KT Racing is making a long-awaited return with the release of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown PS5. TDU is set to return after more than a decade away, in which the landscape of racing has changed dramatically.
After blazing a trail in the open-world genre, TDU returns to a world dominated by one game; Forza Horizon. This Xbox-exclusive title is unavailable for PlayStation players, which is why Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown being on PS5 is such an exciting concept.
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From the location and gameplay details to the release date, here's everything we know so far about Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown PS5.
Latest news - First Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown gameplay revealed
At long last, Nacon finally shown the first Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown gameplay. No PS5 gameplay was shown, but we did get 30 minutes of PC gameplay in an extended TDU Connect presentation, where YouTubers and TDU fans got to play an early alpha build of TDUSC.
In the footage, we get a tour of the Solar Hotel, the Sharps and Streets clan headquarters, and some racing action on the streets of Hong Kong Island. We also get a first look at TDUSC's social features, with footage showing players visiting each other's clan headquarters.
Overall, TDUSC looks very promising and we can't wait to explore Hong Kong Island and live a luxurious lifestyle.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown delayed to 2024
It's the news we were all dreading: Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has been delayed again. This was previously a rumour but now confirmed by Nacon.
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+ 7Previously set to release later this year, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is set to release in early 2024. An exact release date is yet to be confirmed. However, a Nacon financial document lists TDUSC as releasing in Q1 2024 with a February/March release window.
This is frustrating for fans, but a 2024 release will give TDUSC a better chance of succeeding with The Crew Motorfest arriving in September as a direct competitor.
To help ease the wait, Nacon will host a closed Test Drive Unlimited Solar crown beta in late July.
Hong Kong Island deep dive
From narrow town streets to wide open highways where you can maximise speed to winding off-road mountain trails, Hong Kong is set to be a brilliant location to explore.
In a recent newsletter update, KT Racing shared visual updates on the map we will all be racing around soon. Hong Kong Island's 370 square-mile landscape is being recreated at 1:1 scale, but it won't be an exact replica.
click to enlarge+ 7“To emphasise the fast and smooth driving, for example, the very dense urban network of HKI needed some small adjustments because of certain little streets that were very (too?) narrow,” creative director Alain Jarniou explained.
“Conversely, some light redesign was done to the major thoroughfares to make them more fun and adapted to very fast cars, while respecting the identity of Hong Kong Island.”
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown PS5
Fortunately for those looking to play the game on the next generation of consoles, TDUSC will be released on the PlayStation 5. A PlayStation 4 version was in development, but the last-gen game was cancelled in 2021.
This hopefully means the PS5 version won't be compromised, with KT Racing able to take full advantage of the PS5's power.
click to enlarge+ 7PS5-specific features haven't been announced yet, but TDUSC will benefit from faster loading times on PS5 thanks to the SSD hard drive. With TDUSC taking place in a large open world set in Hong Kong Island, fast loading times are essential.
Resolution and frame rate are not confirmed yet, but it's possible that TDUSC will run at 4K. Being set in a large open world, the frame rate will likely be capped at 30fps at this resolution.
However, there may be a Performance mode that boosts the frame rate to 60fps at a cost of a lower 1080p resolution and reduced graphical effects. An ultra-smooth 120fps mode is unlikely given the scale of the game.
Gameplay
So far we have only seen cinematic trailers for the game. We've only seen a small snippet of gameplay in the Together We Drive trailer that only lasts a few seconds.
However, we do know that a few fan-favourite features are returning.
click to enlarge+ 7TDUSC will offer the full dealership experience, making buying your dream car feel like a special occasion.
There will be 14 dealerships in the game selling cars from different brands, from classic cars to luxury models. Ferrari and Lamborghini will have their own dedicated dealerships.
Once you've bought your dream car, you can then customise it in Workshops, with options to upgrade the performance and create your own liveries.
click to enlarge+ 7Six categories will feature 13 customisable performance parts for combustion cars. Electric cars will also have six categories but 12 customisable performance parts.
Head-to-head mode was also shown in the announcement trailer. It seems you'll be able to race against another player or AI in a pink slips race and put your car on the line.
The trailer also showed a swanky casino, suggesting there will be a gambling element where you can win or lose your car.
Trailer
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown was shown at Nacon Connect in a brand new trailer called Together We Drive. While we get a first look at the in-game engine, we still haven't seen any proper gameplay.
Dealerships and car customisation detailed
After a long period of silence, KT Racing is releasing monthly news updates. The first update provided a deep dive into two key TDUSC elements: dealerships and car customisation.
click to enlarge+ 7Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown PS5 release date
As for the release date, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown was expected to release sometime in 2023 following a delay. However, the game has been delayed a second time.
According to Nacon, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is set to release in early 2024 but we don't have a specific date yet.
However, a Nacon financial document lists TDUSC as releasing in Q1 2024 with a February/March 2024 release window.
At least the extra development time will enable Kylotonn to make TDUSC the “most polished gaming experience in the franchise,” so it should be worth the wait.
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