Dovetail Games Tsw February 2025 Roadmap Q&a Thread

First time in over 18 months I've not watched the roadmap. Also decided that Cardiff route will not be a day one purchase, as the recent issues on X Box, and further more, the admission that S series is having stuff removed post release on Shap has made me question further purchases.

It would be really good if DTG put a separate Q&A together to discuss the disaster the TSW5 release has been.

As I said on my other post, if I could roll back to TSW4 and loose the Map 2.0, conductor and route hopping features etc, I absolutely would in a heart beat.
Something in the 5 release has fundamentally broken the core game, in terms of stability, and after 6 months, it's quite clear that DTG have not been able to locate the route cause.
Sometimes, it is better to admit the issue, roll it back and advise that enjoyment is of a higher importance than shiney new things.

My weekly time on the game has dropped through the floor since January as the issues have detracted away from the escapism and immersion that is the reason I play the game. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I'd expect the above is why development and details on some of the upcoming routes and remasters seems to have slowed or been pushed. It's not fun getting kicked on every release which I think has been a lot more prevalent since 5 came to the market. Please listen to the customers......Function over Form!!

 

I suspect there is now too much TSW5 content in the game to roll things back to late stage TSW4, but it is frustrating when little or no information or admission is forthcoming. But we get fireside chats etc. about Thomas! I mean it has been suggested the new 2D map is responsible for driving down performance so at least tell us of that is the cause and what plans are in hand to fix it or give the option to use the old less detailed map.

 

What will the next route release be and when will we know a release date?

 

No official info, and no. My guess is Cardiff or London Overground Mildmay. I think that Cardiff will release before the NS route, but it has to be close to release, too. But that's just me speculating.

 

lt would be great to get a couple more routes released before the next roadmap in March.

 

My predictions:
North London Line - April 2025.
Cardiff City - June 2025.
Dutch Route - July 2025.
Tadami Line - December 2099...

Think anything else likely to be part of the late summer update and think it unlikely we will see the ATS route any time soon, referencing discussions elsewhere.

 

They can't release routes that aren't finished yet. Considering the month is basically half way over and no announcements, I wouldn't expect any route dlc to be released this month

 

Vern you left out the Class 104. What's your prediction for that release?

As I said elsewhere, some things have been on the roadmap since dinosaurs roamed the Earth

 

Yes they can, nothing stopped DTG releasing NYT and WCML South in a half baked state.

 

Well if we take the number 104 and add it too 1963 (the date PFR is set) that gives us a release date of 2067?

Hopefully that's enough time for them to finish the 104 and the wagons at least

 

2099 as well?

Seriously if it doesn’t emerge by the end of this year as I said in another thread, PFR will be gathering the DTG dust if it isn’t already and they won’t be going out of their way to push DLC for (by then) three year old content.

 

They have a business to run and a cashflow to keep up. There is no way they are going to wait this long to release these DLC. At least one should release in March. As for Tadami, this could be the best guess you made here

 

Cardiff, Mildmay and The Dutch probably all out by April.

 

And somewhere in between cargo line v3.

Especially rooting for the Dutch line as it's my home route. Given the progress shown, it should release before Cardiff.

 

I’m usually pretty good with my estimates, unless of course you have access to inside information .

I just don’t think Cardiff is that close, we know they are rebuilding the 150 from the Rivet version but the 153 all we’ve seen so far is the 3D modelling app greyscale screenshot. Not a finished model and certainly nothing in game. I will concede it might hit the stores in May rather than June, but personally can’t see it any earlier than that.

 

This was shared in the dedicated thread earlier in the month:

 

Aha! Does look nice.

 

Yeah, the 104 is becoming like the 313 saga, look how long it took that to release. It's a shame PFR hasn't been touched since release, it's a gorgeous route that really does deserve a 104, green peak and an extension to Derby or Manchester (preferably both, but will never happen).

I did download some good scenario's for it with the requirement of green diesels via CC but because there's no option to turn CC liveries off, just uninstall, I had green diesels appearing everywhere on NTP, BPO etc so had to uninstall.

I really want to get back to PFR,so heavily relying on the 104, I fear if we don't see it, or any major progress screenshots this year, then I will regard it is vaporware

 

Sadly no inside knowledge

Just profesional experience with finance and accounting. Cost of capital and shareholders expectations dictate a regular and tightly kept release schedule.

This is also an important factor in DLCs being released too early, despite known bugs. An early patch is better than a perfect release, as you have enjoyed the cashflows of day 1.

That is mainly why I am a bit more optimistic than you ;-)

 

Totally disalusioned with TSW5 now. Roadmap = no progress remember Monty Python's cheese shop sketch?

 

Will the 104 be released before the asteroid hits and wipes out the entire human race? Asking for a friend.

 

More chance of the UK rejoining the EU, than ever seeing the 104 in TSW!!

 

Its a pity about the 104, I like the look of PF but don't enjoy the steam loco driving, so was waiting to get the route with the DMU.

Perhaps DTG could just get the timetable if that has been done already and release it with a green 101 skin. Not necessarily accurate but worth a couple of £s and may get more sales for the route too.

 

It's been a week and still waiting patiently for the questions to be awnsered.

 

It does appear DTG have been incredibly quiet? Very odd. I wonder if the silence is to not pour fuel on the flames so to speak.

 

What's weird is that this roadmap has been out for a week, yet the Q&A for it is still open.

For one, it's outdated. For two, there's many questions, yet no answers.

 

We have had walls of silence before but this one seems very deep and prolonged. It certainly doesn’t help assuage the unease that all is not well at DTG Towers. Whether TSC, Catan and Fishing all but abandoned, the huge unfinished mess the bought in CTS is in, or the main event - what now appears to be the stagnation of TSW. Guess all we can do is wait and see what trickles down through the grapevine.

 

I have to say as the weeks go on it does worry me the state of disconnect we've had from DTG. This Q&A thread still unlocked, the unfinished route DTG released, the mess of recent updates and patch notes.

TSW has so much potential so I hope it's not stagnating especially with the third parties that are on board producing some really good looking stuff. Even DTG can do some really good content when they put their minds to it!