Solar Club Letter: March Issue 1 - Pagani Huayra Roadster Reveal
[p]Pagani has been a signature brand through the Test Drive Unlimited franchise. Starting with the first opus, Test Drive Unlimited, which brought the Pagani Zonda C12S and the Pagani Zonda C12S Roadster, and then Test Drive Unlimited 2, which brought the Pagani C12 S Roadster, Pagani Zonda F, Pagani Zonda F Roadster, Pagani Zonda Cinque, and the Pagani Zonda Tricolore. All staples of the Pagani brand. Happily, Pagani finally returns to the TDU franchise with the Pagani Huayra Roadster, first to arrive in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown![/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/c572468ca3277d2cf464a72fe5f37164c423167a.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/c4f6e195bacf89254103843bfe7ccb1919b12fc4.jpg"][TAG-10][p]So, are you ready? Let’s get started! [/p]
What’s In the Letter?
[p]Pagani Huayra Roadster[/p]
[p]Where To Buy[/p]
[p]Exterior Options[/p]
[p]Interior Options[/p]
[p]Active Aero[/p]
[p]Gameplay[/p]
[p]More Pagani In Year 2[/p][p][/p]
🔑 Pagani Huayra Roadster
[p]It’s time to learn everything you need to know about the Pagani Huayra Roadster![/p][p][/p]
Where To Buy
[p]The Pagani Huayra Roadster will be available in the Italian Dealership located near the Solar Hotel.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/7b218d6418e0a0eaca24ee07ce01bd62d4ade80a.jpg"][/p][p]You'll find it in the center of the dealership, worthy of its location! The cost? 13,500,000 Solar Coins.[/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/5bd7c6e80249c985d00edf1787cd6dece63573e1.jpg"][TAG-80][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/e802e3896232f238254bbacfbd872807aa2ad57d.jpg"]
Exterior Options
[p]One thing we’ve wanted to improve in the following seasons is the increased amount of manufacturer options for the vehicles in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/edee52c0f853fcb4bbbdcde63313e18b85ded1f3.jpg"][/p][p]The Pagani features 36 manufacturer exterior paint options. Ranging from full colour options, to exposed carbon options. We can’t wait to see some of the options players choose![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/7b1a200f5c3bb50d1b61b1361c2f73131a79f7fa.jpg"][TAG-102][/p][p]We can’t forget the rims! You’ll have a total of 6 different rim options for the Pagani Huayra Roadster![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/304a9ea5e78e71a2c9b0a6a5bf6ff45bb43bf15e.jpg"][TAG-110][/p]
Interior Options
[p]Just like the exterior, we have improved the interior options too![/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/035600dcc5b2f85e1d874dbe7f7b3995f968b0eb.jpg"][TAG-120][/p][p]Players can find 32 interior options to choose from to make their Huayra Roadster feel unique! Bundled with the rims, this means you really won’t look alike![/p][p][/p][p]To discuss the improvement of manufacturer exterior and interior options and the modelling of the Pagani, here is what Théo has to say![/p][p][/p][p]“The Pagani Huayra Roadster was a nice challenge! It's full of tiny and visible details that had to be replicated (engine bay, brake calipers, etc.). Since Pagani is a brand that allows for extensive customization, the Huayra Roadster will be available in 36 paint colors and 32 interior options, as well as 6 different wheel designs.”[/p]
[p]When you think of beautiful active aero on vehicles, you can’t leave out the Pagani Huayra’s active aero. For starters, the Pagani Huayra Roadster's interior is that of a fighter jet, and the active aero bears resemblance.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/a9774d7203c1454f16a3ed6ded6a6b8ee39c2129.jpg"][/p][p]We’ve integrated dynamic wing movement beyond the standard height and air brake. The Huayra’s wings (two found at the front on the left and right, and two found at the rear on the left and right), will adapt to the vehicles every movement, including the forces created when the vehicle is maneuvering. When you turn, one side will tilt up to create more downforce on one side to create improved downforce when steering.[/p][p][/p][p]To discuss this aerodynamic system in more detail, here is what Théo has to say![/p][p][/p][p]“We've updated the entire aerodynamic system in the game to be able to recreate complex systems like those on the Huayra Roadster. We can now reproduce a huge number of aerodynamic systems. This improvement also impacts other cars like the Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta and the Ferrari FXX-K Evo.”[/p]
[p]It’s finally time! We promised you can get gameplay of Season 6 every week in March leading up to the release. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/bfe6cf2e2e2a4884ad846e074f89c279f7f658d0.jpg"][/p][p]Here’s 30 minutes of spirited driving with the Pagani Huayra Roadster, showing its location in the dealership, showing its dealership options, and showing off its beautiful wing in action with the roof off and windows down in Ibiza. We even show off the clothing stores on Ibiza! What better way to spend your time in TDUSC?.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]
More Pagani In Year 2
[p]We get it, the community loves Pagani, and so do we! That said, this will not be the last Pagani to arrive in Year 2, nor in the future of TDUSC. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/ba7bb0fd27b07721cf1a993b5ce2742f4e01856a.jpg"][TAG-206][/p][p]Another Pagani arrives in Season 8, the same update that brings customisable houses and garages and- wait, we'll announce that later...[/p][p][/p][p]We’ll have more details on this as the months go by, so stay tuned![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/be65e761ff4750281dcab61e56a0d1897bfa2d9e.jpg"][/p]
❤️ Final Message
[p]We hope you enjoy the first arrival of a Pagani vehicle to TDUSC! We’ll see you again next week, as we reveal more information about Season 6, and soon, the future! 🙂[/p]
[p]Every week up until launch, we’ll be showing gameplay of what is to come in Season 6! That isn’t all though, we don’t want to spoil everything yet but in the coming weeks you can expect Season 7 and 8 work in progress screenshots in a 'Future Outlook' showcase, Season 6 gameplay of the upcoming missions and vehicles, and a Season 6 Feature Showcase livestream where Guillaume and Alex will show you everything going on in TDUSC’s Season 6 while answering questions about the next updates too![/p][p][/p][p]So, are you ready? Let’s get started![/p][p][/p]
What’s In the Letter?
[p]Season 6[/p]
[p]Release Date[/p]
[p]Hong Kong Island Rework (Northern Districts)[/p]
[p]Community Live Event Week[/p]
[p]Side Skirts, Diffusers, Front Splitters & More[/p]
[p]Confirmed Features & Content So Far[/p]
[p]Confirmed & Upcoming Fixes[/p]
[p]Network Improvements[/p]
[p]Community Spotlight Winner - February[/p]
[p]Winners[/p]
[p]How To Submit[/p]
[p]Upcoming Communications[/p]
[p]March Solar Club Letter[/p]
[p]Gameplay[/p]
[p]Future Outlook[/p]
[p]Season 6 Feature Showcase[/p]
[p][/p]
⏭️ Season 6
[p]Season 6 arrives next month with more content, features, quality of life improvements, and more! Let’s take a look at this in more detail.[/p][p] [/p]
Release Date
[p]The update is planned to release at the end of March, and we’ll announce this exact date next month.[/p][p][/p][p]As for the maintenance, it will be mentioned in the Patch Notes, which will arrive a day or two before the release of the update, but expect the usual server maintenance at 9:30am CET and lasting up to 8:00pm CET. As usual, we will keep you updated on our progress during the day too.[/p][p][/p][p]Make sure to stay tuned for all the details on the release by following us on social media![/p][p][/p]
Hong Kong Island Rework (Northern Districts)
[p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/390b50605ca95969cdc46dbde9384ce37f7ba54c.jpg"][/p][p]At the launch of Season 5, we reworked the southern areas of Hong Kong Island. We aren’t done yet though, as we have worked on the northern areas of the island for the launch of Season 6. With that, we also went back in and reworked some of the southern areas in more detail with new billboards, traffic lights, and intersections![/p][p] [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/e51a1da16d16ccf3608fcc32fac4b3b1c0ebb3bd.jpg"][/p][p]To be more specific on the Northern side, we’ve reworked a lot of the buildings to offer more variety between the districts. To discuss this in much more detail, here’s art director Stephane Cambier to give us more details![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/5de2afe3c21cdcbe76e7d5de48b9bc7d152d6c68.jpg"][TAG-140] [/p][p]“We are continuing our sustained efforts to improve Hong Kong Island’s northern districts, focusing our efforts on several subjects: [/p][p]Such as fixing the height and density of the building, adding more green spaces, which is one of HKI’s trademarks, and creating more diversity in the building shapes and colors. [/p][p]Huy Nguyen-Tan (our main procedural building artist) is therefore at work to improve all this, and I hope you will appreciate the colossal work he has accomplished so far in this regard.”[/p]
[p]Stéphane (TDUSC Art Director)[/p]
[p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/83facd6116b57e7521f053fdfae614414778467a.jpg"][/p][p]Similar to what we did for Season 5, you can find a full video of before and after locations all throughout Hong Kong Island’s northern districts coming soon on the Nacon Racing YouTube channel! For now, here's more screenshots![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/4ff795a657419ce260073cd6b9dc61c813c7b6bf.jpg"][/p][p]Oh, and there are some new signs to be found![/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/0d3051e3518890d9b18bb97525cd3daaeab38892.gif"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/839a39585bd8bc4d585fcdb5bdaafed12db5eccd.gif"][p][/p]
Side Skirts, Diffusers, Front Splitters & More
[p]We’ve started making further improvements to vehicle customisation in TDUSC. We heard a lot of player feedback on vehicle customisation in the game, and we’ve worked to further expand this. In Season 6, you will see the first arrival of this feature, beginning with the official Audi Sport Performance Parts customisation for the Audi R8 RWS (coupe only)! Spoiler, front splitter, side skirt, and rear diffuser, all which can be individually added in the workshop.[/p][p] [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/65f75a593fa4a1c2dc32b9b1e392ab9ccdb969dc.jpg"] [/p][p]We think this is a step forward in the direction of what TDU players love to see; licensed parts and kits, similar to what was seen in the first opus, Test Drive Unlimited 1. We will work on increasing the quantity of this content in the following seasons too, and we are really excited to see what the players think![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/924e4b3b6a07533c604b229cb010d2b4e180d73c.jpg"][TAG-200][/p][p]Why not see this in more detail with some gameplay around the Northern areas of Hong Kong Island with said vehicle? We didn’t want to leave out the other areas of the map we improved though, check out the latest video on the Nacon Racing channel now![/p][p][/p][TAG-207][p][/p]
Community Live Event Week
[p]Remember when we had the community vote on races and liveries to feature in an upcoming Season 6 live event? We’ve integrated the liveries into the game, and we’d like to showcase them![/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/ec72ae1a3fdf80aeadaa7e1642b92ce953c21698.jpg"][TAG-220][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/b9a75bbf23ce8099ea857fb0d8a95f266c2b0c2d.jpg"][p] Congrats again to SylFR for their beautiful Streets liberty and Faucheureuse for their classy Sharp livery![/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/8a25cac88a452d5e46ded7d63ef5f4a4721260e3.jpg"][TAG-230][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/32ee3369135d52370d85701d971bcfd72fab5d8f.jpg"][p]We were originally going to choose one winner, but considering we had a Sharp one win, we couldn’t leave the Streets out too! Give a shout to both livery designers, they killed it![/p][p][/p]
