Poll: Choose (3) States you would like to see next

[flight50]

Mississippi isn't one of my votes and never has been. North Dakota is really the true lock. That MUST follow South Dakota. Where the Louisiana Team and the Illinois Team goes is a toss up. But I definitely side with TN+KY for a few reasons:

Less gap impact with Memphis in before Mississippi
The two oddest shaped states are best as a combo
SCS can go North or South much easier with both in place. They are not forced in a particular direction.
Connects Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois tips
2nd to last states for I-40 and I-64 to reach the Atlantic
Center of US East to West wise. Only one state North of it to hit the GL and only one state South to hit the Gulf of Mexico
Start of Appalachia Country
Allows the map team try ATS's first bundle to see how they manage it. Texas was different, its was just huge. This is smaller than Texas but still 2 different states
Intro to new Interstates I-24 (if Illinois doesn't bring any), I-65, I-69, I-71, I-75, I-81

[Shiva]

One downside to TN+KY, before IN+OH and Mississippi release.
There would be only I-55 and I-40 at Memphis, I-155 and I-24, connecting to TN+KY. US-51, might not have enough room?
Altho, Shawneetown Steel Bridge, is something that might fit?

Most connections, would be a close release of TN+KY and an Indiana / IN+OH.

[flight50]

@Shiva I missed this months ago. Adding my 2 cents now lol.

TN+KY before IN+OH doesn't effect I-55 or I-40 whether TN+KY is first or second. I-55 stops in Chicago. I-40 goes East to West in Tennessee and doesn't run thru IN or OH. There are pros and cons for the next column of state no matter what though. Its probably one of the oddest shapes with the IN/OH/KY borders

Mississippi (AL) First Cons
a. There is a gap with I-55 to connect to Arkansas. Must take backroad detour off I-55 thru Arkansas to get back to I-55
b. must build South to North

TN+KY First Cons
a. the oddest shape possible
b. a temporary corridor until North or South of these two comes
c. I-55 Memphis to New Orleans comes later as a continuous route

IN+OH First Cons
a. I-65 needs something marked between Indianapolis and Louisville. Otherwise I-65 goes nowhere.
b. Can only build North to South
c. longer wait for Memphis

Mississippi (AL) First Pros
a. more I-20 and I-10
b. one state away from the Atlantic Ocean
c. if AL is included, one state away from Florida

TN+KY First Pros
a. Memphis connection
b. ability to build North or South at any time
c. I-40 extended
d. Appalachian region

IN+OH First Pros
a. fill in more great Lake states
b. I-70, I-80, I-90, I-94 extended
c. work can begin on Michigan at anytime
d. one state away from NY

[Xefjord]

Seems like British Columbia is going to be the next place announced. But do we think there will be an announcement for the next state after Louisiana before 2026?

[oldmanclippy]

December or January, maybe teased at the Xmas Stream, would follow the pattern set in recent years. I think if LA comes in Nov, then a Dec teaser/announcement is more likely, but really it's probably a toss-up between Dec and Jan either way. Probably most depends on when they are able to get screenshots that look decent.

[Bedavd]

I think the Louisiana teaser was released in late September and the announcement in mid October last year, so I think BC might be filling that roll and it isn't officially announced yet. My money is on them not teasing another new state until next year and keeping focus on Illinois, SD, and BC until we're closer to the first DLC of 2026, but we're in uncharted territory with Canada joining the fray so who knows.

[oldmanclippy]

Yeah LA team's next project could fly under the radar for a while if the focus shifts to BC first. Our normal patterns for guessing these things might go out the window with a big Canada DLC thrown in the mix.

[Bedavd]

Do we know for sure if the BC team is a new and distinct team, or if they ARE the LA team? I assumed new but I don't remember where I made that assumption.

[oldmanclippy]

We don't know yet, but if it was the LA team, it'd have to be made up of a lot more people than just the LA team. But for all we know it could be Davido leading it. I would hope they'd keep him in the south though since that's where his and his team's experience is suited now that they have OK/AR/LA under their belt. But maybe they still have mappers from the WY/MT days and they're itching to get back to that kind of mapping. We really have no clue.

[flight50]

ATS had a weak 2024 Xmas stream map wise imo. Hopefully 2025 makes up for it. If LA is releasing Nov, chances are enough of the team moved on 1-2 months ago to get content together for the 2025 Xmas stream or whenever. If SCS is all about the wishlist, the next map for the LA should get revealed on the Xmas stream so that we can wishlist it and go into 2026 with 3 w.i.p. maps. ATS has had 3 maps on the wishlist simultaneously since Texas split up into 2 teams. So something should replace LA with a US map sooner than later.

BC, if that is the Louisiana team, that is bad news imho.
1. Davido's team is steam rolling the South. They should stay there to be consistent with the energy they bringing. Why put them in a totally different area now. I'd like to see them see the South all the way thru to the Atlantic.
2. This really needs to be a new team.

If SCS is taking the LA team to do BC and the South is postponed, that definitely means everyone's worse fears....delaying the US. The whole point of BC now was to be a new team and keep the same US teams rolling towards the Atlantic. 3 teams is enough for the US imho. I find it hard to believe Pavel would remove one of the 3 map teams to go to BC and leave only 2 map teams just when ATS is on a roll to the East. That's a hard pill to swallow and I really don't think that's what happens. Easier to hire new mappers than to delay the US because of bandwidth. PRT+consoles....noooooo as much of NA needs to be developed to entice new audiences and delaying the map isn't good. People will be extremely agitated. BC has to be a new team. That is the only way to keep pushing East at the current pace ATS now has. If ETS2 can have all these map projects going, why can't ATS if it has a ton more area to map that is brand new.