Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) has long been celebrated for its immersive driving experience, detailed European landscapes, and vibrant modding community. From custom trucks and trailers to realistic weather systems and expanded maps, mods have become an integral part of the ETS2 experience. However, this freedom comes at a cost. One of the most persistent and disruptive issues in ETS2 is mod conflict—when multiple mods interact in unintended ways, leading to crashes, corrupted saves, and gameplay instability. This article explores the mod conflict dilemma in depth, tracing its evolution, technical challenges, and the community’s ongoing efforts to manage it.

1. The Rise of Modding in ETS2

Modding has been central to ETS2’s longevity. Players have created thousands of mods that enhance realism, expand content, and personalize gameplay. The Steam Workshop made modding more accessible, allowing one-click installs and automatic updates.

However, as the number of available mods grew, so did the complexity of managing them. Mods began overlapping in functionality—multiple map expansions, truck packs, and UI tweaks often modified the same game files, leading to unpredictable behavior.

Key Mod Categories

• Map expansions (e.g., ProMods, RusMap)
• Truck and trailer packs
• Realistic weather and physics mods
• UI and HUD enhancements

2. Symptoms of Mod Conflict

Mod conflicts manifest in various ways, from minor glitches to game-breaking crashes. Players often report missing textures, invisible roads, or sudden game shutdowns. In severe cases, entire save files become corrupted.

The most common symptom is the game crashing during loading or job selection. Other issues include broken GPS routing, missing cargo options, and AI traffic behaving erratically. These problems often stem from mods modifying the same assets or scripts.

Common Signs

• Game crashes on startup or loading
• Missing or flickering textures
• Inaccessible cities or delivery points

3. Save File Corruption: The Hidden Cost

One of the most damaging consequences of mod conflict is save file corruption. When a mod is removed or updated improperly, the game may fail to load the save, or worse, reset progress entirely.

ETS2 stores mod data in the save file. If a mod is missing or altered, the game struggles to reconcile the changes, leading to errors. Players have lost garages, trucks, and driver progress due to corrupted saves.

Save Risks

• Removing mods mid-playthrough
• Updating mods without checking compatibility
• Using outdated or abandoned mods

4. Multiplayer Instability and Convoy Mode

ETS2’s Convoy mode allows players to drive together in multiplayer sessions. However, mod conflicts become even more problematic in this context. All players must have identical mod lists and versions.

Even minor discrepancies—such as different versions of a map mod—can cause desync, crashes, or inability to join sessions. This discourages casual multiplayer and limits the scope of Convoy gameplay.

Multiplayer Challenges

• Syncing mod versions across players
• Crashes during convoy loading
• Inconsistent traffic and cargo behavior

5. Debugging Mod Conflicts

Identifying which mod is causing a conflict can be daunting. ETS2’s error logs are cryptic, and mod names aren’t always clearly listed. Players must sift through game.log.txt to find clues.

Manual debugging involves disabling mods one by one and testing the game. This trial-and-error approach is time-consuming but often necessary. Some community tools help parse logs, but they require technical knowledge.

Debugging Steps

• Check game.log.txt for ERROR or WARNING entries
• Disable mods incrementally
• Use clean profiles to isolate issues

6. Dependency Chains and Load Order

Many mods rely on shared frameworks or must be loaded in a specific order. A single missing dependency can break multiple mods. Load order is especially critical for map mods, which must be arranged correctly in the mod manager.

Players often overlook compatibility notes or fail to follow load order instructions. This leads to broken roads, missing cities, and navigation errors. Understanding mod dependencies is essential for stability.

Load Order Tips

• Follow mod author instructions carefully
• Use mod manager to arrange priority
• Group related mods together (e.g., map + fix + assets)

7. Abandoned Mods and Legacy Content

Some of the most popular mods are no longer maintained. These abandoned mods may still work but often cause issues after game updates. Players who continue using legacy content risk instability and save corruption.

The community sometimes forks abandoned mods, but without access to original files, fixes are limited. It’s crucial to check mod update dates and avoid outdated content unless absolutely necessary.

Warning Signs

• No updates for several months
• Broken thumbnails or missing descriptions
• Frequent crash reports in comments

8. Best Practices for Safe Modding

To avoid mod conflicts, players must adopt disciplined modding habits. This includes testing, organizing, and backing up regularly. Creating separate profiles for different mod setups is highly recommended.

Always read mod descriptions and compatibility notes. Avoid stacking mods that modify the same systems. Backup your save files before adding or removing mods.

Safe Modding Checklist

• Backup saves before installing new mods
• Use separate profiles for testing
• Avoid overlapping mods (e.g., multiple weather mods)

9. Community Solutions and Mod Packs

The ETS2 community has developed mod packs and curated lists to reduce conflict risk. These packs bundle compatible mods with proper load order and instructions. Trusted creators often maintain compatibility across updates.

Some players use mod managers or launchers to automate load order and detect conflicts. While not foolproof, these tools improve stability and reduce manual effort.

Recommended Resources

• ProMods compatibility guides
• Community mod packs (e.g., Realistic Pack)
• Mod manager tools with conflict detection

10. Developer Role and Future Fixes

SCS Software supports modding but faces challenges in ensuring compatibility. Game updates often break mods, and the lack of built-in conflict detection leaves players vulnerable.

Future improvements could include a mod sandbox mode, better error reporting, and official mod certification. Enhanced support for mod creators would also reduce abandoned content and improve overall stability.

Developer Suggestions

• Built-in mod conflict detector
• Improved error logs and UI feedback
• Official mod compatibility ratings

Conclusion

Modding is both a gift and a curse in Euro Truck Simulator 2. While it enriches the game with endless customization and realism, it also introduces instability, save corruption, and multiplayer limitations. The mod conflict dilemma is a persistent issue that requires careful management, community collaboration, and developer support. By adopting best practices, using trusted mod packs, and staying informed, players can enjoy a stable and immersive ETS2 experience without losing progress or patience.