Black Hills Coming to American Truck Simulator
The upcoming South Dakota DLC will bring the Black Hills to American Truck Simulator, giving drivers a much different setting from the open plains found across much of the state. SCS Software has now confirmed several parts of the region, including Deadwood, US-385 and Pactola Lake.
The expansion still has no announced release date, and the locations shown so far remain work in progress. Even so, the first Black Hills preview gives a clear idea of how western South Dakota will change the pace of a typical delivery.
A different side of South Dakota
The Black Hills cover a large area in the western part of the state. In ATS, drivers can expect forested roads, rolling terrain, exposed rock formations and tighter mountain routes. That should create a noticeable contrast with the flatter agricultural areas planned elsewhere in the South Dakota DLC.
This variety matters in a driving game because the road itself is a major part of the experience. Long, open highways work well for relaxed hauling, while mountain roads demand more attention to speed, corners and the space available around the truck.
Players who enjoy virtual recreations of real landscapes may already know the Black Hills from flight simulation. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 presents the region from above, while communities built around MSFS 2024 Mods often add aircraft, scenery and other details that make familiar locations more interesting to revisit. ATS approaches the same landscape from ground level, where roads, elevation changes and roadside landmarks shape the journey.
Confirmed locations in the Black Hills
The first preview centers on Deadwood and US-385. Deadwood will include its historic Main Street and several recognizable buildings, while US-385 runs through pine forests and rocky terrain. Pactola Lake will also appear along the route, complete with a nearby visitor center overlooking the water.
SCS has made it clear that this is only a small part of the region. The Black Hills contain many towns, landmarks and scenic roads, so more locations may be shown before release. For now, the confirmed areas already provide a mix of history, mountain driving and natural scenery.
What the region adds to ATS
The ATS Black Hills area should give players a reason to leave the fastest route and explore western South Dakota at a slower pace. The confirmed roads are less about covering distance quickly and more about the surroundings, changes in elevation and recognizable locations beside the highway.
South Dakota is still listed on Steam with its release date to be announced. Until SCS reveals the full road network, the exact size of the Black Hills section remains unknown. What has been shown so far suggests that it will be one of the more varied parts of the expansion.
