Upcoming Release Tsw5 First Look - West Coast Main Line

Looks exciting! It’s a shame about it he missing branding, but I’m sure it won’t make a major difference.

 

Is the Blurred PIS on the Tube fixed on Console?

 

I don't think that relates much to the upcoming release of the WCML, does it?

 

Seems to be an uptake in TSW not getting/losing licenses. Pretty disappointing IMO.

 

great video

 

Ugh, unbranded future of TSW, here we come....

Still really, really don't understand how licensing isn't 100% nailed down before content is announced, or even before production begins, for that matter. Seems way too risky that an entire project ends up in the bin as a result, right?

Just since TSW4 we've had the LIRR2 issue, the GWE Remaster announced as coming with unbranded stock, SBB licensing issues, and now this. It certainly doesn't look promising.

 

Still looking forward to the route, though the stations and trains will look quite silly without the branding, though I get why it has to be like that

 

You have a very good point there. It might not be that big of a deal with WCML or GWE, but what happens if DTG decide to, say make another underground line, and TFL decides that they can't use trademarks? It would ruin the entire route. No roundels, no branded liveries, no signage, nothing. DTG really needs to make sure that licensing is up to date and sorted BEFORE they announce a route. What if someone pre-ordered the route FOR the branded 350s? That would be false advertising, wouldn't it?

 

I think people are missing the bit that says permission was *withdrawn*. Meaning they did had it but only up until recently. Something must've happened between when development started and now.

Oh well. PC modders, do your thing I guess.

 

Will you be able to get the permissions back? Find it odd WMT license should give WMR and LNR trademarks. Is BCC going to lose it's WMR branding?

 

Seems to be a little too recent as some station signs in the trailer still have LNWR signs.

 

I can already see it coming

class 350 LNWR branding fix speedrun any%

 

I have no experience with licensing, but when you mention, "We originally began development of the WCML route and locos with the understanding that we had permission to use the LNWR brand," I would have assumed that before production started, there must have been some form of contract in place.

How could such a contract (if it existed and wasn’t merely an informal "gentleman’s agreement") be suddenly withdrawn?

It seems like there is more to this situation than has been disclosed. My assumption is that work began before an official license was granted, based on discussions between DTG and LNWR that suggested one would be forthcoming.

Authentic licensing is important for me. I want the simulator to be as realistic as possible, which is part of why I’m disappointed in the GWR remaster.

 

What happened to DTG’s commitment of only using branded stuff? There was a time you wouldn’t do a route or loco without having the necessary permission to use the brand. It’s not a deal breaker, but just interested in the change of direction.

 

For the people who have missed it.... There is no official LNWR branding on the route. The Class350 has no branding and there is no signs on stations.

 

The only reason I can think of is that "incident" in July.

 

They refused the licence while the route was nearly finished so then she had nothing

 

I hope they can sort another deal with LNWR in the future but it's so sad they've pulled out last minute and obviously it's out of their control.

 

It would be interesting to hear what happened but they won’t say, it’s quite surprising WMT would withdraw licensing considering the access they got with Birmingham Cross City.

Also “our understanding we had permission” & “withdrawn permission” contradict each other.

In any case I was quite excited for TSW5 but considering the majority of stations & services are made up of LNWR branding, Its let me down quite a lot & I’m not entirely sure I want a majority unbranded WCML.

 

The fact the branding was removed should have been known to the community before pre-orders started.

 

No thats unlikely. That was not DTG his fault and has noting to with the brand it self.

 

What incident?

 

He means the leak that was revealed the route and train

 

It depends on what was agreed. If it was agreed that nothing would be disclosed before a certain date then that would give the licensor a reason to terminate their contract and therefore withdraw permission. It might not have been DTG themselves but they're the ones that were approving the beta testers, so in the end it would fall back on them.

 

Got to admit it is hugely disappointing that LNWR have pulled out of allowing the branding to be used. Sort of takes a realism element out of the game.

