Thank you DTG for listening to the players. I, for one, am very pleasantly surprised. Well done to the team.
I hope this means we'll get updates instead of new games from now on. Not looking forward reinstalling my ever growing collection of DLC with every new game release.
VERY welcome move. I have been calling for this exact same thing for the last few TSW releases. Personally I've always thought the new TSWs provided value for money and not had an issue with buying them... but by releasing the core game for free they've completely removed the argument of "future routes behind the paywall", "charging for the same game again", etc and also DTG can stop worrying about continuing support for patching TSW2,3,4... if 5 is free to people that owned all of those there is no argument to keep supporting them and wasting resources. This is a great thing for TSW and DTG and the community. Say what you want about DTG but they do listen to feedback. This still will probably cause the issue of making us all spend tons of time re-downloading our old DLC (especially if they have delayed rollout like what usually seems to happen on Playstation store) but at least thats a one time issue.
Good news for those that don't want the routes. There shouldn't be any complaints this year. DTG have listened.
Best possible compromise: future routes and bugfixes/upgrades are NOT paywalled off, but the traditional three-route bundle is still an available option.
We will not. The reason is that this tactic works in attracting new players, as it makes the game more attractive (it is something new), and allows DTG to run a 'new game' marketing campaign (i.e. notice that the TSW 5 trailers are on the main Playstation and Xbox Youtube channels). It is the reason why what is now TS classic was renamed each year. With consoles, they cannot just rename the title with the same id. DTG is in the end a business needing revenue to pay its people. So, hate the game, not the player. The 'free starter pack' is a nice compromise, which allows continuity for existing player for free, while also giving DTG the benefits of a 'new game'. I'm very much content with this approach.
Considering the core game is now free, I wishfully hope that means there's no need to release any more new games. I realize that may just be wishfull thinking, but I hope they'll go to a yearly bundle release for the same base game like they've done with TSC.
Hi andy#3741 , The free starter pack is for everyone, there is no requirement to own older games in the series. The Train Sim World 5 FAQ has more information.
I just want to also add my thanks to DTG for this move - giving players more options as to which routes they buy rather than forcing them into purchases just to be able to add future DLC. If the new content is good enough people will buy the TSW5 routes willingly. I for one am very excited especially for the WCML south!
they listened this time! I did not like any of the new routes and I will be upgrading to TSW 5. I hope we get better routes as the year passes. Also the new BR193 looks fine but i'll be waiting for a newer DLC as I already own the BR193.
Very glad to see the starter pack, but I would like it extended to the life of TSW5 not just 30 days. Personally I'll be going for the deluxe to get the 390.
Well Done DTG. I didn’t expect that and it’s very welcome. Shame that I’ll have to install all my DLC again, but it’s a good compromise. Mixed feelings about the rest of the releases but happy I can wait and get routes I do want without having to pay for the core game.
We really wanted to make the upgrade process as easy as possible, so we did explore the idea of not redownloading content. However, we came to the conclusion that it was a necessary evil. If we had multiple games sharing the same DLC files, we would have to stop updating old add-ons. Updating a shared add-on for one game, could easily break something in an older game.
Is this a free update to tsw5 and just buy what dlc a customer wants?? Am confused what this mean. Cheers
It's a good call by DTG. Think I too will be going Deluxe to get the 390 and the Jolly Green Vectron. Would have liked to see the 390 included in the Standard Pack as part of the route bundle but that's my only real caveat on the reveals so far.
I can't see the post. In the official stream they said TSW 2 and TSW 3. They did not talk about TSW 1
Technically you still will have to 'buy' TSW 5, as it is a different game. But it will be free (if you don't want the DLCs packed with TSW 5). All content you currently have will be available also for TSW 5. But you need to download TSW 5, becasue it is technically a different game.
My question would be: What happens to the pc-editor? And how can the projects created so far be reused?