Confirmed Features & Content So Far
[p]Detective Missions[/p][p]Each mission has its own story to tell, with lore related to the Radiant, Solar Crown, Sharps, Streets, and even some surprise TDU universe characters being involved…[/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/2c026cf414a243e6555fb626c6c6b0253704e1d0.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/aeb9f55a27c142be3a3376f9489e92f4dd37f835.jpg"][p]You’ll learn about the ‘Fixer’ who is managing an investigation company. Through that, they hired you to do private investigator work.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/bddaac5a347c4ebb2d6eca6f78d8cc51be029cae.jpg"][/p][p]We wanted to make sure these missions aren’t just tailing like they were in TDU2, and we are confident we’ve done well here! You’ll learn much about these in more detail soon with gameplay, but the screenshots (and driving videos) can give you some details! [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/56eb4e02da7918ca6938a1199d852408e1af5a7d.jpg"][/p]
[p]Updated Stores[/p]
[p]Physical Clothing Stores in Ibiza[/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/97b4605ab5387a435ceecc0a0995292b8901866e.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/e67d2a35a647234637e6dbe8b43daed4314caa45.jpg"]
[p]Improved Car Cosmetic Street/Sharp Store in Hong Kong Island.[/p][p][/p]
[p]Content of the chests have been moved to the different Clan clothing stores on Hong Kong Island and Ibiza (car customisation, stickers, clothes, etc.)[/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/30dfa1621781430f2551c26437c3072ccdaa27ef.jpg"][TAG-306][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/2624f2023684ce0f4c5c9d7b4e43c22e2683b2ac.jpg"][TAG-308][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/10e7ceeab3706c3daff645d75fb4047e4c50326d.jpg"][TAG-310]
[p]Normalised Alyss GPS Voice(as seen in cruise videos)[/p]
[p]Voices added to Casino[/p]
[p]Hong Kong Island Rework[/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/4134e259e9cb8f24a1d7ec24487981fff8a40fbc.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/20c1ac840e4602ee1c79cc0c114fad3239364ed6.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/26e770a7abec0cf260289e369a55949cda0a87af.jpg"][TAG-350][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/e2cb5b3621a97d686dfbdf88d70b93fa1ca97620.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/4ff795a657419ce260073cd6b9dc61c813c7b6bf.jpg"]
[p]& much more to be revealed next week![/p][p][/p]
Vehicles
[p]Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series(Online Store) [/p]
[p]Soon we’ll be showing you gameplay and screenshots of the Season 6 vehicles, while also revealing the Solar Pass Level 1 vehicle![/p][p] [/p]
Confirmed & Upcoming Fixes So Far
[p]We mentioned a few fixes in the last letter that are arriving in Season 6, but let’s cover those again, and also mention some more![/p]
[p]Wheel Animation Desync On Wheels - With the implementation of multiple inputs, we’ve fixed the issue where the wheel can become desynced.[/p]
[p]Ferrari Portofino missing interior trim options - The Portofino now has the correct interior options![/p]
[p]Gas Station AR not being disabled - Gas Stations no longer have AR when you have the AR feature off.[/p]
[p]Cancelling an emote with an object makes the object stay in motion - We’ve fixed this issue so you can no longer throw multiple objects in the game, although we understand some players had fun messing around with this bug.[/p]
[p]Ford F150 Adventurer/Nissan GTR The Tyger/BMW M4 Competition PUMA upgrade pricing - We fixed the upgrade pricing of all the vehicles affected[/p]
[p]The Ferrari 488 Pista has the incorrect reverse/turn-signal lighting and interior/2D lens model - The 488 finally has its signature turn signal design![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/9be9c1355af3307e035bccfaae6b6cc899890e26.jpg"][/p]
[p]Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE rim model - We’ve fixed these rims so they are more accurately reflected with more depth.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/d63a44dca06859c02a0a8183ebd63de35db68946.jpg"][/p]
[p]While using an H-Shifter, the vehicle incorrectly produces a 'rev match' dynamic/sound when the gear select is in neutral too quickly (with auto-clutch off) - A well awaited fix, those who who use auto-clutch off, and especially those who use h-shifters, you will no longer hear the rev match noise![/p]
[p]Impossible Speed Challenges - All Impossible Speed Challenges can now be completed![/p]
[p]FSR3/XeSS/DLSS 99% is actually better quality than 100% - A very specific bug, but those who use the highest option of your upscaler, should see a slightly improved sharpness/clarity.[/p]
[p]& much more to be announced in the coming weeks and the patch notes![/p][p][/p]
[p]Of course there are many other bugs that will be fixed for Season 6, and the team at KT is working very hard on making sure this season brings an increased level of polish compared to the previous seasonal releases. We will continue to let you know some more fixes in the coming weeks, especially the improvements coming to sound, such as the Agera RS having a much better cockpit sound.[/p][p][/p][p]Another topic we’d like to mention is the reports we have been getting about PS5 controller vibrations not being able to be turned off. Here are the details on this quality of life improvement, where the vibration comes from, and what you can do to turn off vibration currently.[/p][p][/p][p]There are two types of vibrations on the PS5 controller, that being the adaptive trigger vibrations, and core controller vibrations. Core controller vibrations work by changing the in-game settings value from 0 through 100. You will feel these vibrations mainly when the car hits the ground (suspension effects), or when crashing the vehicle (crash effects), and a few other scenarios.[/p][p] [/p][p]Adaptive trigger vibrations can be felt mainly from the triggers, and can be felt when shifting gears, when the car is near a redline, braking with ABS triggering, and many other scenarios. The ‘overall vibration’ setting does not turn this feature off. Instead, use the PlayStation OS by going to the controller settings and turning off or reducing the ‘Trigger Effect Intensity’. This will turn off or reduce the vibrations felt.[/p][p] [/p][p]We however understand that this is a setting that players expect to find in-game, rather than using the PlayStation OS, and we will be working on adding this to Season 6 Update 1. For now, use the PlayStation OS ‘controller settings’ section.[/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned in the coming days and March Solar Club letter for upcoming bug fixes and improvements in the future letters, some of which are well awaited by the community! [/p][p][/p]
Network Improvements
[p]The network team is hard at work at many of the upcoming features arriving in TDUSC in the coming Seasons. We mentioned in the last letter, but the team is now focused on rewriting our servers code to increase stability, players visibility, and data reliability, which is mandatory for us to add cross region and crossplay in the future of TDUSC’s life. Of course, the team is also working on the Official Racing Center features (which brings a matchmaking playlist for ranked and unranked as a social hub), and Housing, which has many networking features regarding player sociability.[/p][p][/p][p]In Season 6, there are some improvements you can expect to see though, such as some fixes regarding session & group stability, and other issues concerning things the team saw with the PlayStation Plus arrival.[/p][p][/p][p]To discuss this in more detail, here is Sylvain from the network team again![/p][p][/p][p]“PlayStation Plus was a huge milestone for us, especially following the initial release of TDU. We worked hard the last few months to make sure that anything works as expected and that our infrastructure will be able to handle every new player. And it also gives us a lot of new data and insights to check regarding our applications ! In Season 6 we will introduce several fixes regarding our Session management system, mostly linked to what players see as "Lobby error" or group errors. [/p][p]Now the team is fully focused on the ‘servers v2’ part of the job, where we will rewrite a lot of our algorithms to improve stability of network connection, reduce the latency, and make sure that players will be able to see each other a lot more in the open world part.”[/p]
[p]Sylvain (TDUSC Lead Online Programmer)[/p]
[p][/p]
🖼️ Community Spotlight Winners - February
[p]Yup! It’s time to announce the winners for the month of February![/p][p][/p]
Winners
[p]There have been some amazing pictures sent in for this month's Community Spotlight, but here are the top 3 voted photos of the month by the TDU team! [/p]
[p]Discord member Crixus-style wins this month's Community Spotlight with their amazing photography of the Citroën 2CV! [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/2dddb393c86fad040373305748c4df58ae523cfd.jpg"][/p]
[p]Discord member Marc-Vincent shows off their Audi TTRS in the beautiful Ibiza sunset![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/33040d8d4a358ed3a38a00e4b5b903bcb8c028e8.jpg"][TAG-606][/p]
[p]Discord member Bochel84 brings out the DeLorean DMC12 for a picture perfect sunset location on Hong Kong Island![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/adc325544a5f47066145f786fd2eceec7ad0cb5b.jpg"][/p]
[p]Congrats again to the winners! You all win 5,000,000 Solar Coins and 100 Diamonds![/p][p][/p]
How To Enter
[p]First, join our Discord which can be found at Discord.gg/TestDrive. Once you join our Discord, you’ll see a channel called ‘tdusc-photos’. Here, you can send the best pictures you've taken in TDUSC, but make sure to put #communityspotlight2 in your message post! [/p][p]Here are the rules:[/p]
[p]Each month there will be a theme![/p]
[p]Pictures must be high quality and not edited outside of the game or taken with tools that are not native to TDUSC's in-game photo mode[/p]
[p]Only 1 picture is allowed[/p]
[p]You are only allowed one post per month; however, you can delete your post and make a new one to replace it.[/p]
[p]3 photos will be selected by the TDU team to win each month[/p]
[p]The best picture will be showcased in the in-game news section in TDUSC[/p]
[p][/p][p]Note: Posting in this channel means you allow your picture to be used by Nacon/KT for promotional use.[/p][p] [/p]
February Theme
[p]Paris Fashion Week -Your photo must feature you in your Solar Hotel garage, dressed to impress, next to a car that matches! Good luck![/p][p] [/p]
🗞️ Next Communications
[p]That’s the end of this month's letter, but what can you expect next? Here’s some of the upcoming news materials arriving between now, and the launch of Season 6; in no particular order.[/p][p][/p]
Gameplay
[p]Over the next weeks, you can expect to find cruise and race gameplay of the Season 6 vehicles such as the beautiful Pagani Huayra Roadster, abundant with many interior and exterior manufacturer options, fully working dynamic wing, and a beautiful sound of the engine![/p][p] [/p]
March Solar Club Letter
[p]As usual, you can expect another Solar Club Letter next month around the middle of the month![/p][p][/p]
Future Outlook
[p]Here you’ll find a lot of new information about Season 6, Season 7, and Season 8 with more work in progress images and videos of housing, the Official Racing Center, Live Event enhancements and Solar Pass enhancements. We think the TDU community will be happy to see what’s coming ahead for the future![/p][p][/p]
Season 6 Feature Showcase
[p]As usual and similar to our Season 5 showcase reveal stream, we will be going live with TDUSC’s Game Director, Guillaume Guinet. We’ll be announcing this date in the March Solar Club letter, which is planned to release around mid-March.[/p][p] [/p]
❤️ Final Message
