So this discussion is popping up more and more in threads so thought woukd start a poll to see what people’s thoughts are on this and it may show DTG what the users want. so should DTG drop support for last gen consoles and do what other developers appear to be doing and only support latest gen consoles ie XBox series and PS5 this will allow them to open up the sim more and make it less restricted on latest gen consoles.
I would say next year yes, I don’t want to say this year because I imagine they will phase it out with an iteration (example: TSW5) and at the very least I’ll be careful what I ask for and not to encourage that happen everyear.
If it means the game can move forward on consoles, then yes. I know others will moan, but these are no longer £500 computers, and it's part of tech and game progression.
theirs the cash element of a company in this, why lose a customer base for a bit of general game upgrades.
Certainly, my Xbox One doesn't seem to run newer routes as well as it could. Although it can run some TSW4 routes better than MML so i don't doubt that the next game upgrade would drop gen 8. Depends on how many players are still on gen 8. We go on about how we don't like having to almost annually pay for a new game to get the new DLC so I can imagine if a lot of the player base was still on gen 8, the idea of then having to upgrade consoles as well as a new game, would put many off. DTG may then have to rely more on attracting newer players with gen 9 consoles. Does accommodating for gen 8 consoles affect performance for PC and gen 9? I've seen some reports that there are still crashes on some gen 9 and PC platforms. So does TSW need to improve first before citing gen 8 restrictions in performance as the reason for becoming gen 9 exclusive?
I can’t vote because I don’t have a definite yes or no opinion on this. I’m sure they will support the old console models as long as they can until the extra work required to make the content work on them outweighs what they get from selling on those platforms. I don’t have access to the kind of information necessary to say if they should do it now or not.
What is it that DTG could do to push the TSW further that they can’t already do with gen 8 still supported? In my mind everything they could do minus the obvious like full timetables and longer trains etc could work fine for everyone. All the missing and/or not fully fleshed out features that would make TSW more accurate is something they could be doing now
The upgrade to UE4.26 allowed disparity between Gen8 and Gen9 versions of the game. I am not sure why people think dropping Gen8 will improve the game, when, truthfully, Gen8 isn't even holding it back. When developing the game, DTG develops it to Gen9 standards, then cuts it down to fit it into Gen8. Gen8 does not limit route length, number of rolling stock, graphics quality, and Gen8 certainly does not limit the number of bugs. Dropping Gen8, while it will be necessary in the future, will not help Gen9 users. All of this comes from the opinion of a PC player, who has no idea about the console market.
I meant in the sense of, does it affect their performance while playing the game not necessarily their potential?
well their is stuff to do with the route they couldn’t do as well as the trains themselves, though I doubt DTG would do it anyways (I’m talking scenery wise and features etc) those would inventively be un operable on Gen 8 before newer Gen’s then theirs whole issue of it struggling to run on Gen8 which DTG need to invest time resources into solving which reduces time resources on other things what benefit the newer Gen’s and PC then theirs the issue of if they don’t fix it should they really be selling knowingly sub par probably will crash/wont work alot type of content altogether
Are people on Gen 8 still buying DLC? if the answer is yes then why should DTG stop making DLC for that market.
Perfect example the Brighton Mainline route. They cant add 700s to that because the timetable simply cannot take any more as it would cause problems. If we want these busy routes with lots of AI hardware needs to be able to run it
because they are having to make the DLC so it can run on a Gen 8 console which in turn limits what they could actualyl do with timetables and routes.
But there is already a gen9 and PC version of the timetable for those users. Since the 700 would be a layer it's like how I don't see southeastern content or the 166. If I had the 700 I could use it on SEHS which is what it is sold on but not on BML like my other DLC that could layer on.
Getting rid of gen 8 isn’t gonna solve the performance issues on gen 9 & pc, BML still doesn’t even have rush hour passengers so this is more of a game problem then anything console related
I had not considered the time argument. This is a valid point. Indeed, this is, as far as I am aware, the official response from DTG. However, I am not sure if killing Gen8 would help with this, since rush hour passengers still haven't been added to any version of the BML, suggesting that DTG (on their last attempt) could not get the timetable to work properly on any console (including Gen9). That last attempt may have been a while ago, though.
and that is a community mod NOT an official thing by DTG. Why do you think it is only available on PC and not consoles outside the example of consoles not being able to use the mod. So clearly the 700s can go on the PC no problem and run they cant add them to the timetable the route comes with because gen 8 consoles wont work with it it will be to demanding. Let me ask you what is it you currently play the sim on.
Yea, could be related to passengers with a Gen 8 hold back, theirs things to do with the route what can’t be separated, passengers is likely one of them.