Hi stevenwalker1985 , You don't have to buy anything to upgrade to TSW 5. If you already have a collection of TSW add-on, you can get the Free Starter Pack, download the TSW 5 version of the add-ons you are entitled to and keep playing with the benefit of new features and the option to purchase new add-ons if you want to. However, it is important to note that the difference between the Free Starter Pack and the new content that was announced. If you want new content, you will need to purchase a paid bundle. There is more information in the Train Sim World 5 FAQ.
Further details on the PC Editor will be available closer to release. Rest assured, we have considered your concerns.
You can get TSW5 free (the most basic version) for the first 30 days since release without owning any previous version of the game.
i have tsw 2 3 and 4 ...if i do the free upgrade to tsw 5 can i still buy the metro link San Bernadino , already own Cajon Pass will i still get access to the BNSF freight runs included with san Bernadino. Metrolink ..or will i have to buy cajon again ..kinda confused
Yes. Everything compatible from previous TSW games that you own will be automatically ported to TSW5. For you info, there is a TSW5 US edition that comes only with San Bernardino. You can use any previous DLC you already have (like Cajon Pass) with it.
Yes, all new content will be available to purchase separately. You will find this question answered in the Train Sim World 5 FAQ.
As I have criticized (constructive) DTG in the past it's only fair to come on here and say "well done guys" you smashed it. Nobody can accuse you of blackmailing players to buy the new version anymore, this is a great feature allowing the free download of the core game 5. See it does pay to call out the things you don't like in this game because they do listen eventually. Let that be a little lesson to those who think "moaners" are a waste of time. In actual fact those people are improving the game for YOU.
I will rephrase.. Right now im only interested in the free tsw5 upgrade and only San Bernadino metrolink route for TSW5 and already own cajon pass but want access to the freight .
Am I reading the feature table correctly? If I have earlier TSW routes and opt for the starter pack, timetables and scenarios will be disabled for those routes. Therefore I would have to keep the older version of TSW to fully use my DLC?
Well done DTG. You've earned the praise today. I'm away for a few days but once I'm home I'll be putting my money where my mouth is and buying in. You've got a community here that defaults to enthusiasm and support. Great to see that in evidence today.
No, the left column is what you get if you only own the Free Starter Pack. Then going left to right features available with new routes, then compatible content.
To avoid confusion perhaps the Starter Pack might better be named the Core Update Pack? People may incorrectly assume there’ll be free content included.
A comparison of the content available with each bundle is available here: What Train Sim World 5 bundles will be available at launch?
Anyone can get the Starter Pack, not just people that wants to upgrade. A person that does not own any previous TSW content can get the Starter Pack for free and try the trains in the Training Center. So, calling it "Core Update Pack" would not represent what it is.
May we better understand why the starter pack will only be available for 30 days? I say this because I believe there are a significant number of users who may have drifted away, that would be attracted back to the game in the next few months if they knew they could upgrade their older version of TSW to the latest for free. This deadline does seem arbitrary, why not leave the offer open longer, or indeed for the life of TSW5?
1. Can I still buy the Euston-Milton Keynes route as well as this upgrade ? 2. Will I need to reinstall previous game routes to work with Tsw 5 ?
Yes You do not need to install previous route to run TSW5 routes, but you will need to install previous routes to use the previous routes. You cannot play GOBLIN without installing it, you can play WCML without GOBLIN, but the Class 710 won't appear on WCML without installing GOBLIN. I think I answered all the interpretations I took from Q2, let me know if I did not answer correctly.
Yes, you're reding it wrong. Since the "Starter Pack" means the core game with no routes, obviously it doesn't have any scenarios or timetables, because those are part of routes. However, you will also get (free) upgrades of all your existing routes and locos to TSW5, and of course all of those timetables and scenarios will come along.
Unfortunately we have to reinstall all our own DLCs to TSW5. A long and laborious job on my slow internet every year.
I'm guessing that if you just upgrade via the free starter pack to TSW5 core then that will be the quickest install possible as it's just a case of copying old routes and dlc across. So for those with slow internet that would be the easiest way, then add to it later.
..but humans still have thin wallets and that's going to be a high bill if you are on a metered connection.