[p]We are hard at work continuing the improvements for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, and we once again thank you for your continued support! Guillaume also has a message to share for the TDUSC community![/p][p][/p][p]“Hi everyone! I’m incredibly excited about what’s on the horizon for this season and the ones to follow.[/p][p]Detective is turning out to be exactly the Role Play experience we imagined! I’m so proud of what the team has done; we’ve poured our hearts into crafting unique stories for every mission to give you a true taste of the private detective life. [/p][p]As for Housing… I honestly can't believe what the team is pulling off right now. It is absolutely "wow." The ideas are flowing, and I’m dying to share more details with you all soon![/p][p]In the meantime, we have a ton of great content and surprises lined up. It’s going to be a long, incredible journey together.[/p][p]Again, we want to thank you for all your feedback and support. It truly motivates us to push our limits and deliver the ultimate "Test Drive Unlimited" experience. I hope you have as much fun playing it as we’ve had building it! [/p][p]"One last thing… We all love the Pagani in Season 6, right? But how about some sweet 6 cylinders for the upcoming seasons? Maybe even one of the most highly anticipated cars for enthusiasts everywhere?[/p][p]🇯🇵 & 🇩🇪[/p][p]That’s all I can share for now—gotta run!”[/p]
[p]Guillaume (TDUSC Game Director)[/p][p][/p]
[p]As Guillaume teased, we have a lot to share in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to all of our socials and join our Discord to not miss a thing! See you again soon! 🙂[/p]
[p]The TDU Team[/p]
Developer Interview & Exclusive Gameplay With Alain Jarniou
[p]In the recent Nacon Racing News From the Pits showcase, we revealed some big news about TDUSC and even showcased some exclusive Season 6, Season 7, and Season 8 gameplay![/p][p][/p][p] if you missed it, check out the video below![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We can't wait to share more about TDUSC's Year 2 roadmap next month, so make sure you're following us on all socials to not miss a thing! Let's also quickly recap what's coming this year.[/p]
Season 5 Update 2 Patch Notes
[p]Season 5’s Update 2 arrives with further optimisation efforts and bug fixes releasing on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026.[/p][p][/p][p]Maintenance Confirmation: We will be starting the server maintenance at 9:30am CET and the maintenance will last up to 6:00pm CET. We will keep you updated on our progress during the day.[/p][p][/p][p]If you missed it already, our January letter goes over many fixes arriving in in this update, and in Season 6 too! If you haven't seen the letter already, check it out below.[/p][p] [dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1249970/view/509604049186718774"][/p][p]Now let's get into the bug fixes![/p][p][/p]
🛠️ General Fixes & Improvements
[p]Optimised vegetation culling[/p]
[p]Optimised cost of traffic spawn[/p]
[p]Optimised vehicle shadow LODs[/p]
[p]Optimised memory usage[/p]
[p]Fixed onboarding restarting on save with several hundred hours[/p]
[p]Fixed performance issue with Logitech wheels[/p]
[p]Fixed multiplayer crash in workshop and race lobby[/p]
[p]Fixed game crash when leaving the lobby[/p]
[p]Fixed crash when browsing in the online store when the player doesn't own any vehicle[/p]
[p]Fixed cars falling out of the world if the 'return to road' option was used on small objects like bumpers[/p]
[p]Fixed cases where changing vehicle driving mode in a stock live event lobby would prevent players from using that car in the event[/p]
[p]Fixed points of interaction not appearing anymore after two players interacted with the same one exactly at the same time[/p]
[p]Fixed incorrect car displaying in the pause menu during onboarding[/p]
[p]Fixed missing roads on worldmap[/p]
[p]Fixed FRIM not ending when colliding with specific assets[/p]
[p]Fixed wrong weather and surface announced in some race preview panels[/p]
[p]Fixed an issue where avatar and NPC were facing back to the camera when failing a taxi contract[/p]
[p]Fixed several cases of animation not playing during Poker[/p]
[p]Fixed cases when NPCs were clipping with the couch they're seated on[/p]
[p]Fixed various clothes clipping with the player's avatar[/p]
[p]Fixed 'Processing Request' pop-up persisting on the item's purchase screen[/p]
[p]Fixed little black boxes sometimes appearing during navigation races[/p]
[p]Fixed AR of some gas station not removed when corresponding setting is off[/p]
[p]Fixed the Personalized Outfits in the wardrobe displays the saved outfits from a different account instead of the character from the current account[/p]
[p]Fixed the character model's hairstyle appears as 'Shaved Head' in the wardrobe after switching from the 'The Chauffeur' and '1% President' outfits [/p]
[p]Fixed the player is able to drive underneath buildings in 'Dalt Villa' district 'Ibiza' due to missing ground assets[/p]
[p]Bohemian outfit corrections[/p]
[p]Boater hat, Crocodile coat and PUMA clothes geometry corrections[/p]
[p]Fixed POI disappearing when trying a world interact at the same time as another player[/p]
[p]Fixed and improved the Alyss Hot Head and other event call outs[/p]
[p]Fixed traffic lights not working in Causeway Bay[/p]
[p]Improved AI physics so that drifts looks more natural[/p][p][/p]
🚗 Vehicle Fixes/Improvements
[p]Exclude turbo upgrade of Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat[/p]
[p]Fixed Audi E-Tron dashboard not changing gears[/p]
[p]Fixed Bugatti Chiron wing animations (for all versions)[/p][p][/p]
🎮 Steering Wheels
[p]Fixed a performance issue for Logitech G920 wheels[/p]
[p]FIxed wheel angle not being correct for some wheels[/p]
[p]Now non-SDK wheels (others than Thrustmaster Fanatec, Logitech) will find the wheel angle slider in options menu grey out and unusable. But can be managed through each constructor steering wheel app.[/p]
[p]Fixed a crash with some non-Trueforce Logitech wheels[/p]
[p]Fixed steering wheel animation in cockpit view when switching from steering wheel to pad or keyboard input (like driving with a steering wheel and using a button to put turn indicator)[/p]
[p][/p][p]Note:Is my old PC, PS3, or Xbox One racing wheel model compatible with TDUSC?[/p][p]Some older Logitech, Thrustmaster, or Fanatec models are no longer supported by the SDK provided to us each year by the technical support teams of racing wheel manufacturers. If you encounter problems with models dating back to the PS3-Xbox One era or earlier, please use the following solution:[/p]
[p]Go to UserSettings.cfg located in C:\\Users\\YourUserName\\Documents\\My Games\\Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown and set Engine.Input.EnableNaconSDK = true; to false.[/p][p][/p]
[p]This will allow your machine to enable DirectInput, the standardized API that will ensure the most basic controls of your steering wheel work.[/p]
[p]Also, make sure you have installed the software provided by the manufacturers (Logitech G Hub; Fanatec Driver; Thrustmaster Drive; Moza Pit House, etc.) in order to configure your settings and update the steering wheel's firmware and drivers.[/p][p][/p]
[p]Example: the Logitech G27 is no longer supported by the Logitech SDK and now uses the DirectInput system for basic commands, but you can continue to use Logitech G Hub to configure your settings.[/p][p][/p][p]Let us know if you have any further issues with your wheel after this update![/p][p][/p]
🖥️ PC
[p]Enabled multiple controllers at the same time.[/p]
[p]Move dynamic probe from high to ultra in "SSR" option[/p]
[p]Fixed players gaining an unfair time advantage through alt-tab while in-game[/p][p][/p]
🔵 PS5
[p]Removed HDR black point and white point options on consoles to directly use console parameters.[/p]
[p]Improved dynamic resolution[/p][p][/p]
🟢 Xbox Series
[p]Removed HDR black point and white point options on consoles to directly use console parameters.[/p]
[p]Fixed game returning to main menu when using a secondary controller after disconnecting the primary one.[/p]
[p]Improved dynamic resolution[/p][p][/p]
🌐 Network
[p]Better Stability and Performance[/p][p][/p]
⚠️ Known Issues
[table equalcells="1" colwidth="113,327,"][tr][td colwidth="113"][p align="center"]Platforms[/p][/td][td colwidth="327"][p align="center"]Summary[/p][/td][td][p align="center"]Note/Comment[/p][/td][/tr][tr][td colwidth="113"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5[/p][/td][td colwidth="327"][p]Attempting to change car in the garage menu of a workshop leads to a "Server Unavailable" error message on the first attempt.[/p][/td][td][p]Further attempts should succeed as expected.[/p][/td][/tr][tr][td colwidth="113"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5[/p][/td][td colwidth="327"][p]Possible crash when using Graphics mode and driving around specific areas on Ibiza Island.[/p][td][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="113"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][TAG-401][td colwidth="327"][p]Two emotes available in the Online shop appear to have the same name.[/p][TAG-407][td][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="113"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="327"][p]Globally, a few clothing items may still appear to clip with other specific items.[/p][td][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="113"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="327"][p]When a passenger requests a window to be opened/closed, only using Alyss will fulfill the request, not using a custom keybind.[/p][td][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="113"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="327"][p]Some specific clan races on Ibiza Island have an holographic racing line that goes outside of the road, also leading AI opponents to lose time.[/p][td][p]Here are the three concerned races that were discovered: 'Highway to Heaven', ' Shopping in Ibiza Town', 'Night Drive in the Marina'.[/p][/tr][p][/p]
🏗️ Future Fixes & Improvements
[p]For starters, we’d like to confirm that both of the following issues will be fixed in the Season 6 update:[/p]
[p]Upgrade costs are too high for Ford F150 ‘The Adventurer’, Nissan GTR ‘The Tyger’, BMW M4 Competition ‘PUMA Go Wild’
[p]The car obtained through the casino slots is unable to be sold in Car Resale (Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series)[p]
[p]Season 5 Update 2 helps bring further optimisation efforts to the game, but of course we are going to continue working harder on this subject for both PC and console.[p][p]As a lot of efforts went into stabilising this build, you will find a lot more bug fixes arriving in Season 6 and Season 6’s Patch 1. Stay tuned to the Solar Club Letters and Season 6 marketing material to see our continued improvements to the game, from vehicle model bug fixes, to network server improvements, sound design improvements, map improvements, and much more![p]
❤️ Our Final Message
[p]We hope console players enjoy the improved dynamic resolution, and we are excited for the continued growth of fixes and improvements arriving to TDUSC in the coming season releases with improved QA.
[p]The TDU Team[TAG-501]
Solar Club Letter: January 2026
[p]It’s time we improved the communication and transparency in our letters by discussing more bug reports, more developer quotes, and letting you know what we’re working on in detail! [/p][p][/p][p]Season 5 introduces a one time 5 month length Season as we wanted time to improve the game with various game performance stabilisation improvements, bug fixes on the current Season 5 features, and more. Update 1 was the first result of this, as we tackled many fixes on Poker, map issues, and more from community reports, and we aren’t stopping there. In this letter, we’ll discuss the details of Update 2, Season 6, and give you some transparency on what we are working on. Let’s get into it![/p][p][/p]
What’s In the Letter?
