Bison, Deadwood and US-385: SCS shows the Black Hills in the South Dakota DLC

SCS Software published a new look at the Black Hills on August 5. The mountain region in western South Dakota is one of the state’s best-known landscapes and will form part of the upcoming map expansion for American Truck Simulator. The current preview deliberately focuses on only a small section: the historic town of Deadwood and US-385. According to the studio, the Black Hills contain numerous further locations, landmarks and scenic roads that may be presented in future articles. The material shown remains work in progress.

Deadwood will not be a landmark that can only be seen from a distance. We will be able to drive directly through its historic Main Street. SCS has recreated numerous shops, older façades and local attractions along the road. The buildings explicitly mentioned include the Town Hall, a museum and the historic railway station. The developer is not simply placing a few recognisable structures, but intends to capture the overall character of the former Gold Rush town.

The real town was founded in 1876 during the Black Hills Gold Rush. A mining camp quickly developed into a famous settlement of the American West that remains associated with names such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. SCS is drawing on precisely this history in its design. Instead of modern, wide roads, we can expect a densely built location with preserved façades and a noticeably different atmosphere from the major cities on the ATS map.

The gameplay role of Deadwood remains unanswered, however. The article confirms that we can drive through Main Street. SCS has not yet explained whether Deadwood will be treated as a full city with its own companies and freight jobs or primarily as a particularly detailed location that we pass through. Possible rest areas, garages and hidden viewpoints are not specifically mentioned in the preview either.

The second focus is US-385. The road runs through the heart of the Black Hills and should differ significantly from the long, straight highways found in the flatter parts of South Dakota. SCS shows a winding route between dense pine forests, rolling hills, large rock formations and wide views across the mountain landscape. The western part of the DLC may therefore resemble Wyoming or Colorado more closely, both visually and from a driving perspective, than the open plains in the east of the state.

Bison may also appear along US-385. SCS describes herds grazing near the road that can be spotted during a journey. There is currently no indication of a new animal mechanic or direct interaction. The animals are therefore primarily part of the scenery, but could make the route considerably more distinctive than an ordinary forest section.

Pactola Lake is another prominent location. The largest reservoir in the Black Hills lies directly along the featured route. In addition to the lake, SCS is recreating a visitor centre overlooking the water and surrounding forested hills. The article describes the location as a possible place to pause during the journey. It does not yet clearly explain whether this means a functional rest area, a driveable viewpoint or simply the scenic design of the location.

The combination of Deadwood, US-385 and Pactola Lake demonstrates the role the Black Hills could play within the DLC. South Dakota is not made up solely of prairie and agriculture. The official Steam description announces a major change in scenery: flat river valleys and wide plains dominate the east, while plateaus, rock formations, canyons, forests and the Black Hills appear in the west. The map expansion should therefore provide very different journeys within a single state.

The road network already confirmed also fits this contrast. Interstate 90 crosses South Dakota from east to west and is likely to form the central connection between Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Rapid City and the western region. Interstate 29 primarily serves the eastern section from north to south. Deadwood and US-385 provide a slower and potentially more demanding alternative away from those fast main routes.

The locations confirmed so far range from Sioux Falls and Mitchell to the state capital of Pierre and Rapid City. Smaller but important South Dakota destinations such as Wall, Sturgis and Deadwood are also included. SCS is therefore not focusing exclusively on major delivery cities. The Black Hills in particular depend on smaller towns, historic roads and scenic locations between jobs.

The Steam page lists agriculture, forestry and mining as important industries for freight operations. It is not yet known how those industries will be distributed across the Black Hills. Forestry and mining would fit the western landscape particularly well, however. The new article does not name any companies, depots or new cargoes for Deadwood and US-385. It therefore remains impossible to determine which jobs will actually take us through the region.

The Black Hills are primarily being presented as a scenic and historic counterpoint to the open plains. Deadwood adds an unusually dense Wild West setting to ATS, while US-385 connects winding mountain roads, forests and viewpoints. The decisive question will be whether these locations merely look impressive or are also meaningfully integrated into regular freight operations through companies, rest opportunities and varied jobs.

The South Dakota DLC still has neither a confirmed price nor a release date. The official Steam page for the expansion continues to list the date as “to be announced”. The new images therefore show clear development progress, but provide no indication of when we will be able to drive through Deadwood and past the bison ourselves.