Every year, with every new version of TSW we have to re-download every stuff we previously owned if we want them in the new TSW game. And of course I think in the most cases it will be the case because otherwise on many routes we will not have the layers for more AI-trains and traffic. In the actual FAQs there was following stated: "Despite our best efforts we were unable to find a solution that would allow different games in the series to share add-ons across all platforms without severe consequences." So now I am interested, what are the consequences? What are the difficulties hereby? Are the newer TSW Versions in core so different compared to previous ones, that older routes must be updated in some way to work in the new TSW version? But on the other hand all old routes (except this old NEC-line) are at the end in some way compatible (because of the layer thing its good) and playable in the newer TSW versions - even if they not have the newer features like optimized track shadows, conductor mode or now the announcement stuff. We soon will have TSW6, I assume many people have meantime several routes. And the amount of routes will become greater and greater wich every year and TSW. So all the stuff becomes greater and greater in download size. And with that it needs more and more time to download. I assume this will also need enough server capacity. And over all this, in the Shops like Steam there are more and more Route Versions for at least every TSW-Version, at the end it becomes more and more confusing especially for new players, and more difficult for those who might be gaming on a 2-3year old version and wanted to update. So I think there is a more and more becoming need to find a solution for future TSW-Versions ! As already written; I dont know what problems there are that right now its not possible just only to update the core of the game but we definitively something need a proper solution, like for example the TSClassic thing. There was a yearlly update of the Core and that was it. No re-downloading of previous buyed DLC´s (except a update messed up the installation). At least it would already enough if it would be possible to simple copy paste the whole stuff on every´s one PC from TSW-old to TSW-new. So in this should be investigated with higher priority with every further TSW versions. There must be a kind of solution
I felt the exact same thing when reading this "Despite our best efforts we were unable to find a solution that would allow different games in the series to share add-ons across all platforms without severe consequences." They literally have the solution and constantly apply it for TSC, I doubt they change so much it cannot be updated, Satisfactory went from UE4 to UE5 in an update. The only reason we get new game each year is for stores to list it much higher due to it being new title in hopes of bringing new players in. And we will have to redownload everything over and over and over again due to anti-customer friendly marketing.
Hopefully microsoft will have fixed the SSD issue by the time it comes out. (As apparently transferring large quantities of data is bad until they fix it)
I posted this in another thread, I think its relevant here: If a solution cannot be found for downloading entire DLC collections annually possibly they need to look into how all the layering works. Maybe owners of DLC could opt to download only the locos from the DLC so they become available in future DLCs rather than entire routes. This will obviously save time and space in the install directories. I know the pre-TSW3 standalone DLC locos are still tied to routes but maybe work could be done to 'untie' them? Additionally untie the bundled route locos so we could then also have the option of buying all the locos in the game separately. DTG could then offer to add layered locos into a new DLC as an additional cost for those who want the additional layers without forking out for entire routes the way it is currently. I know DTG would stand to lose quite a bit of $ in this proposal but I think something like this would be a good long term solution as this issue is only getting worse every year.
Literally all they would have needed to do was update the base game like seriously they only do a yearly release because their marketing department doesn’t know how to advertise well without it
It's because dovetail have never launched something like the Microsoft store and clicked on the "what's new" page. If they had, they'd have seen that every few weeks there's yet another bundle for world of warships or whatever that tank game is with the latest plane or tank which don't require you to download the entire game over and over again. So instead, rather than releasing a bundle every time there's a new bit of dlc, they'd rather inconvenience their existing customer base by insisting we all re-download 100s of gigabytes just to make sure they have one new entry in the "what's new" page and also in the process p*** off all their epic customers by removing content they'd paid for.
Yeah I’m with you, it’s just all so tiresome. Also very confusing for casual players where the stores are plugged up with up to 5 versions of the same DLC for each version of TSW, making it confusing on which to download. I’ve been playing this game for like 5 years and even I have issues downloading the right version of a DLC sometimes. I’m in a TSW Facebook group and have had multiple private DM discussions with people trying to walk them through how to properly download and play content they’ve purchased. It’s very confusing compared to most games. Considering the game barely changes between each “new” release (even carrying over the same bugs for multiple new releases) the hoopla and hype over a “new game” is every year is excessive. Just do a big patch every September and release a 3 route bundle without needing me to delete and redownload 500gb of DLC.
The funny thing is, Microsoft are changing rules about bundles because there's a game (although I forget what it's called) that's become infamous for exploiting bundle releases to constantly be at the top of the page. I think DTG would probably be fine though, releasing a new set every 12 months though.