[p]Season 5 Update 2[/p]
[p]Release Date[/p]
[p]Bug Fixes & Improvements[/p]
[p]Stabilisation, Performance & Optimisation[/p]
[p]Season 6 Details[/p]
[p]Confirmed Features So Far[/p]
[p]What Are We Working On?[/p]
[p]Network Improvements[/p]
[p]Visual Steering Animation Improvements[/p]
[p]Steering Wheel Input Fixes[/p]
[p]Vehicle Fixes[/p]
[p]Sound Fixes[/p]
[p]Quality Assurance[/p]
[p]Solar Testers[/p]
[p]Community Spotlight Winners - January[/p]
[p]Winners[/p]
[p]How To Submit (New Challenges)[/p]
[p]January Theme[/p]
[p]Next Communications[/p]
[p]News From the Pits[/p]
[p]February Solar Club Letter[/p][p] [/p]
⏭️ Season 5 Update 2 Details
[p]The next Season 5 update is bringing more bug fixes and improvements to TDUSC, here’s everything to learn about the update so far.[/p][p][/p]
Release Date
[p]The update is planned to release within the first half of February. As usual, we’ll be communicating the exact release date of this update within the first week of February. [/p][p][/p][p]As for the maintenance, it will be mentioned in the Patch Notes, which will arrive a day or two before the release of the update, but expect the usual server maintenance at 9:30am CET and the maintenance will last up to 6:00pm CET. We will keep you updated on our progress during the day too, which we’ve trialed with our last update release, and the community seemed to love it![/p][p] [/p][p]Make sure to stay tuned for all the details on Update 2 by following us on social media![/p][p] [/p]
Bug Fixes & Improvements
[p]Similar to Update 1 we’ve done a lot of work on the bugs reported by the community, and we aren’t stopping that with Update 2. You’ll find bug fixes and improvements arriving in the update, from vehicle reports, to graphical issues, Taxi mission issues, Poker, crashes, networking, and so much more! For now, here are some ones we’d like to point out:[/p]
[p]Fixed and improved the Alyss Hot Head and other event call outs - Alyss wasn’t working properly when you heard her tell you that there is a new event happening. Now, a proper notification window will appear, by selecting the appreciate button, your map will open and highlight the event on the map![/p][p][/p]
[p]Fixed traffic lights not working in Causeway Bay - There were some permanent yellow lights located on both Hong Kong Island and Ibiza. We unfortunately only branched the Hong Kong Island traffic light fixes for Season 5’s Update 2, but you can expect the lights on Ibiza to be fixed for Season 6![/p][p][/p]
[p]Bugatti Chiron active aero improved wing animation - We’ve fixed the Bugatti Chiron’s wing animation. They'll now be configured in the Chiron’s Autobahn mode (so the wing no longer rises at 50kmph). Thanks to our vehicle artist KT Theo for this![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/4cc813940c233e465aa098f15fb69887ece0803f.gif"][/p]
[p]Lamborghini Miura headlight animation - This is a big one we’ve seen reported from the community a lot, and we’ve fixed this for Update 2. The Miura will now have the correct animation for turning the headlights on and off. For those who didn’t know, bet you didn’t know this is a feature the car has in real life did you? Thanks KT Alexandre for the improvement![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/595a88b5117ed4f5a49b5e2cf1c4c4b58f92dcc5.gif"][/p]
[p]It is impossible to have multiple inputs in use - A LARGE improvement for those who use wheels, rejoice! You can now have multiple inputs in use, which means you can have keyboard bindings for vehicle features, and use them at the same time as your wheel is in use. This implementation will also be improved further in Season 6. Thanks to KT Lenny for fixing this![/p][p][/p]
[p]Fixed players gaining an unfair time advantage through alt-tab while in-game - This was a report from a member in the community, which thank you for your very detailed report. We’ve been able to fix this in the patch, and thanks to KT Ulrich for working on this fix![/p][p][/p]
[p]We will share more fixes on the release of the patch notes, but as we wanted to prioritise stabilisation and performance on this build, you will find a lot more bug fixes from all areas of the game day one, on Season 6! Further in this letter, you'll find more details on this![/p][p][/p]
Stabilisation, Performance & Optimisation
[p]Another focus of this update is the stabilisation, performance & optimisation. For the launch of Season 5, our KT Engine has gone under enhancements and improvements, many of which will help us achieve the next step in a larger optimisation tactic. With this engine change, we also have a dedicated team working on improving the performance and optimisation of the game, and this update is the first solution to the improvements of the game.[/p][p] [/p][p]Here’s some information from Niels (TDUSC Producer) about the upcoming update, and what it means for players on both PC and console.[/p][p] [/p][p]“I think the community knows this by now, and we've said it many times; optimization is our top priority. But I now hope that they're starting to feel it while playing! This update is no exception: it's another step towards the experience we want to offer our players. Specifically, after this update, console players should see a significant improvement in dynamic resolution. For those who don't know, when the frame rate drops, the game can gradually reduce the resolution to maintain a stable frame rate. This is called dynamic resolution, a key feature in modern racing games. Thanks to our latest improvements, the overall resolution should now be higher resulting in a sharper render.”[/p]
[p]Niels (TDUSC Producer)[/p][p] [/p]
🔜 Season 6 Details
[p]What’s after Season 5? Season 6, the next content update for TDUSC. This will show our continued improvements on QA and bug fixing, and many new quality of life requests and improvements, so let’s talk about it![/p][p] [/p]
Confirmed Features & Content So Far
[p]There’s a lot of things to discuss when it comes to Season 6, and we won’t want to reveal it all, but let’s give you some details on what some upcoming features are:[/p]
[p]Detective Missions - Voted by the players from our Year 2 Developer Diary, this feature from which had its first sighting in TDU2 has been enhanced to offer the players a much more in depth experience, especially with the different lore of each mission! You’ll learn more about this early March![/p][p][/p]
[p]New Vehicles![/p]
[p]Pagani Huayra Roadster (Dealership)[/p]
[p]Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (Online Store)[/p]
[p]Of course, there are many other improvements we are working on for TDUSC, so let’s cover some important topics that have been brought up by the players over the course of TDUSC’s life so far.[/p][p][/p]
Network Improvements
[p]TDUSC’s networking has improved since launch, but there’s still room for improvement! That said, here are some things the network team is working on for TDUSC.[/p]
[p]Instancing improvements[/p]
[p]8-Player Groups[/p]
[p]Official Racing Center[/p]
[p]Housing[/p]
[p]& more![/p]
[p]Here’s some words from the network team regarding their work and next improvements on TDUSC![/p][p][/p][p]“TDUSC being an online game, we’re part of every new feature that has been announced because we need to add those new features server-side, and make sure that our infrastructure can handle them. However, we don’t stop there, we really want to make sure that players have the greatest experience together! So we decided to split our efforts in half for the next year, and make sure that we completely rework our server-side applications and the netcode of our game. Even the hardware infrastructure of our servers will change because we will upgrade every one of our servers, and rearchitecture the network topology of our components to ensure there will be less latency between players. We have to ensure first that your saves or current experience are not at risk, so those server optimization and stabilization changes will take time, but it’s really something that is important for us, because it’s important for you.”[/p]
[p] Sylvain (TDUSC Lead Online Programmer)[/p][p][/p]
Visual Steering Animation Improvements
[p]In TDUSC’s first year of seasonal updates, Season 2 brought 900 degree steering animation! This was a big effort from the dev team, but it wasn’t perfect. One of the main issues that players reference with this feature is the steering animation is delayed on the controller. [/p][p][/p][p]We are working on improving this visual effect, however this new steering is still in beta, and it requires continued testing and improvement on our development branch. We hope to have more details on this in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to the Solar Club Letters for more details![/p][p][/p]
Steering Wheel Input Fixes
[p]We can’t leave these people behind! TDU is about immersion, and one thing TDUSC has done well with is the physics of the vehicle and how the vehicles feel on wheel. There’s some issues that we have to work on though, so let’s discuss some solutions we have for some wheels, and some fixes we are working on with other vehicles![/p][p][/p][p]Is my old PC, PS3, or Xbox One racing wheel model compatible with TDUSC?[/p][p]Some older Logitech, Thrustmaster, or Fanatec models are no longer supported by the SDK provided to us each year by the technical support teams of racing wheel manufacturers. If you encounter problems with models dating back to the PS3-Xbox One era or earlier, please use the following solution: [/p]
[p]Go to UserSettings.cfg located in C:\\Users\\YourUserName\\Documents\\My Games\\Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown and set Engine.Input.EnableNaconSDK = true; to false. [/p]
[p]This will allow your machine to enable DirectInput, the standardized API that will ensure the most basic controls of your steering wheel work.[/p]
[p]Also, make sure you have installed the software provided by the manufacturers (Logitech G Hub, Fanatec Driver, Thrustmaster Drive, Moza Pit House, etc.) in order to configure your settings and update the steering wheel's firmware and drivers. [/p]
[p]Example: the Logitech G27 is no longer supported by the Logitech SDK and now uses the DirectInput system for basic commands, but you can continue to use Logitech G Hub to configure your settings.[/p][p][/p][p]If you have any questions, please reach out to our support team about this! There are also other issues we are working on for TDUSC and wheel support. Below are some key issues brought up by the community and should be addressed in the next patch.[/p]
[p]Logitech G923 - No input detection, game crash on reconnect – Force Feedback and softlock Non-Functional on PC[/p]
[p]Logitech G920 - FPS drop on PC[/p]
[p]When we have more details on these issues, we’ll let you know! For further details, here’s the developers at KT working on the improvements and fixes on wheels and inputs for TDUSC.[/p][p] [/p][p]“There are more than 70 models of steering wheels in Kylotonn's wheel library, as well as pedals, shifters, and add-ons. We regularly acquire new models from manufacturers, and often there are bugs that I can only resolve by reproducing them directly with the corresponding steering wheel model. Fun fact: since I work remotely, I store a certain number of steering wheels at home—my apartment has basically become an extension of Kylotonn.”[/p]
[p] Lenny (TDUSC Input Programmer) [/p]
[p]“Among players who use a racing wheel on TDUSC, Fanatec, Logitech, and Thrustmaster account for more than 70% of our players, or even 80% if we add Moza. The Logitech G29 alone accounts for 25%. Unsurprisingly, most of my discussions about organizing tests or compatibility reports focus on these four manufacturers, but it's always a pleasure to have the opportunity to talk to other companies. I find the steering wheel manufacturing ecosystem fascinating and full of creativity! People don't realize how much care goes into it. “[/p]
[p] Marie (TDUSC Technical Producer)[/p][p][/p]
Vehicle Fixes
[p]Test Drive Unlimited is about the lifestyle of vehicles, and we know vehicle immersion and accuracy are important to TDU fans because of this. With that, we’ve focussed a lot of attention on looking back at our vehicles and correcting them. Below are just some of the many improvements our vehicle artists and vehicle dynamics developers are working on![/p]
[p]Ferrari California incorrect gearbox[/p]
[p]Chevrolet Camaro incorrect rim depth[/p]
[p]AC Cobra incorrect rim size[/p]
[p]Aston Martin DBS Superleggera 'Swan Doors'[/p]
[p]Ford GT dashboard RPM not in sync [/p]
[p]Lamborghini Diablo VT incorrect final drive ratio[/p]
[p]Dashboards are hard to see[/p]
[p]Ferrari 488 Pista indicator/reverse light[/p]
[p]& more![/p]
[p]Here are some words from our TDUSC vehicle dynamics designer![/p][p] [/p][p]“We are currently working on several improvements ranging from rebalancing upgrades and camera angles to refining rim sizes and wheel proportions. These are long and tedious tasks but it's fun and rewarding.[/p][p]I hope you'll be able to see those changes soon and enjoy them as much as we enjoy working on them. I really want to thank you for all the feedback ! Most of them really help us to get a better car experience.”[/p]
[p] Cloe (TDUSC Game Designer (Vehicle Dynamics))[/p][p][/p]
Sound Fixes
[p]Sounds are what make or break a racing game, and we’ve been proud of the success we’ve had with vehicle sounds, ambiance, and much more in TDUSC so far! That said, there is still room for improvement, and we’ve already made some great strides on fixes. Below, is what you can find fixed and improved day one of Season 6 and after:[/p][p] [/p][p]Season 6+[/p]
[p]Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Sound On Throttle Below 3k RPM Is Silent[/p]
[p]The ambient sound effect continues to play when the player enters the 'Street' and 'Sharp' clan stores on the Ibiza Island[/p]
[p]Music volume increases abruptly when interacting with the 'View Information' prompt in any dealership[/p]
