Does The Lack Of Layers Make You Actively Not Want To Play During The 5 Day Early Access Period?

For me, I shall be waiting for the full release to experience the new routes in all of their full fat glory.

The 5 days early access period will be used to smash out all of the training modules, familiarise myself with the UI, configure the HUD, and trying not to vomit from all of the yellow...

 

Personally I wish they’d do away with it. If the games ready to release 5 days earlier, release it 5 days earlier (moot point though since even on the standard release date it’ll be about 2 months too soon).

The early access just taints the routes due to not having layers & honestly it’s one of these marketing gimmicks that doesn’t actually give you anything & they can use to upsell, I generally hate it in any game.

I’ve always found it odd that DTG sell you their more expensive bundles with a caveat that you’ll be getting a worse first time experience than standard release.

 

I'll use the 5 days to get familiar with the stopping patterns, gawk a bit and grab some collectables.. maybe a bit of on foot exploring - pre ordering never really made sense to me on digital products, as if they're going to run out of stock on launch day or something - I think in all honesty though for the Riviera at least there isn't going to be a great deal missing in those 5 days and if anything I'll be looking at the TSW5 install and the GWE and longing for the GWE:R

 

Only going to use it since I got the deluxe anyways so might as well use it, only got deluxe because it’s cheaper than buying the stuff I want individually

 

Yes, although with this game it feels like I'm constantly waiting for something before I play a route. Haven't played Fife for months and months as waiting for 158 update. Haven't played GWE in over a year, since the remaster was announced etc.
Can't play Bakerloo as waiting for the 1972 stock lights to be fixed.
Layers is just one more reason not to play certain routes.

I will enjoy the game in the early access but all I'll be doing is a run up and down each route, then go back to TSW5 routes till layers are back for the new ones.

 

I think it's possible to download everything on Steam during those 5 days of EA, so presumably all layers would be available, effectively making it " early release " rather than EA.

 

I’ll be exploring the stations I know so well on the Exeter to Paignton/Plymouth lines. I hope we can go onto the beach at Dawlish. That would be awesome.

 

I'm not that bothered about layers for early access. I'll take it for the discount wait to see if Riviera Line is in a fit state and if it is I'll start enjoying it. If not I'll refund and wait for a sale.

I'm excited for a Devon route so hoping for the first option.

 

It doesn't bother me one way or the other, the only route where it might be an issue is Dresden to Leipzig. South Devon we will have the Cucumber, Voyager and 150 and for the US route the EMU and loco hauled DLC both instances should give sufficient flavour of the route.

 

The 5-day early access really is just delayed access for people who didn't cough up enough money.

 

Am I misremembering or was all the content available during early access for TSW5? I know it wasn't for 4 and 3 but I swear I remember that changing last time.

 

You're misremembering. Maybe it has something to do with PlayStation pre-install?

As for the Early Access, while layers may be a sticking point for us, the new players who have no layers anyway won't really have that problem, and DTG have said that the main reason for the yearly release is to bring in new players.

 

Just had a quick look back in time, we're both somewhat right. Steam players could install older content from early access but not consoles, but what everyone also got was all the old content available on the actual launch day as opposed to it being staggered across the following few weeks.

 

As a Steam player, I had no idea we were so privileged at the time!

I misremembered!

 

All content is available during early access on Steam at least, same as it was for TSW5. It takes a day and a half for me to download my complete collection though as I own every DLC.

What I’ll likely be doing is downloading the game and new core routes, then play the game as the rest of my DLC downloads. I’d rather play without layers for a little bit than lose a day and a half of early access

 

I've been away from TSW for a year. I've played the TSW5 standard routes with GamePass, but have not purchased a single route since.
I'm willing to get back into it, so I signed up for the Special edition, as it comes with some TSW5 routes that I haven't played yet: Spoorlijn Zwolle - Groningen, Cardiff City Network, Pfalzische Ludwigsbahn: Mannheim - Kaiserslautern. Plus Nahwerker Dresden, this must be the third time I "bought" this route.
Are there any other TSW5 routes worth paying for? I don't want to scour the forums for the feedback threads, if someone can summarize 2025 quickly for me. Thanks!
Just yay or nay for each of these, please:

• WCML: Preston - Carlisle
• Mittenwaldbahn: Innsbruck - Garmisch-Partenkirchen
• London Overground Mildmay Line: Stratford - Willesden Jct
• Frankfurt S-Bahn: S1, S8 & S9
• Manchester Airport Commuter: Manchester - Alderley Edge

 

All great routes but if you on console frankfurt s bahn has very reduced timetable.

 

no, because I'm on steam and afaik steam players will receive compatible content dlcs on 25th

note: this doesn't apply to steam players that had pre-ordered standard edition as it doesn't have early access

 

Tbf I think that in my opinion it's a bit too much of a risk pre-ordering TSW6 especially after WCMLS last year. If anything I'm glad the early access beta testing is there so we can can read how the content goes down before release and what the feedback is like. As I've been saying though I hope it is a smooth release and DTG do return to form.

However I would prefer routes with layers on tbh. Otherwise it just doesn't feel the same to me!

 

You're right of course and I'm not gonna fall for that gimmick this year.

On the other hand I'll enjoy reading reviews from those " beta testers " who do go for EA. My purchasing choice depends on what they find.

 

May as well do the scenarios and they only feature stock that comes with the route

 

WCML Preston - Carlisle is the must have out of that list, easily the best UK route in TSW yet. About 100 miles of overall track mileage, proper traction and just an overall well-made route. JT really excelled themselves with it.

 

Would recommend Mittenwaldbahn, a great route with very high replayability, same goes with Frankfurt S Bahn, however would only recommend it of you had a PC with the full timetable. Any else and I cannot comment.

 

Thanks for your information. I've placed these two routes on my XBox wish list.

 

I quite enjoy the early access period without layers as for 5 days the game actually loads quickly as opposed to taking 5 minutes to boot up.

 

And this is something that has been addressed so little, but which makes the other crash inducing game issues so much worse to deal with. If the game took less time to launch, they might be just that little bit less aggravating.

 

An interesting question and insight into how players see things all differently (which is great). I personally am looking forward to early access as a few days later after playing without the layers will make me pleasantly surprised when I have everything else downloaded and ready. I remember out of nowhere being very pleasantly surprised when I saw just a couple freight cars in places on Harlem Line a couple years ago. So even though I may have a quick disappointment, I believe (hope) those thoughts are quickly removed once the full routes are loaded and it will feel like a “second” happiness surprise when everything comes in!

 

The more I think about it the more the OP question is, well, a bit daft. If the lack of layers bothers the player that much then - other than the 10% discount - they would just wait for the regular release. If I've handed over my money, then might as well get stuck in!

 

I say that there is no such thing as a daft question, but I agree with the rest of your post.

 

As it is a Christmas/birthday gift from my mother, any little discount helps.

And as I have previously stated, I will be playing the training tutorials etc, so it is not 5 days wasted.

My other concern is that since the game doesn't launch until 16:00 on the 30th, I'll be lucky to have all of the back compat content downloaded in time to be able to play it before the 31st...