Euro Truck Simulator 2 1.38 Free Download
While the modding community often provides custom content, there is nothing quite as satisfying as an official, free content drop from SCS Software. The release of the 1.38 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 was a significant milestone in the game’s evolution, serving as a bridge between the base game and the technological advancements introduced in its American counterpart.
For players looking for the Euro Truck Simulator 2 1.38 Free Download, this update is more than just a patch—it is a graphical overhaul and a content expansion that revitalizes the driving experience.
If you want a standalone version of 1.38 that doesn't depend on Steam auto-updating, you can create a manual backup.
This allows you to keep your main Steam game updated to the latest version while preserving a clean 1.38 installation for specific modded profiles. Euro Truck Simulator 2 1.38 Free Download
Before update 1.38, ETS2 ran on an older rendering engine that was starting to show its age. The 1.38 update introduced a fully implemented DirectX 11 renderer. This wasn't just a technical footnote; it was a game-changer.
If you have purchased ETS2 on Steam (often on sale for $5), follow this exact procedure to downgrade to 1.38.
Step 1: Open your Steam Library. Step 2: Right-click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 and select Properties. Step 3: Navigate to the BETAS tab. Step 4: In the dropdown menu labeled "Beta Participation," scroll down to the list of "Previous Versions." Step 5: Select "temporary_1_38 - 1.38.x for incompatible mods." Step 6: Close the window. Steam will automatically re-download the game files to replace the current version with version 1.38. While the modding community often provides custom content,
Note: This process downloads roughly 5.2GB of data. Once completed, your game version will be permanently locked to 1.38 until you opt out of the beta.
Before 1.38, ETS2 was slowly transitioning from DirectX 9 to DirectX 11. Version 1.38 finalized that move, removing DX9 support entirely. This allowed for:
Curious if you should skip 1.38 and play the newest update? Here is a quick comparison: This allows you to keep your main Steam
| Feature | ETS2 1.38 (Modded) | ETS2 1.48+ (Vanilla) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Map Size | ~80+ Countries (with mods) | ~14 Countries | | Truck Selection | 100+ Modded Trucks | Official 10 Trucks | | Multiplayer | TruckersMP (Supports 1.38) | Official "Convoy" (Requires latest) | | Performance | High FPS on old GPUs | Demanding on all hardware |
As you can see, if you value content over convoy multiplayer, version 1.38 is objectively better.