[p]The horn preview audio fails to play inside the Casino Cosmetics Store[/p]
[p]Radio audio fails to automatically reduce volume during NPC passenger dialogue during all Taxi Contracts[/p]
[p]The task completion SFX plays in the race lobby if a task gets completed after the race and the player restarts the race from the race completion screen[/p]
[p]The Button click sound effect plays in the background when the player presses any button during any cutscene[/p]
[p]Fixed BMW M4 Competition backfire[/p]
[p]Fixed LaFerrari sound issue[/p]
[p]Fixed Casino RTC intro music not playing[/p]
[p]Evija, Battista and Taycan Are Missing Sounds From Other Players/AI In Freeroam/Events[/p]
[p]Car Sounds For Other Players Are Incorrect[/p]
[p]McLaren MP4-12C Incorrect Sound[/p]
[p]Sound Balancing (AI audio levels, muffled sounds in cockpit, etc)[/p]
[p]While using an H-Shifter, the vehicle incorrectly produces a 'rev match' dynamic/sound when the gear select is in neutral too quickly (with auto-clutch off)[/p]
[p]& more![/p]
[p]For more details, here’s what TDUSC’s lead sound designer has to say![/p][p][/p][p]“The Audio team is deeply committed to delivering the most immersive sound experience possible in TDUSC. We are truly grateful for the positive feedback we’ve received so far from the community, and we pay close attention to all your comments and suggestions.[/p][p][/p][p]TDUSC is a living ecosystem designed to evolve season after season. We are working on polishing some existing cars — including a global update to backfire volume and a more precise adjustment to the acceleration sound of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. You will also gradually notice a refresh of the UI sound effects, aimed for a more contemporary and less futuristic sound identity.”[/p]
[p]Willmyth (TDUSC Lead Sound Designer)[/p][p][/p]
Quality Assurance
[p]Season 5’s launch was not the best seasonal launch for TDUSC, and it’s something we know we have to work on. This year, we are making large improvements to this area of TDUSC. A new QA team is working with KT and Nacon to help improve the seasonal releases and updates of the game. To talk about this more, here’s the head of Nacon Racing. [/p][p][/p][p]“To deliver the highest level of polish for TDUSC, we have enhanced our QA strategy by bringing another partner on board as of January 2026. Their expertise will help us refine our seasonal releases and the new features planned for this year. Already, Season 5’s Update 2 is bringing a lot more community bug fixes, especially Season 6, and the TDU community will find the next seasonal releases to be improved as we continue to enhance our QA workflow.[/p][p]We are excited for the road ahead with KT Racing and TDUSC.”[/p]
[p]Sebastien (Head of Nacon Racing)[/p][p][/p]
Solar Testers
[p]We’ve seen this request a lot and the community is important to us. With that, we want to let you know we are working on a small project called Solar Testers, run by the community manager, Alex VII. The program is planned to further improve the polish and quality of the game, and even test upcoming features before the season starts to make sure our playerbase has the best experience possible when it launches. To discuss this in more here’s what the community manager has to say:[/p][p] [/p][p]“As today marks my 1 year at Nacon and KT, it brings me joy to be able to bring this new program to core TDU community members to help increase our seasonal release polish and quality assurance! Starting soon, we will be selecting members from the community to join the program and help with the testing of the Season 6 vehicles and features. Of course, there will be a strict NDA with this program.[/p][p][/p][p]I’ll have more details on this program in the following Solar Club Letter, however, the selection process will not be done via application. Good luck to those selected, but I’m sure you know who you are! [/p][p][/p][p]Lastly, a huge thank you to thank KT and Nacon for working with me to get this program started!”[/p]
[p]Alex (Nacon Racing Community & Content Manager)[/p]
[p][/p]
🖼️ Community Spotlight Winners - January
[p]Yup! It’s time to announce the winners for the month of January![/p][p][/p]
Winners
[p]There have been some amazing pictures sent in for this month's Community Spotlight, but here are the top 3 voted photos for the month of January![/p][p][/p]
[p]Discord member babaaurun wins this month's Community Spotlight with the Porsche 918 Spyder! You have won the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and 300 Diamonds![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/d1ebc8c384dc9a262c8b29303ef74eef1788f914.jpg"][TAG-708][/p]
[p]Congrats to Discord member Rei for their well placed photo in the market of Hong Kong Island! You’ve won 5,000,000 Solar Coins and 200 Diamonds![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/cf7839e7bbcd1075a3d0ee05ba7742e417d478c5.jpg"][/p]
[p]Congrats to Flaw for their beautiful LaFerrari image! You’ve won 2,500,000 Solar Coins and 100 diamonds![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/15fdbaf00cc1677d42b6af3cdf1ba395076b9bea.jpg"][/p]
[p]Congrats again to the winners![/p][p][/p]
How To Enter (New Challenges)
[p]First, join our Discord which can be found at Discord.gg/TestDrive. Once you join our Discord, you’ll see a channel called ‘tdusc-photos’. Here, you can send the best pictures you've taken in TDUSC, but make sure to put %communityspotlight1 in your message post! You aren't limited to cars, either. Feel free to send pictures of your liveries, cars, sceneries, garage, etc. The developers will vote for the best photos to be featured in-game and win some prizes![/p][p][/p][p]Here are the rules:[/p]
[p]Each month there will be a theme![/p]
[p]Pictures must be high quality and not edited outside of the game or taken with tools that are not native to TDUSC's in-game photo mode[/p]
[p]Only 1 picture is allowed in a post[/p]
[p]You are only allowed one post per month with the hashtag; however, you can delete your post and make a new one to replace it.[/p]
[p]3 photos will be selected by the TDU team to win each month[/p]
[p]The best picture will be showcased in the in-game news section in TDUSC[/p]
[p]Note: Posting in this channel means you allow your picture to be used by Nacon/KT for promotional use.[/p][p][/p]
January Theme
[p]Daily Driver At Sunset -Your photo must feature a daily driver within the sunset timeframe! Good luck![/p][p] [/p]
🗞️ Next Communications
[p]That’s the end of this month's letter, but what can you expect next? Here’s some of the upcoming news materials arriving between now, and the launch of Season 6![/p][p] [/p]
News From the Pits
[p]An exciting new event from Nacon Racing! Imagine Nacon Connect, but slightly smaller and only featuring our Nacon Racing games. Of course with TDUSC being one of our biggest, you can expect to hear new information about the future of TDUSC in these showcases, with the first arriving next month![/p][p][/p]
February Solar Club Letter
[p]The Solar Club Letter for February will arrive at the end of the month, and will be giving you more details on the upcoming Season 6 launch of TDUSC including the vast amount of bug fixes from what you've seen in this letter so far! [/p][p][/p]
❤️ Final Message
[p]The February update is filled with a lot of bug fixes and improvements, especially for those on console. The team is working hard to continue these improvements over the next updates too, and truly thank you for your support! No Pagani pictures in this letter, but maybe next time! 🙂[/p]
[p]The TDU Team[/p]
Important Season 5 Update 1 Details
[p]The update is live, and we wanted to give you some very important details on the online store and the current Diamond packs, so let’s talk about it![/p][p][/p][p]Before we do though, don’t forget to take a look at the patch notes, which you can find linked below. If you already have seen these, let’s get right into it![/p][p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1249970/view/519735245798379198"][/p]
🆕 Letter Contents
[p]Online Store[/p]
[p]Diamond Packs[/p]
[p]Pricing[/p]
[p]Live Event[/p][p][/p]
🏪 The Store
[p]The online store is one of the key additions to TDUSC in this update along with the vast bug fixes and the ability to interact with furniture. However, there are some important things to know about the store launch and its features that we want to be transparent about and explain.[/p][p][/p][p]Important Note: All premium vehicles from places such as Solar Pass or Online Store have no level lock requirement, meaning you can drive and race the car as you please at any level in-game![/p]
[p]Diamond Packs[/p][p]The currency used in the store is called Diamonds. You can purchase these in various pack amount forms from the online store, however due to platform store issue, we want to let you know some issues:[/p]
[p]The temporary promotional bonus (extra 100 Diamonds from the original 500) 4,99€ / 600 Diamonds pack is still available but you need to buy it directly from the store (PS Store, Microsoft Store or Steam Store). You can find the following links to do this below:[/p]
[p]On the PC in-game Online Store, both the 4,99€ / 500 Diamonds pack and the 99,99€ / 13.500 Diamonds pack are shown but cannot be purchased. These will officially arrive in Season 5 Update 2.[/p]
[p]On the consoles in-game Online Store, both the 4,99€ / 500 Diamonds pack and the 99,99€ / 13.500 Diamonds pack are not shown and similarly to the PC version, these will officially arrive in Season 5 Update 2.[/p]
[p]On all platforms, the 4,99€ / 600 Diamonds pack will be removed and replaced with the normal 4,99€ / 500 Diamonds pack.[/p]
[p]We are sorry about this issue, and if you have any questions please reach out to us on Discord or Reddit, but our other social media platforms will be looked at too![/p][p][/p]
[p]Pricing[/p][p]We tried to remain competitive and fair with the pricing of the online store. Let us know your thoughts. Individual pricing for vehicles can range from 250 Diamonds to 350 Diamonds. For example, unlicensed body kits will always cost less than full licensed variant vehicles. If you have any questions about other items, feel free to ask on our social pages or Reddit/Discord.[/p][p][/p]
🎮 Live Event
[p]Here is this weeks live event! Stay tuned though, next week is the PUMA live event, and you can win some EXCLUSIVE PUMA shoes and shirt along with Solar Coins![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/27ae78038895520f2dfd6f8620cd6d2916b4af40.png"][/p]
❤️ Our Final Message
[p]We hope you enjoy this update, and the TDU team is very excited for the future ahead with TDUSC. We have many more communications to arrive in the next weeks and months, especially when it comes to Season 6, 7 and of course, Season 8! See you again soon![/p]
[p]Here’s all the fixes coming to Season 5’s first content update![/p][p][/p][p]Season 5 launched a few months ago and we’re here for the Update 1 content. Here’s all of the fixes and new features arriving on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.[/p][p][/p][p]Maintenance Confirmation: We will be starting the server maintenance at 9:30am CET and the maintenance will last up to 6:00pm CET. We will keep you updated on our progress during the day.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/583e8314e72e31ded0482f8d8cfac442dd1e7f9e.jpg"][/p]
🆕 New Features & Content
[p]Online Store[/p]
[p]Purchase new vehicles[/p]
[p]Purchase previous Solar Pass rewards[/p]
[p]Purchase previous Live Event rewards[/p]
[p]Purchase licenced clothing[/p]
[p]New Features[/p]
[p]Furniture can now be interacted with[/p]
[p]New Cars(added in online store rotation bundle)[/p]
[p]Nissan GT-R (R35) - The Tyger[/p]
[p]BMW M4 Competition - Puma Go Wild[/p]
[p]Ford F-150 - Adventurer Edition[/p][p][/p]
🛠️ General Fixes & Improvements
[p]Updated the world generation system for improved performances[/p]
[p]Fixed performance issue when going to the Social menu with too many friends[/p]
[p]Fixed poker hands sometimes displayed to the player before the hand is dealt[/p]
[p]Fixed not added / deducted chips from the total chips balance after leaving the Poker table[/p]
[p]Fixed Poker game failing to continue when a player leave the table during the card distribution phase[/p]
[p]Fixed straight flush sometimes labelled as regular flush during poker[/p]
[p]Fixed unfair traffic light penalties sometimes occurring in Taxi missions[/p]
[p]Fixed automatic configuration not working for Live Events[/p]
[p]Fixed flickering effect sometimes appearing on the side of the screen[/p]
[p]Fixed wrong animation playing during poker[/p]
[p]Fixed Poker personal countdown sometimes freezing[/p]
[p]Fixed several cases of poker animation retriggering themselves[/p]
[p]Fix DriftThresholdValue criteria so the starting burn is not seen as a drift[/p]
[p]Fixed overlapping poker UI[/p]
[p]Fixed some cases of levitating objects[/p]
[p]Fixed favourites photos not being displayed in the 'My Favourites' tab[/p]
[p]Updated all licensing locks on Horns and Licence plates (backgrounds & texts)[/p]
[p]Fixed various cases of overlapping or cropped UI[/p]
[p]Replaced Horn input with auto play in workshop / solar pass / online shop screens[/p]
[p]Fixed poker cards sound being heard from other tables[/p]
[p]Fixed default PR value displaying in the 'Car Sale' menu for a car with performance upgrades[/p]
[p]Fixed render of S5 Solar Pass legendary outfit[/p]
[p]Removed Gas Station AR when disabled in game settings[/p]
[p]Fixed custom ‘Quality Level’ setting for any upscaling method reverting to its default value at every game start[/p]
[p]Fixed too low mouse sensitivity when rotating the character model inside the Wardrobe[/p]
[p]Fixed wrong GPS marker's distance after failing a 'Car Delivery' contract[/p]
[p]Fixed missing localization[/p]
[p]Fixed missing texture on some concrete surfaces[/p]
[p]Fixed overlapping vegetation[/p]
[p]Fixed issue where player is unable to start live event races with the stock restrictions after auto-configuring the eligible cars[/p]
