Why a Microsoft Truck Simulator Powered by Bing Maps Isn’t the Best Concept

With the rising popularity of Microsoft Flight Simulator and its recent high-cost updates (justifiable for various reasons), many enthusiasts have begun to ponder why Microsoft hasn’t utilized Bing Maps to create a potential Microsoft Truck Simulator.

Some believe that a Microsoft Truck Simulator would take the truck simulation market by storm, potentially outshining existing titles like American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator.

While the concept may appear appealing, a Microsoft Truck Simulator would not offer the same level of detail on the ground as Microsoft Flight Simulator does from the sky.

From a bird’s eye view, the terrain appears clear with rich textures and intricate details; however, once you descend closer to the ground, these details tend to become pixelated.

Some individuals advocate for experiencing the realism of truck driving firsthand:

Others counter that this idea lacks feasibility:

However, with advancements in AI, a future Microsoft Truck Simulator could potentially replicate real-world conditions using procedural generation, although achieving adequate graphic quality might still be several years away:

Furthermore, there are critical factors to consider: budget, feasibility, and maintaining player engagement—perhaps by incorporating achievements or certifications that could assist players in obtaining a specialized truck driving license more easily.

Nonetheless, a Microsoft Truck Simulator presents a promising concept that the tech giant based in Redmond should contemplate for the future. It would offer a fantastic opportunity to showcase Bing Maps prominently, positioning it as a viable competitor to Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Would you play such a game? What are your thoughts?

Flight Simulator enjoys the advantage of not needing to interact with 99% of the map. Microsoft can simply model the airports and utilize Bing Maps for everything else. A truck simulator, however, would require modeling boundaries for every road and intersection. This may one day become feasible with AI or procedural generation, but current technology and map quality are not up to the task yet.

Absolutely. Plus, a 1:1 scale map would likely deter many casual players (the primary revenue source for ATS and ETS2) and would primarily attract hardcore simulation fans—not to mention the extensive time required to achieve this. The concept simply lacks viability.

Have you ever gone down to ground level and looked around in MSFS? It’s quite rough. While it appears fine from above, achieving sufficient surface detail for a country-sized game focused on driving is probably still a decade away or longer.

If you seek out that realism, you might as well get a CDL and hit the road for real, lol.

Why doesn’t Microsoft leverage Bing Maps into a truck simulator, like Microsoft Flight Simulator? by u/Bronze_Bomber in trucksim

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