Today, we are happy to share with you that the 1.44 Open Beta branch for Euro Truck Simulator 2 is now available to try and test out. Please keep in mind that this branch is a work-in-progress build. If you plan on participating in this Open Beta, you can contribute by reporting any bugs you may encounter in the appropriate section(s) of our official forums. Your feedback and reports are extremely valuable for our team and we thank you in advance for taking the time to help us out.



So, without further ado, let's take a look at what the 1.44 Open Beta has in store.

[h3]Austria Rework[/h3]
We are excited to bring the highly anticipated Austria Rework as part of this free update for all owners of Euro Truck Simulator 2. Our rework team have been diligently working on updating this magnificent country and today we are excited for you to explore this beautiful country for yourselves.



The entire country of Austria has been reworked to bring it up to a true to life standard, as previously this was one of the older original areas of Euro Truck Simulator 2 when it released in 2012. All cities, surrounding areas, and road networks has been given a complete overhaul including the famous Alps!



We are sure drivers will face quite the challenge when trucking over these winding roads which travel along the valley.

[h3]Companies Logos Revision[/h3]As some of our eagled eye players might of noticed from some our previous blogposts and social media video clips; Some of our in-game companies logos featured in the base of game of Euro Truck Simulator 2 have received a rework!

These new modern logos, still stay true with their colour schemes but bring a modern and fresh take on these old school companies. Keeping modern and up-to date is important for companies, even our virtual ones!

We hope you enjoy spotting these new logos on company trailers and industries across Euro Truck Simulator 2 in the 1.44 update!

[h3]Mod Refund Feature[/h3]
Since the introduction of third party modification support in our convoy mode, our team has been working to improve the mod support experience. In this update, we are happy to share a new feature which we hope will further improve players gameplay when playing with modifications.

We like to call this new addition the 'Mod Refund' feature. In simple terms, after a player has downloaded a third party modification and used it on their truck, they may in the future want to remove it (or it even may have become incompatible). This new feature reads and recognises the data from the modification, even if it has been removed, and refunds the player the difference with the in-game currency. This removes the problem of players losing money after using a modification.



It works by recognising that a crucial part is missing (such as the chassis, engine etc) and replacing it with a default part. Players will be prompted with a pop-up containing information that some parts are being refunded and will be given the option to accept or reject this refund. If you decide to reject the refund and reactivate the mod instead, the truck will now revert to its former glory even if you have saved the game in the meantime.

So, whether you're trucking with friends in a convoy session with mods, or you want to remove a certain modification after use, this new feature will make sure you won't go out of pocket!

[h3]Licensed vs Aftermarket Customization Options in UI[/h3]
Players customising their truck or looking at new parts in the garage may see some new icons appearing in the list. In total we have added 4 new icons to represent what type of accessory it is. When you hover over them, they will show if they are classed as a:

• Factory part - A stock part sold by the manufacturer (including interiors)
  
• Licensed part - Anything that is officially licensed that is not produced by truck factory
  
• Aftermarket part - Any additional accessory that is not related to the brand.
  
• Unknown part - A part that is not recognised or in some cases, a third party modification
  

• New gearbox grind effect simulating vibration of missed gear when using manual shifting.
  
• New understeer slip effect simulating tyre slip when vehicle is understeering
  
• Revisited power steering curves and pressure gain of self centering effect to improve steering feel.
  
• Revisited internal friction force giving better feedback depending on the speed of steering.
  

• Italian Tollgates Update
  
• Austria Rework
  
• Distance Signs with Accurate Mileage System
  
• Companies Logo Revisions
  
• Unmarked Road Exploration
  
• UI Road Numbers in Corsica/Sardinia
  
• Some older border crossings reworked in Beyond the Baltic Sea
  
• Other Map Improvements
  

• Mod Refund Feature
  
• Licensed vs Aftermarket UI in browsers
  
• Force Feedback Upgrade
  
• Adjustable Suspension Height
  
• Interior Camera Horizontal Lock
  
• Smart Sequential Shifting
  

• New 2022 Interior option for Renault T
  
• Exterior Interior Models reworked for Renault T