Is The Game Dead?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by VirginTrainsIsGreat, Nov 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM.

  1. VirginTrainsIsGreat

    VirginTrainsIsGreat Active Member

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    Hello all,

    I realize there are probably a few other threads discussing this topic, but I feel like the game has gotten to n extremely low point. I have brought some evidence to back me up.

    First of all, two shots from Steam DB of the player count:

    upload_2025-11-9_21-29-48.png
    This photo shows the steady decline over three years, although barely noticable
    upload_2025-11-9_21-30-53.png
    Here, a much more noticeable decline, which is over 6 years.

    Next, I want to look at DLC release. I have noticed that in the passed 2 months, we got 1 DLC release a month, none of which being DTG. In the months before that, I saw a release of 2-3 DLCs. I haven't included screenshots, so you'll have to find it yourself.

    Finally, I want to talk about third party stuff. As I'm sure you know, AP have recently released their final HST pack (VP185). Usually, when a pack like this releases, there is almost no delay before the entire 'Most Recent Additions' of ATS' website to be filled with scenarios for the train. However, this time, there were barely any until around 2 days later. I'm not saying this a direct reason of why TSC may be dead, but just something I have noticed. As well as this, I have noticed a lot less third-party-payware addons released. Again, not saying this is a direct reason. I would guess this is because there really isn't a big enough market to asign a whole team to development for TSC anyomore.

    It is not all depressing, though. In the past two months, there has been an increase of players (presumbly for the release of the "new" games), as you can see here:
    upload_2025-11-10_18-47-47.png

    Thank you for reading,
    Anson
     
  2. Alyx

    Alyx New Member

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    yep, everyone is pretty much done with this game sadly, the forums are dead too.
    i personally im not moving on to train sim world untill they stop releasing a new game every year or so
     
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  3. kilt46

    kilt46 Well-Known Member

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    The game is morphing
    1) Not all players use Steam as the starting point
    2) All new stuff is 3rd Party
    There is a lot of product out there. Regarding new content this is the law of diminishing returns.
    It is what it is.
     
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  4. Thor-Ulf Ståhlberg

    Thor-Ulf Ståhlberg Active Member

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    I'm still continuing with TSC. Building two routes that I want to release for free sometime in the future.
     
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  5. janraapjes

    janraapjes Member

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    At the moment of writing this post TSC has 1052 player, TSW 6 has 1024 (Kind of funny), Trainz 2022 has 293. At this time TSC player count sits at page 7 of the 90 page long list with player counts. Thats almost 9000 games where TSC hangs around position 625. A lot of newer and fancier titles that have a lower player count.

    No its not dead.
     
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  6. VirginTrainsIsGreat

    VirginTrainsIsGreat Active Member

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    Interesting thoughts so far. Of course, I am only presenting evidence and not making a statement so I am not leaving the game. I am also working on a few projects for TSC to being to the game.
     
  7. IronBladder

    IronBladder Well-Known Member

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    It's not dead, but it is dying. DTG aren't developing. Several significant UK commercial developers have announced their intention to drop TSC development. Activity on this forum and others is declining.

    I expect some of us will continue using it for a decade further, but it's entering old age and the end is coming into sight.

    I expect no "new" version in 2026 and I predict DTG will officially drop it in 2027.
     
  8. IronBladder

    IronBladder Well-Known Member

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    The canary in the coal mine is AP. When they stop developing content, you'll know TSC is dead.
     
  9. Kim Olesen

    Kim Olesen Well-Known Member

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    You need to add RSSLO to that list.
     
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  10. halilnedim147

    halilnedim147 Member

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    Well for me, it's like a second win ive got with Train Simulator Classic 2025..
    I had a 7 or 8 year hiatus from the game as my laptop at the time packed up.

    But back into it in a massive way and love doing my own scenarios etc...

    Hope the game is not going to end anytime soon.

    Cheers
     
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  11. Doomotron

    Doomotron Well-Known Member

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    It's only truly dead when there's a worthy replacement. There isn't one, and the UE5 TSW sequel/update won't change that.

    As for the VP185 scenarios, the VP185 is the least versatile HST variant in the game with only a handful of routes that it can be used on. It will obviously have significantly less scenarios made for it compared to the Valenta and MTU packs.
     
  12. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead Well-Known Member

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    I think it's slowly declining, yes. More and more are probably using tsw. They can't resist the shiny shiny. It's a shame.

    For as long as I can remember, all anyone ever does is complain about the cost of everything, so hardly surprising.
     
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  13. lupin

    lupin Member

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    Yes TSC is dead to DTG for a long time now.
    But as long as the local 3rd party content creation scene is working on and releasing new content TSC is not dead for a lot of people.
     
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  14. CityRailVSet

    CityRailVSet Member

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    It's not dead' it's just the lack of content creators and neglection of DTG deciding to discontinue adding new content into TSC

    If DTG made everything easier including providing full tutorials on importing content, route building, importing locomotives, rolling stock, writing lua scripts and more. Perhaps TSC would see a better future

    All I need to know is either how to hack lua scripts so I can read them or where to find full examples of Steam, Diesel and Electric powered by overhead and 3rd rail including to send a message to the trailer carriage that is fitted with a pantograph. If I knew all this including physics, I would had released the Australian locomotives and rolling stock that I already have working in-game but I am using the physics from the developer examples

    DTG, please provide within the developer document examples LUA scripts and physics. I can't release the XPT, Adelaide Metro 3000/3100/4000 Classes and the QR ICE without those.. Or stop breaking your promises and these lies about licensing requirements and provide AUSTRALIAN content

    You people who think there's NO market for Australian content, that's all bull. We have been requesting Australian content since the game was titled Rail Simulator and still we have nothing Australian.. C'mon!!!

    EDIT: As for licensing! Like I said it's lies.. Have a look at the Racetrack route, where's the METRA logos?? You don't have to add the logos for ANYTHING Australian
     
  15. WhippleStripper

    WhippleStripper Well-Known Member

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    IRL the Midland Pullman variant seems to run on excursions just about everywhere north of London.
     
  16. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    Could release as freeware then presumably licensing not an issue…
     
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  17. Doomotron

    Doomotron Well-Known Member

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    Yes, but even then it's still limited. The majority of community scenarios in TS are replicas of real timetabled services, so there won't be as much to do with the Pullman set.
     
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  18. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    You could release a scenario for the Midland Pullman set for most main lines in the UK

    There is a trip next year to Kyle of Lochalsh & Inverness which starts from Swansea and runs via Cardiff, Hereford, Crewe & Carlisle to Scotland. I can think of 6 routes it would cover. The train makes a number of stops like a regular service.
    The Timetabled services will still be running and would be seen en route.

    ATS has a lot of Scenarios copying real life trips
    https://alanthomsonsim.com/ad-serach/?fwp_advanced_search_search=Midland Pullman

    https://midlandpullman.com/trips-tours/?filter_type=2026
     
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  19. trevkiwi

    trevkiwi Active Member

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    The game will always be available on Steam, even if no DLC is created for it.
     

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