Building Nordic Horizons with Ivo

In today’s special blog post, we’re excited to take you behind the scenes of the upcoming Nordic Horizons DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2. We sat down with Ivo, our ETS Map Lead, to talk about the creative and technical process behind bringing the Nordic landscapes to life. From intricate road networks to iconic landmarks, Ivo shares how the team is crafting an immersive experience for players exploring the northern reaches of Europe.

Ivo plays a key role in shaping both the big picture and the fine details of the project. When asked what his work involves, he explained, "As one of the Map Leads on Nordic Horizons, I’m responsible for both large and small components of the project — its overall shape as well as the day-to-day progress."His current focus is on monitoring progress and offering feedback, though his involvement has evolved over time:"Before that, I worked on the foundational layout of the urban and road networks, and earlier still I was involved with the research team, cooperating on time estimates, asset lists, and similar tasks." Reflecting on his experiences during development, Ivo shared that he had the opportunity to see the real-life inspirations firsthand. When asked whether he had visited Norway, Sweden, or Finland, he replied, "Yes, I was actually part of the research trip during the early stages of the project’s development. It was a fantastic experience, and I’m very glad I had the opportunity to visit many of the locations we’re recreating." The team ensured they covered all countries included in the DLC and took note of the diverse landscapes — a crucial step in capturing the spirit of the region.

Describing the research process behind Nordic Horizons, Ivo emphasized its significance: "Research is a fundamental part of every project we do, and it starts well before any actual map creation begins." The team relied extensively on online resources to gather information about everything from road laws and industries to cultural and natural highlights, all of which, together with our internal rules, influenced the project’s scope and planning.

When asked what stands out most in terms of map design or architecture, Ivo highlighted the sheer scale of the region: "The vast distances, without a doubt. We’re covering an ambitiously large area, rich in stunning natural scenery but — apart from parts of the coast — very sparsely populated." He noted that these realities required difficult choices, saying, "To make our in-game world work, we had to make some compromises. In some places, a few towns had to be cut, while in others, we added smaller but important settlements at strategic points to maintain the economic flow. Without them, some areas might not offer any jobs to players due to the sheer distances. Such compromises are sometimes necessary due to the scale of our game world."

In response to what he’s most looking forward to seeing finished in the Nordic Horizons map, Ivo responded, "I’m lucky enough to be able to watch our talented Map Designers bring beautiful scenes to life, and although some of them still need a bit of polish, many of my personal 'wish list' locations have already come true, which is very satisfying. If I had to name one in particular, I’m especially happy that players will be able to drive all the way to Nordkapp — as far north as it’s possible to go in mainland Europe."

Looking back at his career, Ivo explained how his role has changed compared to past projects. In response