[p]Fixed the application crashes when the player adjusts the 'Custom' slider of the 'Quality Level' for the 'XeSS' Upscaling method[/p]
[p]Fixed the application crashes during the loading screen on selecting the 'Continue' option after the Initial Interactive Screen, when the user travels to the solar hotel and re-launches the application[/p]
[p]Fixed the cursor shifting from the left or right when using the 'A' and 'D' keys while renaming a personalized outfit[/p]
[p]Fixed AI traffic cars drive inappropriately near the 'Central District' workshop[/p]
[p]Fixed Casino clothing items that are missing in the 'Casino Clothing Store'[/p]
[p]Fixed rewards failing to be awarded upon completing any secondary task.[/p]
[p]Fixed misplaced sign In front of Lippo Centre[/p]
[p]Fixed Stanley area road clipping/flickering issue[/p]
[p]Fixed cone in middle of road in HKI[/p]
[p]Fixed a rock asset is present in the middle of the tarmac road at the 'Stanley' district (The Tortoise and the Hare Race)[/p]
[p]Fixed a tree is implemented on the road near the 'Talamanca Gas Station' in the Ibiza Island[/p]
[p]Fixed an invisible collision occurs when returning from the 'Exploration' help menu and driving for a certain distance[/p]
[p]Fixed the player is unable to scroll past level 36 when navigating the S5 Solar Pass rewards timeline in reverse[/p]
[p]Fixed FRIM fails to end on colliding with specific assets in the game[/p]
[p]Fixed Foliage from median strip extends onto the drivable road surface in the 'Wan Chai' district[/p]
[p]Fixed the turtleneck tops are clipping into the watches on avatars[/p]
[p]Fixed multiple inconsistent textures are present on the soccer ground[/p]
[p]Fixed intermodal container is clipping with the boundary wall during the clan race 'Trip Around the Peninsula' in the Ibiza island[/p]
[p]Fixed the right stick simultaneously controls both car rotation and list scrolling in the car sale menu[/p]
[p]Fixed metal I-beams of a roofed shelter are clipping with the trucks in the 'Aberdeen' district[/p]
[p]Fixed the plants are misaligned with the planter bed near the 'Cycle of life' circuit race in the 'Aberdeen' district[/p]
[p]Fixed random AI traffic cars create needless congestion when the roads are clear[/p]
[p]Fixed small trees lacking sound effects when destroyed[/p]
[p]Incorrect translation of Ui for 'remove' on the UI for map customisation; changed to ‘minimize’[/p]
[p]Fixed player glasses are removed when driving above 40kmph[/p]
[p]Fixed light pole placement on Ibiza near Selene HQ (Avinguda de Santa Eulària des Riu)[/p]
[p]Fixed the horn preview audio fails to play inside the Casino Cosmetics Store[/p]
[p]Fixed AMD cards creating colourful dots which can also lead to white screen[/p]
[p]Fixed random shadow appearing on the highway[/p]
[p]Fixed pixels on screen often found on Hong Kong Island highways[/p]
[p][/p]
🚗 Vehicle Fixes/Improvements
[p]Fixed number of gears on Dodge Hellcat[/p]
[p]Fixed displayed specs of R8 Decennium and Green Hell[/p]
[p]Fixed too high gear ratio on Lamborghini Huracan[/p]
[p]Fixed "Ford Mustang Anniversary" livery being blurry in performance mode[/p]
[p]Improved DeLorean DMC12 dashboard sync[/p]
[p]Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is now able to reach its max speed[/p]
[p]Corrected the Audi R8 Decennium and Green Hell performance[/p]
[p]Fix on CSR260 gearbox so it can reach its max speed when fully upgraded[/p]
[p]Fix on dashboard cam for Nissan 370Z[/p]
[p]Fixed Diablo VT exhaust pipes aren't in the center of the vehicle[/p]
[p]Fixed the handbrake warning symbol on the dashboard of the 'DeLorean Alpha 5' where it fails to illuminate when the handbrake is engaged[/p]
[p]Fixed the Ferrari Portofino sound cuts and strange noise when making a burn out[/p]
[p]Fixed livery of the BMW M4 Competition where it can't be changed back from the TDUSC Anniversary livery[/p]
[p]Fixed some licence plates showing incorrectly when certain text is selected[/p]
[p]Fixed various pixelated liveries when driving in free roam or using performance mode[/p]
[p]Aston Martin DB11 Volante Taxi[/p]
[p]BMW M4 Competition Puma Go Wild[/p]
[p]DeTomaso P72 LeMans[/p]
[p]Lotus Emira Taxi Racer[/p]
[p]Porsche Cayenne Black Diamond Private Hire[/p]
[p]Alpine A110 Legende US Racing[/p]
[p]Fixed headlight illumination reveals partial details of the insides of the body of adjacent cars in front of the player's car[/p]
[p]Fixed multiple inconsistent statistics on the acceleration gauge when changing some Citroën 2CV (1967) parts[/p][p][/p]
🖥️ PC
[p]Fixed PS5 DualSense controller failing to work or misidentified as a different controller[/p]
[p]Added FSR3.1.5/FSR4 for compatible AMD devices[/p][p][/p]
🔵 PS5
[p]Fixed Multiple performance drops during the race Frictions in Causeway Bay.[/p]
[p]Fixed Endless Vibrations when invoking pause menu on Redline[/p]
[p]Fixed global illumination drastically shifting to green or red entirely during races and in free roam on both Hong Kong and Ibiza Island[/p][p][/p]
🟢 Xbox Series
[p]No Xbox specific fixes[/p][p][/p]
🌐 Network
[p]Better Stability and Performance[/p][p][/p]
⚠️ Known Issues
[p]Below is a list of known issues on the current build, and their status in development. This list does not include previous bug reports that the players have reported, and only includes new issues.[/p][table equalcells="1" colwidth="98,187,112,76,83,89"][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]Platforms[/p][td colwidth="187"][p align="center"]Summary[/p][td colwidth="112"][p align="center"]Note/Comment[/p][td colwidth="76"][p align="center"]Version[/p][td colwidth="83"][p align="center"]QA Status[/p][td colwidth="89"][p align="center"]Fix version[/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Often, when installing a DLC during gameplay, after going back to the main menu the loading to get back to the game is infinite.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p]Restarting the game solves the issue.[/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Resolved[/p][td colwidth="89"][p align="center"]S5P2[/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Rarely, in the Online Shop, opening and closing the "Buy Diamonds" menu from the screen to buy an item multiple times leads to a pop-up not disappearing.[/p][TAG-601][td colwidth="112"][p]Restarting the game solves the issue.[/p][TAG-605][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][TAG-609][td colwidth="83"][p]Resolved[/p][td colwidth="89"][p align="center"]S5P2[/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Sometimes, when switching tabs rapidly to and from the Online Shop, the pop-up that loads the Online shop does not disappear.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p]Restarting the game solves the issue.[/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Resolved[/p][td colwidth="89"][p align="center"]S5P2[/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]After using the Test Drive features of cars previewed in the Online Shop while located on Ibiza Island, an infinite loading occurs.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p]Restarting the game solves the issue.[/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Resolved[/p][td colwidth="89"][p align="center"]S5P2[/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]After interacting with a seating Point Of Interest at the same time as another player, no other POI will be interactable.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p]Fast travelling outside of the current social HUB resolves the issue.[/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][td colwidth="89"][p][/p][TAG-701][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][TAG-707][td colwidth="187"][p]In the Online Shop, opening and closing the "Buy Diamonds" menu from the screen to buy an item multiple times leads to most items visibly disappearing from the shop.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p]Exiting and loading the Store again fixes the issue.[/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Resolved[/p][td colwidth="89"][p align="center"]S5P2[/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Some rare POIs to sit in car workshops are non-functional.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p][/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][td colwidth="89"][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Some POIs appear on already seated NPCs, allowing them to overlap with them on the same seat.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p][/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][td colwidth="89"][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Two emotes available in the Online shop appear to have the same name.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p][/p][TAG-801][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][TAG-805][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][TAG-809][td colwidth="89"][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Other players appear as a white square on the map.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p][/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][td colwidth="89"][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Rarely, the Solar Pass menu may appear empty.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p]This is only a UI display issue. Exiting the menu and coming back later should fix the issue.[/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][td colwidth="89"][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Globally, some clothing items may appear to clip with other items.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p][/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5P1[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Resolved[/p][td colwidth="89"][p align="center"]S5P2[/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5[/p][TAG-903][td colwidth="187"][p]Possible crash when using Graphics mode and driving around specific areas on Ibiza Island.[/p][TAG-909][td colwidth="112"][p][/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][td colwidth="89"][p][/p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[/p][td colwidth="187"][p]Rarely, attempting to enter a poker room leads to a server error.[/p][td colwidth="112"][p][/p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5[/p][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[/p][td colwidth="89"][p][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX[td colwidth="187"][p]Under specific circumstances, it may happen that during the showdown phase at the end of a round the round doesn't end.[td colwidth="112"][p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5[td colwidth="83"][p]Open[td colwidth="89"][p][TAG-980][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[td colwidth="187"][p]When a passenger requests a window to be opened/closed, only using Alyss will fulfil the request, not using a custom keybind.[td colwidth="112"][p][td colwidth="76"][p]S5[TAG-1000][TAG-1001][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[TAG-1004][TAG-1005][td colwidth="89"][p][TAG-1008][TAG-1009][/tr][tr][td colwidth="98"][p align="center"]XSX, PS5, PC[TAG-1014][TAG-1015][td colwidth="187"][p]Some specific clan races on Ibiza Island have an holographic racing line that goes outside of the road, also leading AI opponents to lose time.[TAG-1020][TAG-1021][td colwidth="112"][p]Here are the three concerned races that were discovered: 'Highway to Heaven', ' Shopping in Ibiza Town', 'Night Drive in the Marina'.[TAG-1024][TAG-1025][td colwidth="76"][p]S5[TAG-1028][TAG-1029][td colwidth="83"][p]Open[TAG-1032][TAG-1033][td colwidth="89"][p][TAG-1036][TAG-1037][/tr][TAG-1039][p][TAG-1041]
🏗️ Future Fixes & Improvements
[p]We are hard at work on the next patches to arrive, that being Update 2 in February which will focus on console performance stability and optimisation (though PC can see some improvements too), and Season 6 in March, all of which will have a vast amount of bug fixes relating to vehicle dynamics and modelling issues, network fixes, UI issues, wheel input issues, map bugs and much more. We’ll detail the next fixes closer to the release of each seasonal update, but the longer Season 5 is proving to be worth the time to help us prioritise and fix many areas of the game that need bug reports dealt with![TAG-1049][p][TAG-1051][p]Rest assured, we will continue to keep watch on our social media pages and Discord for your feedback. [TAG-1053][p][TAG-1055][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/27d146c71f006a59605c7d21e32b700098e24a4a.gif"][TAG-1058][TAG-1059][p][TAG-1061]
❤️ Our Final Message
[p]Happy New Year to our TDU supporters, and although we have a long road ahead, we are excited to show everyone the big strides we are making with TDUSC over the coming months. See you again soon![TAG-1067]
[p]Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday’s TDU fans! This letter is a short one, but that won’t stop us from making sure our community gets a cool Christmas car reveal! Let’s go over everything you need to know before 2025 comes to an end![/p][p][/p][p]Swipe to see more pictures below![/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/d7084ba32b2918c12ac105072389b8a7db5cae42.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/36814cf09cfbbaf1eee29c31e3d20c70176ec41e.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/ce18ef86ae2e6ea1133e710ff41181f85537abde.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/a2d139ff7299322ce79662af562c7b7d0528f49b.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/7a99848b4bfc20d4ebe0cb61b19cf6469cb0feec.jpg"][TAG-20][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/09cc0bbb7fd5ac6bafdeec6506a6474735d8926d.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/c3adfacd79d7c19f676e6df04fdca62d296991e8.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/1f32e793d6da6612c87a68074606ec17ad554865.jpg"]
What’s In the Letter?
