Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Discussion Thread

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Is it true that you need PS+ to be able to do any races at all?
If so, how the actual **** can Sony allow this
I’m paying for this game already, how can you also force me to pay a subscription fee to be allowed to make any progress whatsoever in the game that I bought
At least The Crew Motorfest allows you to play the game you bought without having to pay a subscription fee on top of that
 
The timestamped link for TDU game director interview :


TLDW:

  • Patch G1 is current version
  • "Perfectly optimized for Consoles and PC" "Mission Accomplished for now"
  • From the feedback about quality of the game, several upgrades have been done.
Regarding number of players in a lobby:

  • HQs (Street, sharps, solar hotel)-16
  • Workshop - 8
  • Free roam - 8 people "around you" [players keeps changing according to player distance, ping, matchmaking condition (like fh5's semi broken 72 player sliding server system)]


On a different note, the collector's edition of the game are being delivered to those who have ordered it. Seems like the quality of the products are pretty poor, according to people who have received them.
These are limited to 2000 units and cost €250. They come with the following items:

  • The game Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Deluxe Edition on PC (or whatever platform you chose)
  • A frame with a miniature Porsche 918 SPYDER 1:36 -25 * 20 * 3cm
  • A numbered metallic Solar Club Platinum Member card (XXXX/2000) –86 * 54mm
  • The game map -80 * 60cm
  • A 16-page concept art guide -210 * 142mm
  • A Collector metal case
  • A luxury Solar Crown leather and metal keychain
  • A genuine Solar Crown ceramic casino token –Diameter: 43mm Thickness: 3.3mm
  • A pair of luxury Solar Crown cufflinks in a faux leather case. Button diameter: 15mm – Case size: 75 * 38 * 27mm
  • A Solar Crown cap with 3D embroidery -260 gr cotton
  • A Solar Crown collector box –40* 30 * 20cm
  • A Premium metal case
  • Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupe*
  • Audi R8 Spyder V10 RWS**
  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR*
  • Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG**
  • Maserati MC20**
  • Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE**
  • Complete skins for Board Committee Member, Baron of the Sharps, and Lord of the Streets for your avatar
  • Solar Crown, Streets, and Sharps sticker packs for car customization, applicable to all cars in your garage
  • A free VIP Solar Pass including access to premium seasonal rewards with 20 levels already unlocked.
*The car will automatically unlock in your garage upon reaching progression level 12.
**The car will automatically unlock in your garage upon reaching progression level 20.
 
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how can you also force me to pay a subscription fee to be allowed to make any progress whatsoever in the game that I bought

The same way as every other multiplayer-only console game that’s been released. This isn’t a new thing.
 
The same way as every other multiplayer-only console game that’s been released. This isn’t a new thing.
The Crew players disagree. Why would you even say it like is actually true?

Anyway the third Beta is exactly the same as the PC demo. But in a week we will get a totally different 'final' version. Now I'm not saying it's not possible but why using the same 'old' version again and again?
 
The Crew players disagree. Why would you even say it like is actually true?

Not sure how this is relevant to what I posted.

The original comment was about having to pay for PS Plus as well as the game price. As I said this isn’t new (though maybe uncommon for a driving game), it’s the same situation as any multiplayer-only game released on Playstation, like Helldivers 2 for example. I don’t agree with the policy but it’s not going away.

Don’t think the game should be a MMO either but that’s what the devs/publishers decided to make. If you don’t like it vote with your wallets and stay away.
 
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Not sure how this is relevant to what I posted.
Because the Crew is also an MMO but you can play it without subscription just fine on consoles. You still need it for PvP but if your sub expires you can still play it normally. Like 99.9% of it.

Right now TDUSC is the only racing/driving game that requires a sub just to drive around the map. And some are acting like is a perfectly reasonable/normal thing.

Ok, I agree if someone doesn't like it should look elsewhere. But I'm still say it, because it's wrong.
 
Ok, 2 different categories of games we're talking about.

Ones with both single player/career and multiplayer elements - Crew Motorfest, GT7, Forza Horizon, CoD, EA Sports FC, MLB The Show, etc.

