Compatible Addons

" And there is no guarantee that it will be accessible in games we have yet to announce. "

 

With all the crashes, performance and layering issues of TSW5, I switched back a couple of times to a previous version of the game. DLC's from previous versions of the game but bought for TSW5, are also working fine on my owned TSW4 and TSW2 version of the game. So now with TSW6, this option isn't there anymore, which means you can better buy a older version of the DLC instead of the TSW6 one, because the older version can be used on all versions of the game. Only reason to buy the TSW6 version is a sale.

This all is really weird, why should they drop this backwards compatibility when is was in every previous version of the game? Together with the Epic debacle, this won't gain any trust. They also still didn't fix the performance issues in TSW5 and those issues will never been fixed in TSW5, as the release of a new game is more important then fixing the current game.

 

At this point there is no sign that the versions of DLC for past TSW games will be delisted. All of them are available for sale now anyway.

 

That was not my point. If I buy today the TSW5 Ruhr Sieg Nord route, I can use it on every version of the game. If I buy the TSW6 version I can only use it on TSW6. It's just I weird change, and sales are, as far as I know, always for the current versions.

But you actually do have a point, are they planning to delist the DLC for the old versions of the game and is this the 1st step?

 

On Steam at least there are normally sales on all the versions of the dlc, eg (picking a semi-random dlc from tsw2):
https://isthereanydeal.com/game/tra...ennine-manchester-leeds-route-add-on/history/
Of course there is no guarantee this will continue - it has sometimes been advantageous to buy an older version in a sale due to it being part of a 'complete your collection' bundle that doesn't exist for newer version.

 

On Xbox I've not seen sales for previous versions, but there aren't that much sales on Xbox anyway.

 

My point was that they are seemingly not planning to delist the earlier versions at the moment.

 

Maybe this is the start of delisting the older versions. If the Epic store issues are due to the amount of DLC, maybe they're going to "fix it" this way.

 

Very unlikely. I don't know what they're going to do with the Epic Games Store, but on other platforms they have never* delisted the DLC for a TSW game, even if the TSW game itself was delisted. TSW1-5 are all active on Steam and I assume other platforms, and there is no real reason for them to delist them at this point in time.

*I believe TSW1 DLC was delisted at some point but was relisted a little while ago.

 

I've generally just stuck to buying the older games' versions of anything I want for TSW, because it's often been cheaper to do so.

 

Wow there are so many different conversations ping-ponging around all at once here, someone who hasn't been through a few versions of TSW will have NO clue what is actually being discussed. There's like 4 conversations happening at once about four different concepts of "what if?"

Conversation 1- "Will we keep any content we buy now in the future?"
I can see why DTG can't be exact on this one. The FEAR people have is that if you buy TSW 7, all your TSW 6 stuff goes POOF and you'll be forced to "repurchase" it all. I don't think that's what DTG means when they say they "can't guarantee."

Conversation 2- "Will our older DLC up updated to work with the new game version?" (if you own TSW 5 DLC you get the same matching TSW 6 for free)
I think what DTG mean is that if something is no longer available (like Peninsula) then when they "recreate" it in TSW 7, the older stuff remains but can ONLY be used on the last program to use it.
You don't "lose it" but it won't work because it would have to be updated for all the cool bells and whistles from the latest TSW... for no profit. So for example if I want Peninsula I have to keep TSW 4 or TSW 5 installed so I can keep playing it. It will stay essentially forever there (well... as long as Steam doesn't go bankrupt) but it'll be "as is" like a museum piece. Peninsula won't get improved suspension or conductor mode or train announcements or super duper future lighting, etc.
Which... is fine I think. It kinda sucks if you have limited space, but we don't expect Ford to stock Model T car parts from 1920. We don't expect them to upgrade Model T's to "current standard" either. If you want an old Model T from 1920... and you can't sell a modern Model T because it won't need modern highway standards. Why would this be any different?
I have a bunch of old video games on my older computer that are fun sometimes, but I don't expect them to be ever sold or updated by those companies that made them. It'd be unrealistic to expect that.

