Right by Loch Ness: Inverness is coming to Euro Truck Simulator 2 as a completely new city!

Inverness lies far in the north of Scotland at the mouth of the River Ness and is not called the “Gateway to the Highlands”for nothing. Many journeys into the Scottish Highlands begin here, while the city is also an important regional centre for transport, tourism and the economy. Loch Ness is also very close by. SCS is using this location to portray the transition between a real city and the much more rural landscape of northern Scotland in ETS2.

Even on the approach, one structure should be difficult to miss: the Kessock Bridge. It crosses the Beauly Firth and connects Inverness with the Black Isle. In the game, the distinctive bridge is supposed to be visible from the industrial area, among other places. SCS is therefore not simply placing it somewhere on the horizon as background scenery, but is using it as one of the landmarks by which players are meant to recognise Inverness while driving.

The River Ness also plays a major role. Those driving through the centre will get views of the river and the buildings along its banks. SCS has also recreated several distinctive buildings, including the Inverness Justice Centre and the Caledonian Stadium. The latter is located directly by the water and, thanks to its position, is one of the more striking places in the city. This should ensure that Inverness does not look like just any collection of Scottish houses, but actually has features that belong to the real location.

Perhaps the biggest difference from many other cities, however, is created by the surrounding area. Inverness lies amid a landscape of water, hills and the Highlands. That is why, in the images shown so far, SCS is deliberately presenting not only roads and buildings, but also the surroundings. The contrast should be particularly interesting later on: first you drive through a comparatively modern urban area, and just a few kilometres farther on, the much more open landscape of northern Scotland already begins.

For ETS2, a beautiful view is of course not enough. Inverness will therefore also receive two specific economic sectors, where freight can be picked up and delivered. One of them is a local oil facility, while the other is located at the Port of Inverness. A warehouse is being created there, through which various loads related to maritime trade are to be handled.

This gives the port a different role from, for example, Bristol’s historic dock area. Inverness is considerably smaller, yet the city has an active port and industry. That is exactly what SCS is attempting to transfer to the map: you do not travel to the far north only for the sights, but also actually get work for your own truck there.

Inverness is also interesting because the city is coming completely new to Euro Truck Simulator 2. The UK Rework therefore does not exclusively replace old cities and roads with more attractive versions. SCS is also using the rebuilding of Great Britain to add places that have not previously been part of the playable map at all. Bristol is one example—inverness is the next.

This could make a bigger difference for Scotland in particular. After all, an additional city far in the north changes not only the place itself, but also creates a new destination for longer journeys. Instead of merely crossing a region on the way somewhere else, you get another point where freight can begin and end. At the same time, Inverness gives SCS the opportunity to show much more of the Highlands’ landscape.

What we should not automatically expect, however, is a direct drive to the famous Loch Ness. SCS explicitly describes Inverness as a city near it, but for this first preview has not announced a drivable Loch Ness route. Whether and how far the reworked road network will later extend in that direction therefore remains to be seen.

Inverness is also still in development. There is currently no specific release date for the UK Rework. What is certain, however, is that the rework will later be released free of charge for owners of Euro Truck Simulator 2 .

Bristol brings a port city, big-city traffic and famous landmarks to southern England. Inverness suggests almost the opposite: a smaller city, industry and the expanse of the Scottish Highlands beyond it. That is precisely why both new locations could feel completely different despite belonging to the same UK Rework.

And the mere idea of driving a fully loaded lorry all the way up to Inverness, seeing the Kessock Bridge ahead and then unloading at the port between water and the Highlands should make Scotland a good deal more interesting in ETS2.

Would you deliberately drive all the way to Inverness with the new UK Rework—and which city or region in Scotland should SCS rebuild next?