ETS2: Project Japan Set to Receive New Version. New Gameplay Video Went Viral
The developers of the ETS2: Project Japan mod delighted players with video footage of the upcoming new version of the mod.
One of the most impressive mods for Euro Truck Simulator 2 is Project Japan, which lets you play on the roads of the Land of the Cherry Blossom. The authors are getting ready to release the next version, and to make the wait for its release more pleasant, they have released gameplay, which you can watch below.
The post on X with the footage instantly became viral - it has already been viewed more than 2.2 million times. Gamers, especially from Japan, praise the authors for the high level of realism. This does not only apply to the quality of the graphics (one of them even stated that he realized only after 10 seconds that it was a computer-generated image, not footage from reality) but also that the modders faithfully recreated many small details of Japanese cities.
For now, it is not known when the new version of Project Japan will be released. The authors assure that they are close to finishing work on it, but some elements still need improvements. For now, you can download the previous version, which is 1.0.11.
- Project Japan ETS2 - download the mod (the authors have given us permission to host the mirror)
Project Japan in more detail
Project Japan introduces a new map to Euro Truck Simulator 2, recreating modern Japan. The modification impresses with its scale and quality of execution, in no way inferior to the official additions.
The first version of the project was released in 2017 and covered only the Hokuriku region. The author started with it, as it is located in the center of the map of Japan. Initially, the work went slowly, but it started gaining momentum in 2019 when a slew of other modders joined the team. What's more, they began to collaborate with fans involved in the production of Japanese modifications for Cities: Skylines, which allowed to significantly accelerate the creation of new visual elements.
As the team grew, the ambitions of the project increased. Initially, the plan was to recreate Japan at a scale of 1/19. However, this approach proved too simplistic and prevented faithful rendering of the country's road network. So the developers made the difficult, but much-needed decision to redo the entire map almost from scratch to be on a 1/9 scale. This variant found its way into the mod's stunning 1.0 version.
Today, in version 1.0.1.1, Project Japan is just plain incredible,. The map is huge and extremely detailed. Most elements, such as buildings, cars, and signs, are new. The gameplay has also been heavily redesigned to reflect Japanese traffic regulations (including left-hand traffic) and the economic realities there. Additional attractions include numerous easter eggs and finds (such as viewpoints or places to take photographs). Overall, the quality is frankly ridiculous and easily matches the official expansion packs for ETS2.