I personally think it's more a reflection on LNWR as a company than it is DTGs... It's quite a petty and disappointing thing of them to do right at the last moment. And secondly by allowing their licensing it would allow positive media interaction with the public for them.

I remember LNER & SouthEastern both using the licencing agreement to their own advantage and using TSW in their own advertisements for posters at stations and videos YouTube, which were well received with a positive reaction from the public and players.

Is the predecessor London Midland branding available from the DfT?

 

Agreed, but given that preorders can be cancelled (At least on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation because I’ve done it on all of those) it’s not too big a deal.

Just do it quickly on XBOX as I think you can only cancel up to 10 days before release.

 

Yeah, it's just sad that console players will be excluded from being able to use that.

 

Hope the signage gets some sort of placeholder design instead of this white-green thing with absolutely nothing on left... or just shift the text to the center.

 

consoles are an unfortunate mistake.

 

I second this, I’m not too fussed about losing the branding just as long as it still looks aesthetically pleasing!

 

But only for 12,99

 

Hardly, given they represent the majority of players and likely bring in the most revenue for DTG.

 

I hope they manage to sort a new deal this is so annoying I'll still play it and buy it but it's just a bit odd they've pulled out last minute probably due to people leaking or something wasn't up to standard or maybe it was a financial issue who knows but I hope dovetail could shine more light into this issue

 

TSW want be Dead without us Console Players.

 

I think I know why it was the retracted. Isn't LNWR's franchise running out in September? In saying that though, if LNWR is brought under Government control, then wouldn't it be easier to obtain the licence again

 

I have a feeling when they went for the license WMT trains must of granted them only the WMR franchise so LNR wasn't included? They will probably have discussions over the next few weeks and hopefully come to some agreement.

 

One can only hope...

 

september 2026

 

I checked. It is this year. Unless Labour decide to keep LNWR going until 2026

 

Nowt you can do about the branding permissions being withdrawn. It’s LNWR’s loss of lack of advertising. Much better an unbranded train than withdrawing it altogether.

It’s looking good so far from the screenshots in the clip. I Iook forward to watching the live stream later.

 

It certainly gives more for me to consider. I can accept the lack of branding with the GWE remaster as the full licensed timetable will still be there and they are just extra layers which can be isolated. Having the 'flagship' TSW5 route with a key piece of rolling stock being unbranded doesn't sit well with me. I were already hesitant about buying this route, and this doesn't help its case.

 

Ooh, that's unsettling! I'm not sure how I feel about this. Unbranded stuff doesn't tend to sit well with me.

I am glad that they're being upfront about it ahead of the stream, though. It is certainly better than Rivet's promise of getting Island Line branding to the class 484. I am sure they are just as disappointed as I am. Hopefully the rest of the route redeems it!

 

I just hope the stream makes up for this. Bit of a shame though as I live on the route

 

Why? You can cancel pre orders if you don’t want it.

 

I don’t wanna see unbranded Trains or liverys in the Game, because its a Deal Breaker for a Simulation or a Racing Game like Forza or Gran Turismo
It’s Kill the Realism because it’s Not GTA who live from unbranded things

 

My commiserations on the last minute licence withdrawal.
Did they also want the product withdrawn, I wonder. That must've been hellish if they did.
Since the risk is real, use it as an opportunity to move away from branded colour schemes which are too corporatist and lacking any style.
The DTG graphics designers will be able to create far nicer schemes if they're released from these constraints.
Personally I dislike most liveries including LNWR.

 

well a portion of the tube is included in a core route so i thnk it would

 

Pretty encouraging. The 350 sounds good although we already knew it would because the 380 sounds fine.

I'm optimistic about the 390 sounds too, mainly because I can actually hear something unlike the Azuma.

It's a pity about the LNWR branding, although I'm not losing sleep over it. I'm of the opinion that as long as the livery itself is accurate it's not the end of the world if it's unbranded. Where unbranded content starts to become a problem is when they approach it like the 484 on IOW, where they invented a fictional livery that looked dreadful.