American Truck Simulator closing Highway 1 due to real-world landslide

I like American Truck Simulator [official site] because it's a dreamland version of the USA, one which looks a bit like the country does in movies but is quite separate from reality. This will soon change. Developers SCS Software have announced that ATS's next update will soon close a section of its virtual Highway 1, reflecting the the real Californian landslide near Big Sur in May. If you want to haul cargo round that way in American Truck Simulator, you'll need to take a detour.

SCS say that the virtual road's reopening "will depend entirely on real world events".

A section of Highway 1 actually reopened this week, shortly before SCS announced the virtual road closure. But don't worry, accuracy aficionados: Highway 1 is still not fully open in real life, as a new bridge is still being built to the north.

No firm word on when this next update will launch.

It's weird, this. On one hand, it is neat that SCS are updating their virtual world to reflect real-life events and I do like 'living' worlds. On the other, I quite like that American Truck Simulator doesn't reflect the real world, that it is this idealised dreamy version.

I will miss Highway 1 rolling along the coast but oh, I'm sure I'll be happy as long as every third car I pass is still a vintage convertible with tail fins. Everyone knows that most Americans drive Chryslers that seat about 20.

Update: Oh hey! Patch 1.28 has just entered open beta testing. The main feature is the double and triple trailers.