The upcoming Euro Truck Simulator 2 DLC pack Heart of Russia is being put on indefinite hold due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Developer SCS Software says it will withhold the DLC until "the time comes for Ukraine to rebuild and heal".
Why is this Euro Truck Simulator 2 DLC being put on hold?
According to a blog post on the official SCS Software website, the upcoming Euro Truck Simulator 2 DLC, which would have expanded the game's map to add new Russian locations, is being shelved indefinitely. The devs say this decision was made because releasing the DLC could be construed as "being in support of or tolerance of the aggression" of Russia towards Ukraine, which isn't a position SCS Software endorses. As such, the DLC won't be released until the devs deem it appropriate.
In the blog post, SCS Software says that it tries "to be as apolitical as possible" when developing its games, so as to foster an environment of peace and enjoyment of a mutual hobby. However, SCS says it's rooting for the people of Ukraine to prevail in this conflict and that "injustice cannot and must not win". As such, the studio doesn't want to play any part in promoting or publicizing Russia during the war. SCS says that it will try and find a place for the Heart of Russia DLC "when the time comes for Ukraine to rebuild and heal". It sounds like the DLC isn't going to get a release until the conflict is over, whatever that might look like.
The gaming industry's response to the Russia-Ukraine war
SCS Software's decision to shelve its Euro Truck Simulator 2 DLC is just one of many decisions taken by industry bodies in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February. Companies such as Microsoft, CD Projekt, and tabletop giant Games Workshop, among many others, have taken the decision to halt services and sales in Russia and Belarus indefinitely as a result of the invasion. Economic sanctions are also hitting Russian developers like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous creator Owlcat Games and Loop Hero developer Four Quarters, so studios both within and without Russia are being affected by Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.
You can pick up Euro Truck Simulator 2 right now on Steam, where it'll set you back $19.99 or your regional equivalent. While you won't be able to experience the Heart of Russia DLC anytime soon, other packs, like 2019's The Road to the Black Sea, will bring you as close as you're going to get. If you want to show your in-game support for Ukraine, you can also grab the Euro Truck Simulator 2 Ukrainian Paint Jobs Pack. We'll bring you more on the Heart of Russia DLC situation as soon as we get it.