[p]Season 5 Update 1 Details[/p]
[p]Season 5 Update 2 Details[/p]
[p]Season 6 Vehicles[/p]
[p]Pagani Huayra Roadster[/p]
[p]Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series[/p]
[p]Lamborghini Temerario[/p]
[p]Online Store[/p]
[p]Where To Find It[/p]
[p]Screenshots[/p]
[p]Networking Improvements[/p]
[p]Overview[/p]
[p]Test Drive Community Week Winners[/p]
[p]Livery Vote[/p]
[p]Race Vote[/p]
[p]Community Spotlight Winner - December[/p]
[p]Winners[/p]
[p]How To Enter[/p][p][/p]
📄 Season 5 Update 1 Details
[p]The next Season 5 update is planned to release within the first two weeks of January. We will have more news on this release date early next year to confirm. There may be a missed live event during the release schedule of the update. [/p][p]As usual, the maintenance for the release date will be announced in the Patch Notes post which will arrive a day or two before the release of the update. [/p][p]Make sure to stay tuned for all the details on Update 1 by following us on social media! [/p]
📄 Season 5 Update 2 Details
[p]The Season 5 update after Update 1 is planned to release in February. As usual, we’ll have more details on this in the next Solar Club Letter. [/p]
🚗 Season 6 Vehicles
[p]Season 6 is bringing brand new vehicles to TDUSC, and it's time we recapped what we have revealed so far, and tease a little more…[/p][p][/p]
Pagani Huayra Roadster
[p]Pagani returns to TDU! Season 6 will be the first season to bring Pagani to TDUSC, but it will not be the last. The iconic Pagani V12 sound is currently under development and our sound design team are really excited to show this off! [/p][p]The Pagani also has a new type of aero system. The active aero works as intended, but when turning the vehicle, the active aero should apply more angle to the left or right side of the vehicle. This new system is what we are currently developing, but it may not be ready at the launch of Season 6, which if it isn’t, players can expect this to be fully working in a later update. [/p][p]Oh, we can’t forget to mention, this car will be available in the dealership! [/p]
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
[p]The king of Mercedes-Benz makes its debut in Season 6. This vehicle will be exclusive to the online store, but will feature additional licenced items in its bundle. We hope you’re ready to experience the aggressive V8 howl from this vehicle in Season 6![/p][p][/p]
Lamborghini Temerario
[p]Merry Christmas! We were originally just going to tease this car, but its unique angles make it very easy to guess, so here it is in its full form! One of the newest Lamborghini’s arrives in TDUSC during Season 6 as a part of the Solar Pass! This vehicle also boasts many manufacturer options, in fact, the most ever. You can customise the car with the following options:[/p]
[p]7 different manufacturer rims[/p]
[p]29 different manufacturer interior colour options[/p]
[p]39 different manufacturer exterior paint options (with some paint options allowing for carbon parts package, carbon roof package, or matte paint options)[/p]
[p]For now, enjoy the beautiful photos of this car![/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/8d561b3b0a37d04ef92ea8c6ab13aeb026793ad0.jpg"][TAG-206][TAG-207][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/2b44af95e258aea2d1323b0ca92ffba9f6ae8fd6.jpg"][TAG-210][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/0e97c631be4fcd1c7288700bc815e3fe29604a75.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/41c4bf44b6e9b2e52de7851c1d20a665e43d00da.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/ce41d1d488651f39f9bc135d2a4bc6b50c5ea8c8.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/fd0de830f439bd8845c142f3b8ad1381c414f549.jpg"][/p]
🏪 Online Store
[p]As we finalise the Online Store, let’s see what it looks like! [/p]
Where To Find It
[p]The store can be found when opening the settings menu and navigating to the ‘Store’ tab. Here you’ll be able to buy everything using the Diamonds currency.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/8c468506bf2b3b9659d05cd0bf7deb41e1ed8a51.jpg"][/p]
Screenshots
[p]Let’s take a look at what the store looks like. Keep in mind, the pricing and items that are seen may not be final.[/p][p][/p][p]Bundles[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/91ba122f13703fec9d46559451c0712ce39d01ad.jpg"][TAG-250][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/da61f66137afd3d3a169754534b73c91c5e4921f.jpg"][/p][p]Rotational Store[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/99563924838d678ea5451f9c84c37280618f4832.jpg"][TAG-260][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/1fd7319b77c2a32ba9a9ee2d29ad5d1a6ed9ed2b.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/427bc42f7fd5ca3c7ceae115d2a0b147cd0ea1ae.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/809ce74ac8b7f576ad502ac08861b365a1eb4c08.jpg"][/p][p]Permanent Store[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/602fdee95b329ca603997876568ce041a28e1fa0.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/4a0e83a27e33e39417a06fd4e964a7d7df81bc23.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/f8e47e1b34bcdb4be643c5a035d4ef13638c9b96.jpg"][/p][p]Free Diamonds[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/82638e39659b956a8365d348c42f15340479c0c3.jpg"][/p]
🛜 Network Improvements
[p]Networking is a big part of TDUSC, and we know it isn’t perfect which creates a frustrating experience for our players, so let’s discuss what’s next for improvements.[/p][p][/p]
Overview
[p]The network team is hard at work on many projects regarding TDUSC. The most important one of course is cross region, but there are other things such as 8 player groups, Official Racing Center and the matchmaking playlist it will have, improving the instancing and matchmaking, and more![/p][p][/p][p]To discuss this in more detail, here is Guillaume to discuss it all! [/p][p]“We’re working on a lot of things to improve the online experience—specifically making sure players actually run into each other more in free-roam. We know that right now, even on populated servers, it feels empty. It’s an algorithmic issue that we are completely overhauling. It’s a major project that will take several months, but we’re confident it will lead to something great. This step forward will allow us to tackle cross-region play.[/p][p]In parallel, we’re still working on the Racing Center, the matchmaking rework, the 8-player groups, solar pass & live event enhancement and improving general server stability for a smoother experience.[/p][p]It's also important to note that every feature in TDU Solar Crown relies on online systems. As a result, the online team is working across the board, since they are affected by every single deployment and feature update! They are doing their best everyday to provide you the best experience.[/p][p]Send them love!”[/p][p]- Guillaume Guinet / TDUSC Game Director[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/9ddc1ac954a1d6768947f1b40c3835980009a454.jpg"][/p]
🎁 Test Drive Community Week Winners
[p]In Season 6, we are creating a community week live event! In the last letter, we had users submit and vote for their favourite fan made livery and races for us to add to the live event. That said, here are the winners![/p][p][/p]
Livery Vote
[p]Congrats to faucheureuse for winning the livery vote! They gave their Bugatti Veyron a nice Sharps style livery which you can see below![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/e4126c4ebb94dcafc9e58b32a5bc22765b33d22b.jpg"][/p][p]We also want to give a huge shoutout to SylFR as our honourable mention with their amazing livery designs![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/c22bd49083d92e7acdfef2b818c88900f82de64b.jpg"][TAG-360][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/5cb2ea8e98ee4c2bb5c49e0ab413036951b774c8.jpg"][/p]
Race Vote
[p]There were many races that players submitted for this event. Here are the 5 races which we will be choosing for the live event! [/p]
[p]Zworg’s ‘Crown Jewel Garnet’ [/p]
[p]Flaw’s ‘Joyaux De La Couronne’[/p]
[p]MrToadfun’s ‘Meeting Is At the Other Dealership’[/p]
[p]Watch Man’s ‘Ap Lei Chau Special’[/p]
[p]Takamisakari’s ‘Rollercoaster’[/p]
[p]We had to make some tough choices here as we used both the vote system and the understanding of developing the races sent with both development time and AI racer capability in mind. We will have more news on the arrival of these live event at a later date. Thank you to everyone who participated![/p][p][/p]
🖼️ Community Spotlight Winners - December
[p]Yup! It’s time to announce the winners for the month of December![/p][p][/p][p]First, the winner of the Alpine community photo goes to The Horizon Vault from Reddit! Congrats, and you win the exclusive Alpine clothing! [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/db175081a44763523b1968b875b4bed5c79fae96.jpg"][TAG-406][/p]
Winners
[p]There have been some amazing pictures sent in for this month's Community Spotlight, but here are the top 3 voted photos for the month of October![/p]
[p]Discord member Shmoogan wins this month's Community Spotlight with their amazing photography of the Alpine A110! Congrats, and your reward is 600 diamonds and Alpine clothing! [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/79eefc8eac6ef7e102bfffb2685b5fd0562778e1.jpg"][/p]
[p]Now this is a bit weird, but we have a 3 way tie, so we’ll disturbed these winners as one! Congrats to Axis-, SylFR, and Night Raven for your photos! You all win 300 diamonds each and Alpine clothing![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/43f0846f111d3d34a4de961a3fb345d18ebfdb4a.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/6eb735b460bf9dd0a81a1e3408bb3d2184533986.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/ca74df55582af69711476ac76afd1bec6943e029.jpg"][TAG-430][/p]
[p]Congrats again to the winners![/p][p][/p]
How To Enter
[p]First, join our Discord which can be found at Discord.gg/TestDrive. Once you join our Discord, you’ll see a channel called ‘community-spotlight’. Here, you can send the best pictures you've taken in TDUSC! You aren't limited to cars, too. Feel free to send pictures of your liveries, cars, sceneries, garage, etc. The community will vote for the best photo to be featured in-game and win some prizes![/p][p][/p][p]Here are the rules:[/p]
[p]Pictures must be high quality and not edited outside of the game or taken with tools that are not native to TDUSC's in-game photo mode[/p]
[p]Only 1 picture is allowed in a post[/p]
[p]You are only allowed one post per month; however, you can delete your post and make a new one to replace it.[/p]
[p]The top 3 voted posts in the month will win prizes[/p]
[p]The most voted picture in the month will be selected to showcase in the in-game news section in TDUSC[/p]
[p]The thread will be wiped on the release of every Solar Club Letter[/p]
[p]Users can only win once every 2 months (including podium spots 1st, 2nd, 3rd)[/p][p][/p]
[p]Note: Posting in this channel means you allow your picture to be used by Nacon/KT for promotional use.[/p][p][/p]
❤️ Final Message
[p]Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays TDU fans! We are getting close to the next chapter of TDUSC in 2026, and we can’t wait for the road ahead. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, see you again soon![/p]
[p]Last month we released the largest content update to arrive since TDUSC’s release. Season 5 brought Poker, Taxi Missions, new economy, vehicle bug fixes and more. We then followed up 2 weeks after the season release to bring an important hotfix! [/p][p]That said, Season 5 is going to be the longest season in the game's roadmap, with a duration of 5 months, meaning Season 6 is planned to release in March. Before then, there will be 2 major updates. In this letter, we will discuss this in more detail. [/p]
What’s In the Letter?
