Euro Truck Simulator 2’s Project Coaches: Why Adding Buses Is a Big Deal for Fans

I’ll be honest-the moment SCS Software dropped that teaser of a coach bus making its exit behind a semi, I knew the Euro Truck Simulator 2 community was about to erupt. After years of players begging (and modders filling the gap), the long-awaited official bus experience-now known as “Project Coaches”-is finally happening. As someone who’s spent more hours than I care to admit hauling digital freight across Europe, I can say this is the most meaningful shake-up ETS2 has seen in years.

Project Coaches Brings Buses (and Change) to Euro Truck Simulator 2

• Official buses are coming: After years of mods, SCS is finally adding long-distance coaches and bus-driving gameplay to ETS2.
• Dedicated dev team: “Project Coaches” won’t hijack resources—map expansions and truck content like the Iceland DLC are still rolling.
• Stations reworked from the ground up: Expect overhauled bus terminals and station prefabs, not just a quick bolt-on.
• Vehicle variety spreading in both flagship sims: SCS’s push for new vehicle types also impacts American Truck Simulator’s “Project Road Trip.”

Feature	Specification
Publisher	SCS Software
Release Date	TBA (Early Development)
Genres	Simulation, Vehicle, Driving
Platforms	PC

This isn’t just a shiny new vehicle for Euro Truck Simulator 2—Project Coaches could represent a philosophical shift at SCS Software: broadening what “Euro Truck” or “American Truck” can be, with player-driven variety at its core. Let’s break down what this means for fans, and why it matters more than the surface-level “new bus” label suggests.

Why Adding Buses Is More Than Just Fan Service

First off: official buses mean thousands of players get a huge wish-list item checked off. This isn’t just some quick asset swap—the team is building several distinct coach models (with “characteristic handling,” which hopefully means these beasts won’t feel like reskinned trucks). There’s also a reason SCS is reworking bus station prefabs and laying out an entire network of coach terminals. They’re building out the simulation from the ground up to fit passenger transport, not just tacking it onto the existing cargo gameplay.

What caught my attention here? The simple fact SCS is finally meeting its community where it’s at. Buses and coaches have been among the most-requested features forever, fueling one of the most active modding subcultures in sim gaming. These aren’t just a fun side hustle; for some, driving passengers instead of steel coils totally redefines the game’s vibe. And for SCS to invest in bespoke handling models and proper station infrastructure tells me this isn’t “just” a side mode, but a genuine evolution of what ETS2 can offer—without abandoning its core trucker DNA.

I’m also glad the studio clarified that a dedicated “Project Coaches” team means truckers won’t be left in the dust. SCS is adamant: mainline content like the Iceland map expansion isn’t on the backburner. That’s a big deal—players (understandably) get suspicious when long-awaited features risk delaying what the community actually wants most. Here, it’s not a zero-sum game.

How This Fits into SCS’s Bigger Picture

SCS is clearly on a mission to avoid stagnation. Over in American Truck Simulator, “Project Road Trip” is bringing pickups, sports cars, and possible new gameplay loops (“fresh gameplay opportunities,” as SCS teased). This cross-sim push towards more vehicles and player choice isn’t a fad; it’s a strategic play to future-proof their long-running sims. There’s a risk in diluting the “trucker experience,” but if done well, it keeps the community engaged and brings in new fans who want something beyond the classic wheel-and-cargo grind.

The industry’s seen plenty of sim series crumble under the weight of feature creep or neglected vision. Honestly, I appreciate SCS’s open communication—preemptively answering the “will you still support core trucking” questions shows they’re listening (for now, at least). The real test will be how meaty and authentic the bus-driving experience feels, and whether it can coexist without cheapening what truck sim veterans love.

Why Gamers Should Actually Care

If you’re part of the core ETS2 crowd, this is more than a novelty. It’s a reason to revisit the map with new eyes and new gameplay loops—especially if you ever found yourself envying those bus-driving modders. For casual fans and newcomers, more side activities expand the appeal without turning the whole sim into a circus. Will SCS deliver enough depth to make carrying passengers as satisfying (and challenging) as a 40-ton haul through the Alps? That’s the defining question. Still, official, well-integrated coaches signal respect for players, modders, and ETS2’s place as a true living sim.

For me? I’m watching for how they balance innovation and focus. This is the crossroads between giving fans fresh reasons to stay, and not losing what made SCS’s Euro Truck series iconic in the first place. But right now, it’s the most exciting ETS2 update I’ve seen in years.

TL;DR

SCS Software is finally bringing official long-distance coaches to Euro Truck Simulator 2, following years of community demand and mod workarounds. This update promises new vehicles with unique handling, a revamped network of coach stations, and won’t slow down core truck-focused development. It’s a real attempt to evolve ETS2 beyond its trucker roots—ambitious, risky, but potentially revitalizing for one of PC sim gaming’s giants. Now the big question: will the bus experience be deep enough to warrant logging all those extra kilometers?