refinements and don’t mind occasional bugs. Wait for full release if you prefer tested stability. Either way, Update 1.58 deserves attention from anyone who enjoys Euro Truck Simulator 2.
For the complete official changelog and technical details, check out the official Update 1.58 announcement from SCS Software.
Experience the evolution of trucking simulation! 🚛🛣️
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