From a Pure Xbox article Mostly about bundles containing the same game just for pc/xbox one/series in bundles; but from the article; "There are a few other rules involved with this as well, such as ensuring that "visual and content differentiation [are] clear" and that "a single product with similar or minimally differentiated bundles" is not allowed to take up an "excessive number of slots in new releases, search results, or other Store channels"." So I think DTG would be fine, because the bundles will all obviously contain different stuff, and thr game has one store entry as it's Smart Delivery/Play Anywhere https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/...velopers-are-manipulating-the-microsoft-store
In the past there were "a reason" with physics, graphics etc. No there is not reason at all and they follow the model of call of duty to create fake hype and marketing sh**. The only good points are starter pack model and 3 dlc for 50€.
That good point was only good when it was still at £30 but they keep increasing it, the fact I can get helldivers 2 for near the same price is crazy
Inflation my friend, Inflation I fully understand. Then starter pack, and wait for autumn or winter sale or grey market
But that doesn’t explain why it shot up £14 over two years, most things are like 3 to 6 pounds more not £14
And on Playstation it's not only having to redownload every DLC every year. It's also the yearly returning hassle of old DLC's downloading several versions of the same thing, which you then have to cancel except the version you want. I'm expecting some DLC's to download up to 7 different version this time around: TSW3 - PS4 TSW4 - PS4 TSW4 - PS5 TSW5 - PS4 TSW5 - PS5 TSW6 - PS4 TSW6 - PS5
Marketing reasons aside, looking at it from a software development perspective, constantly updating the same core product and effectively making it infinitely backwards and forwards compatible is a nightmare. I don't know the actual reasons why you have to download the DLC for each new version but the two obvious ones are the way that installs are managed by the likes of Steam, Epic, Microsoft and Sony or the fact that DLC has dependencies on the core, so some kind of rebuild is required.
Don't? Do you really need ALL the DLC day one? you can only play one route at a time, download what you want to play at the time.
I have 383 free space on my PS5 memory, i will buy the deluxe, but i think they need to stop whit annual releases
Perhaps the Epic Games “revolt” will be a wake up call. Epic this year, Sony and Steam next year. They need to spend some of the considerable money they will make off TSW6 on a dedicated programmer to not only look at how to transfer content locally but also how to contain the behemoth file sizes some of these routes are coming in at.
I would of thought by now when you get the new game, it could scan to see if you have the older DLC and just move them into the new game folder. That would save a lot of time and bandwidth. As for the cost of TSW6, I think that you could add how a certain political party have made companies worse of with the last Budget,
I was going to use the phrase " 3 Ring Circus " . Well, maybe it's not quite that, but this annual " merry go round " certainly makes everyone a little nervous. I know I've had some issues in past years. You have to wonder if the people who manage this at DTG don't also find it nerve racking, especially the Mods who have to deal with the fallout on the forum like this Epic problem. You also have to question whether it's really necessary, even for marketing reasons. Maybe there's a better and less complicated way for DTG to upgrade and attract new players to the game, like have all the fanfare but just do a software update and release new dlc bundles. Keep it simple.
Definitely this. If you’re going to have an ongoing flow of DLC to support your game and that DLC itself is of a massive size then you really need to be looking at the long term impact that might have on the chosen method of distribution. So in addition to ensuring they have robust agreements in place with the various outlets, high time some deep optimisation was done with file sizes so a 60km route with two train sets does not occupy over 10Gb of space even when compressed.
I mean that would be nice in theory but with the way TSW works even if you want to play one DLC at a time, if you want all the available services and layers you need to install 5+ more. Especially if it’s anything German.
I'm considering to just keep playing TSW5. I don't plan on buying TSW6 core routes right away anyway, so I might as well just keep playing TSW5. I'll grab the free starter pack while its available, but might not install it. That's the only way I can think of to support my point of view. I don't want these yearly downloads, that are getting larger every year because I keep on expanding my collection.
I personally just plan on claiming the free starter pack, then buying Riviera Line and the Voyager, followed by downloading a couple of things (such as GWE) for layers. And then slowly redownload stuff over time as I decided I want to play them. Might even end up saving space on my Series S this way by never reinstalling stuff I never play
Free Starter Pack for me as well. No point buying what I'll never use, I'm only interested in the Riviera Line and the Voyager. Unfortunately, most DLC I have installed layers somewhere so I'll still have to reinstall pretty much everything - but good thing is I'm at work when TSW6 releases so can have everything install during the day when I'm asleep.
That turns out, as so often, not to be a Microsoft issue. Just read this! https://www.tweaktown.com/news/1073...-fault-after-4500-hours-of-testing/index.html
The other part that incentivizes new releases is that the 5% licensing fee for Unresl Engine exempts the first $1MM in revenue on a per-game basis, so they save up to $50K with each new version. By “severe consequences” I figure that means they’d have to QA test a DLC change across multiple TSW versions, and we already know they can’t handle even one release respectably. The alternative is a shared core (eg TSW5 and 6 are largely the same game with merely different menu UIs), but that’s work and they’d have to push out a new TSW5 release with each TSW6 release and probably muddy the waters on whether a new major release meets the qualifications to get another licensing fee exemption fir Unreal Engine.