Which leads to
Conversation 3- "Is all content back-compatible?" A tiny tiny tiny amount of people want to play older stuff like TSW 2 because maybe there's a DLC on it they liked (NEC or Peninsula) or they "liked how they used to do the lighting" but... I agree with DTG on this. WHY?
If you are already choosing to boot up an "old game" why would you want the "old game" to have all the "new stuff?" That's the literal reason it's "old" and not updated.
For example, if you want the old NEC DLC but be able to be a conductor or have train announcements or new lighting.... well no you'll be playing NEC from TSW 2 as it was when it came out. That's what having TSW 2 means. Otherwise they'd have to program every new DLC to work with EVERY version of TSW ever. Can you imagine when it's TSW 20 and you have to program 20 version of a DLC to get them ALL to work? for ZERO profit? From maybe 200 players total? That's.... ridiculous.

Maybe it's time for an IN DEPTH explanation from DTG about what is and isn't the "new policy." So it's on the record for new TSW players.

Which leads to
Conversation 4- "Will you be able to buy 'NEW' old content?" For example there used to be sales on "older" TSW content and if you bought that, you could then be "entitled" to the upgrade, so you could buy a TSW 4 DLC for half off and then immediately "change it" into the TSW 5 version and it would be LIKE having TSW 5 version on sale. I take it from what Chris said this wouldn't be the case.... but is that because it's being pulled entirely? Caltrain for example doesn't want theirs sold, so you won't be able to buy ANY Caltrain content because even the older stuff is pulled, not just future TSW DLC with Caltrain content?
This isn't just about getting a "sale" though. It's about missing content.
If you want for example the SW1000 which isn't in TSW 5 or 6.... would you still be able to get it, even if it's to play on TSW 4 and earlier?

Some of this is quite in depth, but some could be pretty simply fixed with an official statement like:
"IF IT IS STILL BEING SOLD, we will update previous version content to the new version so users can continue to enjoy it."
Then that covers licenses being pulled or products no longer being covered. Then if something is pulled from the shops over licensing or contract issues they're covered.

Again, I'm thinking it would save a lot of fear based on lack of knowledge assuming the worst case scenario.
I understand it's ridiculous to expect DTG to have to product 6 versions of all new content for older versions, and it's equally silly to keep updating content that can't even be legally sold anymore.
However, there are valid player concerns that they may "lose their collection" that could prevent those with collections AND those who someday WANT to buy collections from investing in TSW.

 

Perhaps you can enlighten the rest of us as to why they cannot be exact.

Perhaps you could tell the rest of us what DTG really means then.

Please be concise if that's not asking too much.

 

I said they can't say "all" DLC will 'always" be kept updated because some stuff gets discontinued.
As I said above.
Which you didn't read, or you wouldn't have asked.

The second part was also answered above.

 

It's always extremely limited on Xbox and it doesn't look like things will improve. Even if there's a DLC sale its a drop in the ocean in what's available in the 'sale'. Being a steam PC player is the best way to go. There are regular sales with DTGs products.

 

What about Peninsula Corridor?

 

Latest news I know is that sometime after release, all Caltrain content owned will be available in TSW6 as unbranded versions.

No news on if it'll ever come back in the stores though.

 

Probably not.

Chances are its only coming back unbranded specifically so those who have already purchased it can still use it in new TSWs.

 

Very disappointing to hear. It’s no where near as bad as the Epic situation, but it’s still add-on’s we’ve payed for and can’t use in a new TSW game with the extra features.

 

I have been playing TSW 1 content with a few dlc routes add ons. Happy to play it as versions 2 to 5 came and went by. I had no desire to get a newer version.....until now. I was all set to get TSW 6 but reading through this sub forum leaves me confused about the whole forward/ backwards compatibility thing and trying to second guess DTGs future business plan.
I currently have a meagre mainly UK route content that I enjoy playing. I'm thinking getting TSW 6 might jeapordise my content and just isn't worth the risk.

 

I've already replied to your other thread about this, but to be absolutely clear - there is no possible threat to your TSW2020 content by claiming the TSW6 free starter pack. Please stop fretting about this!

 

Agreed. There are a couple of items of TSW2020 content, e.g. NEC route, which aren't compatible with TSW6, but they weren't compatible with TSW5, TSW4 etc. either. Everything else should work with TSW6 (other than some Caltrain livery - if you own that DLC then the locos will appear unbranded). And the non-compatible route will still work with TSW2020 (I recently went back and played it!) - you won't lose anything by installing TSW6.

 

No future TSW game can in any way interact with your install of, or licensing of dlc for, a previous game. Full stop. End of discussion.