Online multiplayer-only PvP/co-op games - this new TDU, Helldivers 2, Fallout 76, etc.

Yes, it seems an odd choice to make a racing game part of the second category (maybe they couldn't program competent AI driver bots so need real people to be the opponents), but it's not a new thing for games to be released like this requiring a multiplayer subscription and that was the point I was making.
 
To take with a huge grain of salt, I've seen someone on YouTube say that by creating a party on PS5 or if possible it's XBOX equivalent, you'd be able to force the game into only taking who's in the party in the racing.

You know darn right I'll see if I can create a Solo party to race with the AI. 🤣
 
Ok that's interesting, adding Ibiza in the first update in December, quite a big addition.
keep in mind
its Ibiza city only

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The first year updates looks promising and I like some more communication. At this point is really needed.
Also heard one guy claiming he played the latest Beta without PS+ so that is really interesting.
Will see. Still not pre-ordering but will definitely buy it. Casino coming June 25 is sus.
 
The first year updates looks promising and I like some more communication. At this point is really needed.
Also heard one guy claiming he played the latest Beta without PS+ so that is really interesting.
Will see. Still not pre-ordering but will definitely buy it. Casino coming June 25 is sus.
Not gonna pre-order but I'll buy when the game comes out. I wanna start the hard way with nothing in hand and work my way through the ranks.

Also, a guy called MotorGames confirmed to me, If you start directly in a solo party on PS5 or if possible a solo group on XBOX One Series consoles, you can skip matchmaking with players.
 
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Not gonna pre-order but I'll buy when the game comes out. I wanna start the hard way with nothing in hand and work my way through the ranks.

Also, a guy called MotorGames confirmed to me, If you start directly in a solo party on PS5 or if possible a solo group on XBOX One Series consoles, you can skip matchmaking with players.
MotorGames are reliable. This sounds like welcome news, a pity its only sounding like a workaround for now. Also, there was nothing about any non PVP racing in the roadmap today.
 
Honestly, it looks promising but the always online aspect is still an immediate turn-off. I'm also curious why Alain kept pointing to TDU 2 as having real estate, as if the first game didn't also have it.

I hope car-specific clusters are on their list because the generic HUD the game is using now makes it feel like every other open world racer available.
 
Some of the early footage looked incredibly bland. But the latest videos looks decent and future content looks interesting.

I don't need a game that's technically amazing or breaks the mold. I'd like to see a little more polish (hoping for some nice PS5 Pro optimisation) and a car list that goes beyond your typical supercars. Probably not a day 1 buy, but I may pick it up nearer Christmas if it's on sale.
 
Bringing out the development roadmap before the game has even launched feels kinda desperate to me. All it really does is make me wonder how much of that has already been made and is being put aside to draw people back in for a quick player count spike every few months (although if they already have an entire year's worth of FOMO passes and other time-limited content planned, it's kind of a given).
 
Sometimes I wish they would delay the game again, because some of the stuff from the roadmap (like the consideration of houses and an improved steering angle) shouldn't be stuff that needs teasing for a future update, but something that should come out as the final product from day 1 alone after all the tests they gave out before release.
 
You'd think this game would have been a slam dunk to make if they just followed the same formula. I'll play it if it's free and my buddies want something to drive around in. Otherwise, nah.
 
Did they already give any info on that Solar Pass?
Yes.
Here's the interview:


Solar Pass S1 and S2:

  • Solar pass s1 and s2 are free
  • 25 levels of progressions
  • Progress using races, daily challenges.
  • 30 hours to unlock everything
  • 1 car in each new solar pass
  • 20+ cosmetics (rims clothes)
  • Audi E-Tron for 1st season
Solar pass from S3:

  • S3 onwards, Similar to NFS Unbound speed Pass
  • 3 solar passes
  • Regular(free),Premium (paid) and VIP (VIP is premium + 20 levels unlocked)
  • Free and paid passes will be parallel rows of progressions
  • Can be purchased separately, but VIP included in Gold. Silver edition has the Premium Solar pass included. These are not confirmed to be for all future passes or just S3.
  • 50 levels
  • 1 car is paid. 1 car is available to all (for all players)
  • Car at the end of the solar pass is available for everyone
  • VIP gives you another car (that is at the middle of the solar pass) and extra cosmetics
Ibiza and Casino:

