I've resisted getting the latest version this year until the reviews are in, so I'd be interested to hear what others think who've played it for a bit. Are there new features in TSW 5 you particularly like, or those you really don't? Oh, and have DTG added intrusive music to scenarios in the new routes this time round? In short, is the upgrade worth it? I appreciate that by not upgrading I'll miss out on new routes, but I'm mulling whether to upgrade every 2-3 years or even call it a day with train sims.
I get that, but I'd like to be sure I'm getting a better game than the one I've got. With TSW 4, I've made my peace with the various things I don't like about it: I don't want to add new ones if there's no overall advantage.
Take the upgrade, install your content to TSW5 & see if there’s something that puts you off it. TSW5 without any routes will be the same size as TSW4, so just keep one & get rid of the other. Worst case scenario here is you have another title listing in your games folder, you don’t need it installed. If another route comes out later, you can then just buy that route. If you don’t take the free upgrade before it expires, then you’ll end up needing to buy a core edition of the game later & pay more, if a DLC you want comes out. TSW5 starter pack is essentially just a compatibility patch, with a few extra features that TSW4 doesn’t have. No reason not to take it IMO.
I think the new track shadow rendering and interactive 2D map are good reasons to upgrade, even if you only use TSW with your existing routes.
Take the free upgrade if not interested in the new routes. There have been some stability issues, possibly caused by the new core features in particular the revised 2D map but in truth I have only experienced one CTD in just over 10 hours of play. Which was bringing up the 2D map several times in a row.
It’s pretty much the same game with some small upgrades. If you want access to future updates and any new routes you might like, you should install it while the free upgrade is still available.
Even though, you can still claim it, and not install it. Considering the free upgrade is limited time only, there is no reason to not do so...
Apart from the new routes, it's a marginal upgrade on 4, if at all, it still suffers with many of the same issues that 4 did, and to me at least, most of the new headliners (live map, route hopping, fast travel) don't add anything to my experiance.
DTG haven't put the music in scenarios, unfortunately. I really like the new fast travel feature - partly because I find it awesome, but mostly because it allows you to choose to give up a service without waiting for however long it takes for the tooltip to show up. Then I cancel the fast travel, so I don't even move from where I was standing, and can carry on. I abandoned a Vorarlberg service halfway through using this!
It's certainly worth the free upgrade but it does feel like it has been a little rushed. I'm sure in time things will be brought upto standard though. Quite honestly I was more impressed with TSW4s release.
Is there actually a list of core bugfixes and improvements between tsw4 and tsw5? for one, i havent seen the fog disappear suddenly, but i might be lucky anyway, i'd say get tsw5 free upgrade anyway, until now nothing is worse
Not at least getting the free upgraded to TSW5 (you do not need to install it) before the deadline seems like something you will regret in the future
There's literally no downside to claiming it while it's free. Keep it uninstalled in your library until you need it to play one of the upcoming routes.
I went for the free upgrade on my x box series x and also will do it on my PC so if i want to buy routes later ..since except for San Bernadino route the other tsw 5 routes im interested in wont be released for a while.
RailDriver implementation is reported to be significantly worse, for those who use one. For that reason I’m going to claim it, but not install it. I suspect I’ll install it when Preston-Carlisle comes out.
The most noticeable things to me in TSW5 (free edition) is that audio goes off and on, graphics (when modified to look good) are even more demanding of PC resources, and the Raildriver is not stable in-game. Jiggling throttle, phantom notifications, the same as with every edition of TSW at release. Issues with controller and graphics have to be fixed by using third-party mods or settings, which are then likely to break when fixes come (will fixes be applied to the free edition and for how long?). So far, though it is only 10 days or so since release, the only reason I see to get TSW5 free edition, is that it's free. edit: the little train animation on the progress bar is cool.
I would definitely claim it for free. Then install once all the or some of the problems are sorted out, if you are worried about performance issues.
I just got the free core update because I wasn't going to pay for the WCMLS in the condition it came in, especially the Lioness timetable. I'll be patient and wait for DTG to produce a new timetable - or for modders to do their work for them (a worrying trend). The photos feature is quite cool and the 2D map is better, but not really that much different in all honesty. Though it does seem to run smoother. I can see why they didn't have the nerve to charge for it this time, not enough new features.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I must admit that I hadn't realized that the clock was ticking on the free upgrade, so I'll go with the consensus and get it (and as I'm going to do that, I may as well get the new routes as well , especially since a relative used to drive a Pendolino on WCML!).
