Ever play Euro Truck Simulator 2 with a controller? After about 130 hours of gameplay, mostly using the keyboard and mouse, I started craving a more comfortable setup. My fingers would cramp, especially during those longer hauls. So, I thought, “Why not give a controller a try?” After a bit of experimenting, I finally dialed in the settings that felt just right.
Table of Contents
Key Xbox Controller Settings for ETS2
Here’s the setup I’ve settled on. These bindings make every task feel smoother and help reduce finger strain:
- RT (Right Trigger): Accelerate
- LT (Left Trigger): Brake and Reverse
- Start Button: Tap for parking brake; hold for engine toggle
- Back Button (Select): Tap for map; hold for the main menu
- B Button: Route advisor page toggle
- A Button: Action button for fuel stops and toll booths
- LB (Left Bumper): Tap for left indicator; hold for side mirrors
- RB (Right Bumper): Right indicator
- Y Button: Tap for light modes; hold for high beams
- LS (Left Stick Button): Horn
- X Button: Tap for wipers; hold for cruise control
- RS (Right Stick Button): Route advisor mode change
- D-Pad Down: Interior camera
- D-Pad Up: Chasing camera
- D-Pad Left: Trailer attach/detach
- D-Pad Right: Satnav zoom or navigation page
These bindings make tasks like adjusting lights, checking mirrors, and setting cruise control a breeze.
Adapting to Controller: My Experience
Switching from keyboard and mouse to a controller can feel awkward at first. For example, ETS2 doesn’t label buttons as “A” or “B” in settings; instead, they’re listed as “Joy Button 0” and “Joy Button 1.” I had to jot down these mappings on my phone to keep track. But once you’ve set it up, it’s worth it.
Acceleration and Braking
The right trigger (RT) controls acceleration, while the left trigger (LT) handles both braking and reversing. Having these on triggers gives a natural feel when you’re adjusting speed.
Engine and Parking Brake
The Start button does double duty: press it to engage the parking brake or hold it to turn the engine on or off. This setup makes it easy to handle stops and starts without hunting for keys.
A quick press of the Back button (or Select button) brings up the world map, and holding it opens the main game menu. For long-haul trips, this access lets you keep track of routes, jobs, and overall progress.
Route Advisor
The B button cycles through the route advisor pages, allowing you to check job details, vehicle condition, and more without cluttering the screen. The RS button toggles between different modes within the advisor, so you can decide what’s visible on the HUD.
Key Driving Functions and Comfort
These are some essential functions that make long drives more comfortable and realistic:
- Indicators and Mirrors: I set LB and RB as left and right indicators. Holding LB also displays side mirrors, useful for lane changes.
- Lights: The Y button controls light modes. Tap it to adjust headlights, and hold it for high beams. I appreciate this setup since driving at night feels immersive with controlled lighting.
- Cruise Control: Holding X activates cruise control. Pressing LT deactivates it, making it easy to manage speed, especially on highways.
- D-Pad for Camera Views: D-Pad Down switches to the interior camera, while D-Pad Up enables the chasing camera—ideal for precise trailer parking.
- Navigation Zoom Options: D-Pad Right zooms the satnav, useful when navigating detailed routes or tighter roads. This feature is great for enhancing HUD clarity or focusing on the truck’s in-cabin satnav.
Setting up the controller can be tedious initially. But once configured, it makes driving in ETS2 feel smoother and more intuitive.