A lot of people want a Microsoft Truck Simulator based on Bing Maps, but it's not the best idea

With the popularity of Microsoft Flight Simulator and its recent updates (which are quite expensive, but for a good reason), many people have been wondering why Microsoft doesn’t leverage Bing Maps to create a Microsoft Truck Simulator.

Some agree this Microsoft Truck Simulator would dominate the truck sim market, and would look better than the ones currently on the market: American Truck Simulator, and Euro Truck Simulator.

Why doesn't Microsoft leverage Bing Maps into a truck simulator, like Microsoft Flight Simulator?
byu/Bronze_Bomber intrucksim

While it might seem like a good idea, the Microsoft Truck Simulator would not be as detailed on the ground as the Microsoft Flight Simulator makes it look from above.

If you’re flying from above, the terrain below looks clear with fine textures and details, but as soon you get closer to the ground, those details become pixelated.

Some people agree with it and suggest becoming a truck driver and actually experience that realism for themselves:

You ever gone down to the ground level and peeked around in MSFS? it’s pretty rough. For flying overhead it looks fine, but getting the surface to be detailed enough at a country size scale for a game centered around driving is probably a decade off or more.

If you crave the realism you might as well get a CDL and hit the road for real lmao

Others agree it’s not viable at all:

Exactly. Plus, a 1:1 scale map would be a major turnoff for many casual players (which is how ATS and ETS2 get their money mainly), and would only appeal to the most hardcore players, not to mention how much time it’d take to do so. It just ain’t all that viable.

However, with the AI advancements, a Microsoft Truck Simulator might actually manage to emulate the real world through procedural generation, but it might take some years for the graphic quality to get there:

Flight Simulator has the advantage of not needing to interact with 99% of the map. Microsoft can just model the airports and use Bing maps for everything else. A truck sim would need to model boundaries for every road and intersection. One day this may be possible with AI or procedural generation, but the tech and map quality isn’t there yet.

Then you’d also have to consider other factors: budget, viability, and a way to keep gamers entertained—maybe achievements or certain certificates that would help them get a driver’s license specialized in truck driving easier.

However, a Microsoft Truck Simulator is actually a good idea, and the Redmond-based tech giant should think about down the road. It would be a perfect opportinity to place Bing Maps on the map (excuse the pun), and make it a worth competitor to Google Maps, or Apple Maps.

Would you play it? What’s your take on this?