Yesterday, truck simulator studio SCS Software announced "Hauling Hope," an in-game event for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator that will deliver COVID-19 vaccines around the world The company announced "Hauling Hope," an in-game event for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator that will deliver COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. This was inspired by last year's "Truck At Home" event, which, according to SCS, helped drive ETS2 player numbers to record levels and led to donations of over €15,000 ($18,200) to various charitable organizations.

Unfortunately, the blog post about the event drew flak from fans who complained that the studio was bringing "politics" into the game, and in a press release sent after the blog post was published, SCS added a bizarre and poorly written explanation.

"We salute the real truckers who work tirelessly to face the daunting task of distributing vaccines around the world.

"We just wanted to express our appreciation and support for the real truckers who are facing a very difficult phase since the beginning of the pandemic.

This additional comment did not help to defuse the situation. Thegamer.com, for example, questioned why a studio based in a country where so many people are hesitant to vaccinate would not take a stronger position on vaccines. At the very least, SCS appeared to be pandering to the anti-vaccine crowd, which was fueling the anxiety.

Shortly thereafter, the studio sent out a second press release, clarifying that its initial statement on vaccines was "an error caused by language and translation barriers."

"The statement we tried to express in our last press release should have always been: whether you are for or against vaccines, truckers have to work hard. This statement can also be seen in the comments of the "Hauling Hope" blog post.

SCS Software producer Tomáš Duda stated it somewhat bluntly in his apology for the original statement:

The updated statement is an improvement, but it still does not take a clear stance against anti-vaccine sentiment: same The studio is a relatively small company based in the Czech Republic, so it is not equipped to deal with international uproar over what should be a simple, non-offensive announcement about the good things happening in the niche truck driving game.

In another tweet, Duda promised that all future SCS press releases would be reviewed by others in the company before being sent out, implying.

In a subsequent email, however, SCS drew a firmer line and apologized for the "spurious speculation" about its position on vaccines that the statement provoked.

"We want to make it clear that we are fully aware of the threat posed by COVID-19 and the impact and disruption the pandemic has caused worldwide. We firmly believe that trusting the science, adhering to the recommended COVID guidelines, and ensuring personal hygiene is the way forward," said a studio representative.

Ironically, he said, the studio's original intent was to promote the value of vaccines while avoiding controversy, which is why it chose "Hauling Hope" rather than vaccine-specific freight or imagery.

"We recognize the diversity of our player base, which numbers in the tens of thousands every day, and the potential for their personal and differing opinions to generate controversy on social media. Therefore, we told our players to focus on the purpose of the event and encouraged them to remain calm, given that participation in the event is completely voluntary," the studio said.

"However, the press release that followed the initial announcement of the event unfortunately paraphrased the original message in our blog. This message may have misled some by avoiding a clear stance on the COVID vaccine, as if we were denying our responsibility. Our position is such: we created this event to recognize the sacrifices made by truck drivers and logistics staff in these difficult times. We are resolute in our belief that vaccines offer a glimmer of hope for a return to normalcy, and we are proud to support sound policy and good research."

Now back to the event itself: Hauling Hope is an external subscription available to profiles connected to Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator's World of Trucks. To participate, you need at least a "fragile cargo" skill rank of 1, and to earn the World of Trucks achievement and the Hope Trucker Insignia, an item that can be displayed in the driver's cab, you must deliver seven loads completely undamaged. However, SCS stressed that the real purpose of the event was to have fun.

"This event is a chance to participate in delivering more than just cargo, it's a chance to bring hope, however virtually, to the world. 'Where it goes and how far it carries you is up to you. The important thing is that you enjoy this event, spread the word so others can share their hope, and stay safe and healthy."

The Carry Hope event will run through February 7.