The question of how much the Euro Truck Simulator 2 game weighs often worries both beginners planning a purchase and experienced truckers whose disk is full of mods. The initial answer may seem simple, but the actual number on your hard drive will differ significantly from what the developers stated at the time of release. This is due to constant support for the project, the release of new maps and improved graphics.
Currently basic version games without any add-ons take up significantly less space than the full package. However, if you plan to dive headfirst into the world of virtual trucking, you'll have to accept the fact that your free space will dwindle before your eyes. Modern graphics quality standards require voluminous textures and detailed models.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how the weight of the simulator changes from a clean installation to the all-in-one version, and we will also touch on technical aspects that affect performance. Understanding these nuances will help you properly plan a computer upgrade or purchase of a new drive.
Official data and minimum requirements
If you look at the project's page on Steam, you can see the minimum required amount of disk space. Developers from SCS Software indicate a figure of 25 GB. However, this value is conditional minimum, necessary only to run the basic version without taking into account temporary files and updates.
In reality, the installation process requires additional buffer space. The system must unpack the archives, write them to disk and create a cache. Therefore, even if you do not plan to install add-ons, it is recommended to have at least 35-40 GB of free space. This will ensure stable operation and the ability to download patches.
Minimum system requirements also play a role. The game is optimized to work on a wide range of hardware, but for comfortable play at high settings the weight of the files is not enough - the speed of data reading is important. Usage SSD drive instead of HDD, it will reduce the loading time of maps and reduce the likelihood of twitching when driving in large cities.
⚠️ Attention: Do not install the game on the system disk if it has a small capacity. Page files and log files can quickly fill up the remaining space, causing the entire operating system to slow down.
Impact of DLC on the overall size of the game
The main factor that drastically increases the weight of Euro Truck Simulator 2 is downloadable content (DLC). Each expansion adds new cities, roads, trucks and companies. There are currently several large mapping extensions, each of which can weigh from 5 to 10 GB or more.
The most extensive additions include "Going East!", "Scandinavia", "France", "Italy", "Iberia", "Baltics", "Black Sea", "Nordic Horizons" and "West Balkans". Also a significant volume is occupied by truck packages, such as Krone Trailer Pack or Feldbinder Trailer Pack, which add detailed trailer models with working physics.
If you purchase a "Bundle" that includes all available maps and tunings, the total weight of the game can easily exceed 100 GB. This turns a lightweight simulator into a heavy-duty project that requires a serious approach to organizing the file system.
- 🚛 Cartographic DLC: They add new regions, road textures and environments, significantly increasing the size of the data folder.
- 🎨 Tuning and loads: Packages with new cabin parts and cargo types require additional assets and high-resolution textures.
- 🌍 Engine updates: Global patches (e.g. version 1.50+) often overwrite base files, temporarily doubling the required space when updating.
How much do the most popular DLCs weigh?
The heaviest add-ons are Iberia and Italy, each of which can take up to 8-10 GB when expanded. France and Scandinavia are also heavyweights due to their highly detailed terrain.
Mods and user-generated content
One of the main reasons why the game folder swells to incredible sizes is modifications. The community creates thousands of additions, from simple skins to global map reworks. The weight of mods can vary from a couple of megabytes to several gigabytes for complex projects.
Popular map mods such as ProMods, RusMap or Middle East Addon, often weigh more than the official DLC. They add huge areas with high detail. Installing several of these mods at the same time can increase the total weight of the game to 150-200 GB.
It is also worth considering the “garbage” that accumulates over time. Old versions of mods left in the modifications folder, error logs and shader caches take up space but are not used. Regular folder cleaning documents/Euro Truck Simulator 2 helps free up valuable gigabytes.
☑️ Cleaning space in the game
Comparison of versions and editions
For clarity, let’s look at how the weight of the game differs depending on the configuration. The numbers may vary depending on the specific patch version, but the general proportions are the same. This will help you plan your hard drive purchase.
It's important to note that the full version with all DLC for 2026 takes up more than 120 GB disk space. This is comparable to modern AAA projects, despite the fact that visually the game looks simpler than open-world shooters or action games.
| Version type | Approximate weight | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | ~25-30 GB | Only Europe without eastern regions |
| With map DLC | ~60-70 GB | Includes major maps (Scandinavia, France, etc.) |
| Full version (All DLC) | ~100-120 GB+ | All maps, trucks and tuning |
| With mods (ProMods + RusMap) | ~150 GB+ | Depends on the number of installed modifications |
When purchasing an external SSD for gaming, pay attention to read speed. For Euro Truck Simulator 2, an SSD with a USB 3.1/3.2 or Thunderbolt interface would be optimal to avoid long loading times.
Technical aspects and performance
The weight of the game directly affects loading times. The more files on the disk, the longer indexing can take, especially on mechanical HDDs. When moving between regions or entering large cities like Paris or Milan, the system loads textures, and disk speed is critical here.
Disk fragmentation is another problem for heavy games. If files are scattered across sectors, response times increase. For HDD owners, it is recommended to periodically defragment them. For users SSD This procedure is unnecessary and even harmful to the drive’s resource.
It's also worth mentioning the shader cache. When you first start after updating drivers or a game, the system compiles shaders, creating temporary files. This may take a few minutes, but will greatly improve the smoothness of the picture later. Don't delete the folder shader_cache, if you have little space, it is better to clear it through the launcher settings.
⚠️ Attention: When using graphics mods (for example, Realistic Graphics Mod), the requirements for video memory and RAM increase, even if the weight of the files on the disk increases slightly.
Space optimization and library management
If you don't want to delete purchased add-ons, but you're running out of disk space, you can use Steam's features. The platform allows you to disable the loading of certain DLCs. In this case, the add-on files will not take up disk space until you decide to activate them again.
To do this, you need to right-click on the game in the library, select “Properties”, then the “DLC” tab and uncheck the cards that are currently unnecessary. This is an effective way to "shrink" the game down to its base size without losing rights to the content.
Another method is to transfer the game to another drive. Steam makes it easy to move installed applications between different drives through the Steam Library Folders menu. This is relevant for those who use a small SSD for the system and games, and an HDD for the archive.
Using the "Disable DLC" feature in Steam can temporarily free up tens of gigabytes, leaving access to purchase in the future.
In conclusion, weight in Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a flexible concept. For a casual player who travels a couple of routes once a month, the basic version is enough. For a fan who is building a virtual business with a fleet of vehicles and traveling throughout Eurasia, he will have to allocate a separate fast drive with a capacity of at least 200 GB for the game.
Is it possible to delete DLC files if I have purchased them permanently?
Yes, files can be deleted via Steam by unchecking the DLC menu. Your license is saved in your account, and you can download and install the add-on at any time without paying again.
Why does the game weigh more after the update, even though no content was added?
Developers often optimize code, change texture compression, or add background processes. In addition, Steam can save backup copies of old files in case of a version rollback, which temporarily increases the space taken up.
Does the weight of the game affect FPS (frames per second)?
File weight itself does not directly affect FPS. However, if the disk is full (more than 90% occupied), the writing and reading speed drops, which can cause freezes and twitches when loading objects. Also, heavy mods can overload video memory.
Where are saves stored and do they weigh a lot?
The saves are in the folder Documents/Euro Truck Simulator 2/profiles. They weigh a little (several megabytes), but their number can grow. One profile with a developed garage and many drivers can weigh 50-100 MB.