When it released DTG made 2 timetables I remember Matt or Joe talking about southeastern services and a surprise HST run as well as the 66 for freight. The community mod is only a recent thing. Here is the preview, it shows Matt has a total of around 1400 services whereas the gen 8 version only has around 1000
theirs separate Gen 8 and 9 timetables for BML mods will have a separate Leeway kinda thing to what they can’t and can sacrifice compared to DTG, not to mention we don’t know how much DTG looked into putting it (Class 700) on BML.
While we do not know about what can and can't be separated between consoles, we do know that the class 700 can be separated. If DTG decide not to, it is because they could not get it to work on their last attempt. Whether that attempt was recent or not is unknown.
So there is your answer then they HAD to make 2 different timetables because the gen 8 consoles CANT handle the timetable they wanted to put in. Therfore holding back Gen 9 and PCs to accomodate gen 8 consoles.
But by making separate timetables they don't hold gen 9 back they hold gen 8 back. Gen 9 is limited in the sense that routes can't get much longer and the core locos of a DLC can't be too varied. The did still put in the timetable they wanted to put it but they were mindful of gen 8 and gave them the restriction but allowed gen 9 and PC to experience the whole package. I agree that gen 8 limits gen 9 but only in the sense of prospective DLC. Such as, I imagine gen 8 wouldn't be able to manage Half the ECML in one route but gen 9 and PC could. Gen 8 doesn't really restrict gen9 on current DLC that mods and further, DLC continue to add to inorder to improve the PC experience.
a newer gen can’t hold the older back gen 8 needs to go, not make things less quality etc for the purpose of not making the old look out done anything needed to make special stuff for Gen 8 is a hold back.
gen 8 restricts what DTG can give it the general hold back of routes and trains is a problem of investment and cash though and how unreal is used, not a gen problem, the restriction of the gen only comes in at a current unknown point, not a thing can past that restriction until it’s created (improved hardware) and extends it to the point that limits off
But doing that takes time development costs money and ties up someone who could be used elsewhere on a new project. I totally get your points but as a buisness they will have a budget and time restrictions which could be cut and used elsewhere.
Eventually it's going to have to go, Gen 8 has been around for a very long time now. I don't blame anyone for being a bit disappointed about the Gen 8 support drop, due to the fact that not everyone has the money to upgrade. We just can't keep downgrading and holding onto it anymore.
And so DTG restricts what they give gen 8 in comparison to gen 9 especially in the example of BML. DTG restricted the timetable for gen 8 because of its limitations to prevent it from being completely un-playable.
I kinda just remembered another holdback of Gen 8, DTG and third parties can’t do certain loco addons as they need to be sold to both Gen’s and the additional content may not work at all on routes where it’s too much for Gen 8, all loco DLC’s need to accommodate to a maximum of Gen 8
There's a song that could play in the background of this thread.... .... round and round the molbry bush.... This debate will never have a winner.....
Let's not get bogged down in who restricts who, or we'll be here longer than rush hour's release. The point I initially was making was that DTG did make 2 versions of the BML timetable but in a long-winded sort of way. I know gen 8 holds protective development back and I recognise the business-related implications. I haven't said don't drop gen 8, if gen 9 has to suffer let it suffer. I'm just being petty with details.
i agree it’s only a matter of time before it’s dropped anyhows, Gen 8 suffers until it’s put out and Gen 9 can get out of the cage more often. though this whole thread is about discussing the dropping so it’s more than appropriate to discuss it here
Don't know what the fuss is all about. TSW4 works fine for me on a Gen8 console. There's the odd issue here and there like with anything, but isn't game breaking for the most part.
depends on what you play mostly, it is proven by Gen 8 players with crashing that it can completely destroy the game for them. though the issue here is what can be achieved without gen 8 rather than let’s make gen 8 still here
But don't forget then there is the issue with the Series S being more of a Gen 8.5. Than a true 9th gen. So in theory then that would be what is holding back gen 9 and not gen 8. But I don't think you can make a series x without a series S version.
Currently the holder is 8, 8.5 will be the next but it’s an improvement all the same, then 9 when 10 is about etc
I only really play SEHS with all addons. Full and reduced timetables work alright. The only part of it that doesn't work is the High Speed 1 part, but there's plenty on the conventional part of the route to keep me entertained, for the little time I get to play nowadays.
Hopefully with the editor, it can act like a technology demonstrator for at least PC capability and then that shows us and possibly DTG, if they haven't already done it themselves, how much better/bigger/more expansive a route can be.
Yeah, the TGV kills it for me, interestingly all the EMT traffic at St Pancras seems to be fine. Touchwood.