  • No wrecks on Ibiza.
  • Cars will be added to Ibiza's dealership (2 specific ones are saved, special editions mentioned)
  • HKI is for Street v Sharp and Ibiza for Clan Reputation
  • Season 2 (with Ibiza) unlocks 20 clan levels.
  • Casino will have progression.
  • Slot machines, Pokers
  • Multiple casino cars, cosmetics (including cosmetic parts for cars. BODYKITS)
Steering wheel animation:

  • 900 degree steering is under development. No date yet
Updates and Feature improvements:

  • Small updates between 3 month update cycles are only if there are big issues, for emergency patches. No content in between.
  • Houses in concept stages.
  • Don't want to create houses for "houses". Don't want player houses to be too similar to TDU2, want more retention.
  • Photo and Livery editor are being looked at suggestions are being handled by research intern. For now, focused on getting the game complete for launch.
  • HUD is big part of the game, and was decided to be designed to be as light as possible. Tachometers are also in concept stage. (it has licensing hurdles)
  • Clan wars: it will be a clan war (details kept as surprise)
  • Cameras are loved by some. some want improvements. Looking for solutions
  • Missions (delivery, coop driving) are being looked at.
  • Race creator not being worked on. It destroys the game economy and progression. But there is something adjacent to it being worked on.
  • No need to worry about race variety (180 at launch). Weekly LIVE event races that are exclusive to each week.
  • Ibiza will have more music (extra radio slot). More songs and radios will be added later on.
 
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Yes.
Here's the interview:


Solar Pass S1 and S2:

  • Solar pass s1 and s2 are free
  • 25 levels of progressions
  • Progress using races, daily challenges.
  • 30 hours to unlock everything
  • 1 car in each new solar pass
  • 20+ cosmetics (rims clothes)
  • Audi E-Tron for 1st season
Solar pass from S3:

  • S3 onwards, Similar to NFS Unbound speed Pass
  • 3 solar passes
  • Regular(free),Premium (paid) and VIP (VIP is premium + 20 levels unlocked)
  • Free and paid passes will be parallel rows of progressions
  • Can be purchased separately, but VIP included in Gold. Silver edition has the Premium Solar pass included. These are not confirmed to be for all future passes or just S3.
  • 50 levels
  • 1 car is paid. 1 car is available to all (for all players)
  • Car at the end of the solar pass is available for everyone
  • VIP gives you another car (that is at the middle of the solar pass) and extra cosmetics
Ibiza and Casino:

  • No wrecks on Ibiza.
  • Cars will be added to Ibiza's dealership (2 specific ones are saved, special editions mentioned)
  • HKI is for Street v Sharp and Ibiza for Clan Reputation
  • Season 2 (with Ibiza) unlocks 20 clan levels.
  • Casino will have progression.
  • Slot machines, Pokers
  • Multiple casino cars, cosmetics (including cosmetic parts for cars. BODYKITS)
Steering wheel animation:

  • 900 degree steering is under development. No date yet
Updates and Feature improvements:

  • Small updates between 3 month update cycles are only if there are big issues, for emergency patches. No content in between.
  • Houses in concept stages.
  • Don't want to create houses for "houses". Don't want player houses to be too similar to TDU2, want more retention.
  • Photo and Livery editor are being looked at suggestions are being handled by research intern. For now, focused on getting the game complete for launch.
  • HUD is big part of the game, and was decided to be designed to be as light as possible. Tachometers are also in concept stage. (it has licensing hurdles)
  • Clan wars: it will be a clan war (details kept as surprise)
  • Cameras are loved by some. some want improvements. Looking for solutions
  • Missions (delivery, coop driving) are being looked at.
  • Race creator not being worked on. It destroys the game economy and progression. But there is something adjacent to it being worked on.
  • No need to worry about race variety (180 at launch). Weekly LIVE event races that are exclusive to each week.
  • Ibiza will have more music (extra radio slot). More songs and radios will be added later on.

Thanks!
 
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