KT Racing has revealed the details of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown's Season 5 update, which is scheduled to go live later this year. This could be the biggest update the game has yet seen, full of long-requested additions, economy reworks, gameplay enhancements, and new cars.
Here's a complete breakdown of what's coming to Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown with the Season 5 update:
What’s new in the Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s Season 5 update?
Here’s what’s new in the Season 5 update:
Three New Cars Arrive
The main highlight of the update is three all-new vehicles; two are from Britain, and one is from Italy:
- Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo: The game's first dedicated racing car, bringing a true motorsport flavor to the streets.
- Aston Martin DBS Superleggera: A twin-turbo V12 powerhouse delivering raw speed and elegance.
- De Tomaso P72: A retro-inspired Italian sports car featuring a 700 bhp supercharged Ford V8.
- Nissan GT-R "The Tyger": this car will debut in the mid-season update with a wide body kit. It will offer players a tuned, aggressive take on the Japanese icon.
Visual Upgrades & Time Cycle Improvements
Season 5 continues to refine the Kt Engine with:
- Enhance lighting, shadows, and reflections.
- Expect stronger water tones and waves sweeping across Ibiza's beaches thanks to updated water shaders.
- A reworked time cycle for both Hong Kong Island and Ibiza, designed for creating a more cinematic field. Hong Kong mimics the ambience of actual Asian car culture, while Ibiza leans towards sun-drenched postcard vibes.
Races on Ibiza also get a complete identity shift, concentrating on closed, organized circuits that are advocates of Macau and Monaco.
UI Overhaul
The game's user interface is undergoing its first major refresh. Players will notice:
- A redesigned pause menu, with the player's character and car showcased front and center.
- Simpler, more refined navigation and button designs.
- Updated in-world menus, including free roam race prompts, Alyss menu tweaks, and new notifications to keep track of high payout events.
Construction Sites & Housing Tease
While the long-awaited player housing won't arrive until Season 8, KT is already laying the foundation.
- In Season 5, there will be two construction sites in Ibiza.
- These sites will expand in future seasons, leading to fully functional housing features.
- Hong Kong also sees a mystery map change near a winding road, teasing the development.
Major Economic Changes
Season 5 plans to address player concerns regarding the in-game economy, which has been a popular topic:
- Race payouts increased across the board, scaled by race length.
- Crown Jewel events offer much larger rewards:
- Ruby Event: 1,000,000 Solar Coins
- Jade Event: 500,000 Solar Coins
FRIM system overhaul: Now rewarding reputation, Solar Pass XP, and unlimited cash-ins. Level cap raised to 99. Players can earn FRIM just by cruising, drifting, or weaving through traffic.
Car Selling added: Players will now be able to visit a new NPC at the Solar Hotel to sell cars. Mileage, upgrades, and depreciation all affect value; hypercars lose value more sharply than regular drivers.
New Features & Vehicle Fixes
Season 5 adds fresh gameplay mechanics and refinements:
Taxi Missions: Become the world's most exotic chauffeur, meeting passenger demands for extra rewards.
Cruise Control - two modes:
- Speed Hold: Maintains a set speed until you brake.
- Speed Limiter: Caps your acceleration at a chosen speed.
Vehicle updates include corrected indicators for models like the Shelby GT350R and Mercedes-AMG GT series.
Casino Expansion & Live Events
The casino gets a big addition: poker tables (in regions where it’s legally allowed).
In the meantime, Live Events will now provide more significant incentives:
- Alpine A110 Légende exclusive livery.
- New PUMA-branded clothing, including shirts and shoes.
- Notably, no more stickers as rewards this season.
Mid-Season Update
Instead of adding new features, the mid-season upgrade will launch an online store:
- Use Diamonds, a new currency, to buy branded apparel, cars, and prizes from previous live events.
- Players can earn free Diamonds weekly.
- Past Solar Pass vehicles return, and each future season will add three more shop-exclusive vehicles.
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