[p]Update 1 Details[/p]
[p]Release Date[/p]
[p]Online Shop[/p]
[p]Bug Fixes and Improvements[/p]
[p]Update 2 Details[/p]
[p]Release Date[/p]
[p]Optimisation & Performance[/p]
[p]Sounds[/p]
[p]Upcoming Updates[/p]
[p]What’s Next?[/p]
[p]Our Stance On Cheating[/p]
[p]Recent Reports & Actions[/p]
[p]Improving Our Tools[/p]
[p]Test Drive Community Week[/p]
[p]Livery Vote[/p]
[p]Race Vote[/p]
[p]Meet the Team Series[/p]
[p]What Is It?[/p]
[p]When Will It Arrive?[/p]
[p]Community Spotlight Winner - November[/p]
[p]Winners[/p]
[p]How To Enter [/p]
🆕 Update 1 Details
[p]It’s time to recap and learn everything coming day one in Season 5![/p][p][/p]
Release Date
[p]Season 5’s Update 1 is planned for early January 2026. With the release of Season 5’s launch and the hotfix that arrived soon after, we want to make sure the next updates are polished, this meant that the release of Update 1 was pushed back a bit, however another reason is because to publish the update on consoles, we have to submit the update to the console platforms for certifications, which follows a Christmas holiday closure. This delay of Season 5’s first full update will not affect the release schedule for Update 2, or the release of Season 6.[/p][p][/p][p]That said, we want to remind you that Season 6 will be released in March 2026 and we will have a larger communication on the next Season release dates before the release of the Season. [/p]
Online Shop
[p]Although Update 1 will have various bug fixes and improvements, it will be also adding the online shop. In next month’s letter, we will be able to share screenshots of the store and explain how it works in more detail. However, we can discuss some of the content you will see in it, as well as some rules of how content will be added to the store.[/p]
[p]Bundles[/p][p]Each season, we will have bundles to sell in the store. These bundles will include the vehicle, a livery, and more! With bundles, they will be on a rotation in the store, and will be rotating between each set that is available.[/p][p][/p][p]To note, all of the vehicles can have their livery removed, and instead, players can choose to create their own livery or use a custom colour at the Workshop. We also know that some players may only want the vehicle itself, and not the bundle. We are currently working on developing a system where players can purchase the items in the bundle individually, but this will not arrive on day one of the Online Store, as we need to make sure the bundle is discounted based on what individual items you buy from the bundle.[/p][p][/p][p]We’ve revealed what these 3 are, so here are more details about them![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/583e8314e72e31ded0482f8d8cfac442dd1e7f9e.jpg"]This vehicle brings an exclusive livery and widebody kit to the current Nissan GTR in the game as well as a new sound file. What do you think?[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/13018e7723a78de81016950030627378ab873d60.jpg"][TAG-180]PUMA arrives in TDUSC’s online shop in the next update. This bundle brings a new sound file, a widebodykit, and more to the reimagined BMW M4 Competition! You will also be able to find some nice sets of PUMA clothing in the rotational store, which we will discuss a bit later.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/734e968a570ea039af1eda9679c39fd78ba71949.jpg"]We haven’t forgotten about the offroad fans! The Ford F-150 gets a lift kit and livery with some vehicle accessory modifications for that complete look! The outfit of course is here to compliment your adventures that can be found on Hong Kong Island and Ibiza! We think you’ll enjoy those hidden offroad paths more now![/p][p][/p]
[p]Rotational Store Page[/p][p]This is where you will see timed items for sale in the store. Sometimes, licensed clothing or items may have a limited time to be sold, and for compliance, we cannot add things to the permanent store, only to remove them later.[/p][p][/p]
[p]Permanent Store Page[/p][p]The permanent store is where you will find a wide variety of previous Solar Pass vehicles and cosmetics (rims, clothing, emotes, etc), previous Live Event rewards, and more. There is however a rule regarding this system, and when these items get added to the permanent store. This is how it works.[/p][p][/p][p]Solar Pass Vehicles - 1 season timed exclusive (example: Season 3 Solar Pass cars available Season 5, Season 4 Solar Pass cars available Season 6, Season 5 Solar Pass cars available Season 7)[/p][p]Previous Solar Pass Rewards - 1 season timed exclusive[/p][p]Previous Live Event Rewards - no season timed exclusive, will be added in the following season[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/c6853574a8860e617f16d8558f2f2ce1d672e4db.jpg"][/p][p]You can also find other exclusive content added to the permanent store exclusively.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/27d146c71f006a59605c7d21e32b700098e24a4a.gif"][/p]
[p]Free Diamonds Claim[/p][p]Another part of the online store is the ability for players to gain free Diamonds weekly. On the store’s front page, there will be a box selection where you can claim 10 Diamonds each week.[/p][p][/p]
[p]We understand there are also many questions regarding the pricing of the vehicles and other items in the online store. We want to assure you that we will make sure the pricing is an appropriate price for the players.[/p][p][/p]
Bug Fixes and Improvements
[p]Of course, the online store isn’t the only thing to expect coming in Update 1. We are working very hard on the next bug fixes to arrive not only in Update 1, but also Update 2 and Season 6 of TDUSC. Here are some examples of fixes you can expect to see.[/p]
[p]Dodge Hellcat SRT now has the correct 8 gear transmission[/p]
[p]Removed Gas Station Augment Reality (when you have AR feature off)[/p]
[p]Fixed The Tortoise and the Hare Race (removal of rock in race/freeroam)[/p]
[p]Fixed the custom ‘Quality Level’ setting for any upscaling method where it reverts to its default value every time the player restarts the game[/p][p][/p]
[p]And much more! We will have the patch notes arriving before the launch of the Season as usual. We expect much more bug fixes leading up to and in Season 6, especially those from the community reports such as Taxi Mission issues, Poker, map issues, vehicle and dynamic reports and more. [/p][p]Another thing arrives in Season 5’s Update 1, and that’s the ability to interact with the furniture in the world. Perfect for a real estate teaser![/p][p][/p][carousel autoadvance="true"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/6529462dffd1b9d7f9d1416b615c63c1d9a0e09b.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/be1e78bc1d5dce2ff88ca3f2d672d3e6d4b0fcbb.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/87999e073c02bc54eecebbe1936ef0f9ea42d08f.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/42996b1ce3b6fe6fde269e8316b57063625399ea.jpg"][TAG-300][/carousel][p]On the topic of fixes and this week's live event reward being the Alpine A110 ‘US Racing 2023’ livery, we want to let you know we are looking to give the possibility of appearance liveries to be customised with spoilers, rims, etc. just as seen in the screenshot below in a future update! We’ll hopefully have more info on this soon![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/2e5c589d6153d7a3420deae2b7716ec011b67300.jpg"][TAG-308][/p]
📈 Update 2 Details
[p]Similar to Update 1, Update 2 will feature bug fixes and improvements, but the main goal of it is to improve the performance and optimisation of the game further. Let’s discuss more about this! [/p]
Release Date
[p]Season 5’s Update 2 is planned to arrive early February, 2026. As usual, a patch notes and more information on the game’s maintenance on this update will be provided close to the release. [/p]
Optimisation & Performance
[p]We know optimisation and performance is a big discussion amongst the TDUSC community, and it’s something we continue to actively work on since the integration of the KT Engine update, which helps us achieve a better rendering pipeline, and in turn, helps us further optimise the game. Update 2 brings some more of these improved optimisations. We still plan to continue the optimisations of the game over the course of the new year, and as said before, we want to be able to release a new minimum recommended specification for the game when Season 8 arrives.[/p][p][/p][p]To let you know what you can expect on both PC and consoles for Update 2, Guillaume Guinet has this to say:[/p][p][/p][p]“As you may have noticed, the performances have slightly improved since the S5 release, especially on console; the Xbox and PS5 version has been stabilised. [/p][p]We continue searching for every team's solution to continue to improve the performances in various areas of the game such as map optimisation, AI, vehicle, traffic, KT Engine, etc. Everyone is on board, and we are putting all our effort on this subject.[/p][p]We can divide this task in two parts : [/p][p]- Stabilize the version as it is for now (Target: S5P1 - S5P2 - S6)[/p][p]- Redefine the renderer for each quality preset (PC & Console) to work with a target performance/configuration for each preset (S7+)[/p][p]Just a note: We apologize for the technical issues you have encountered at S5 release due to our work on our engine (HDR problems, reflection parameters, etc.). Changing the render pipeline on our engine was a lot of work on our side and we had a lot of things to fix. Some of them have not been seen. We are currently working to improve our QA testing.” [/p][p]TDUSC Game Director - Guillaume Guinet[/p][p][/p]
🔊 Sounds
[p]Sounds! We’ve heard some feedback on this, and we want to talk about it more again since the last letter. [/p]
Upcoming Updates
[p]The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 gets improved interior cockpit sounds, and the De Tomaso P72 receives an improved startup sound.[/p][p][/p]
What’s Next?
[p]We have seen recent player reports regarding the sound changes of the BMW M4 and the LaFerrari Aperta. We want to mention these vehicles recently had a change in vehicle dynamics, which seem to have affected the sound of the vehicle. We will work on fixing it in a future update. A reminder that based on the feedback from the community in a vote a few months back, these were the cars we think we can look into next:[/p]
[p]Mclaren MP4-12C[/p]
[p]Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato [/p]
[p]Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody[/p]
[p]Lamborghini Aventador SVJ[/p]
[p]Ferrari 488 Pista[/p]
[p]With more to be announced in the future [/p]
[p]Just as we said in the last letter, we can’t commit to a specific update date on when these will be fixed, but we will let you know in a future letter when we are working on them, and of course, when they’re ready! [/p][p]Currently, the sound design team is working on the new balancing of the sounds in the game. To detail this further, here is what Guillaume Guinet has this to say: [/p][p]“For now, we have a lot on our plate with the new content coming; the new cars, the detective mode and housing are taking a big part of the time of the Sound Design team.[/p][p]I really think you will love what is coming! Especially the return of a V12 on a Pagani...[/p][p]For now, we want to take our time to deliver good new content on S6.[/p][p]However, fixing the existing problems is still on our pipe and we will continue to deliver as many improvements as we can among the different patches in S5.[/p][p]We are looking at the mixing of the player with AI or other players. We are also looking to fix some car sound bugs like the DBS Superleggera one where the sound is very low when accelerating.[/p][p]We will take time later to work on redesigning some cars too, but as we said, it's a lot of work that we don't have for S5 or S6 but it's still something we have in mind. [/p][p]So no, don't worry, we haven’t forgotten the SVJ and the MP4-12C 😉! We love these cars, so how can we!?” [/p][p]TDUSC Game Director - Guillaume Guinet[/p][p][/p]
👎 Our Stance On Cheating
[p]Cheating is not something we stand for in TDUSC. Cheating is something that has plagued previous TDU games, especially TDU2, and we want to assure the community that we are taking the correct steps to prevent and action players who are ruining the game experience of others in TDUSC. Let’s discuss more about this. [/p]
Recent Reports & Actions
[p]There have been recent player reports that the community has submitted, and we have acted on all of them so far by banning the players from the multiplayer experiences of TDUSC, along with removing their times from the leaderboard. If any members of the community see something that is suspicious, use the in-game report function, and if you’re on our social media channels, be sure to let us know and we will look into it too.[/p][p][/p][p]A reminder, TDUSC is not the place to cheat, and we will act accordingly to those who go against this stance. [/p]
Improving Our Tools
[p]Another thing that we need to work on is improving our internal tools to catch cheaters more easily, and create a better flow for reports so we can more accurately track and action those who are cheating. This is something we are hoping to have ready for Season 7’s Official Racing Center release, and we will make sure to discuss this in more detail when we can.[/p][p][/p]
🎁 Test Drive Community Week
[p]In Season 6, we are creating a community week live event! For this event, we will be choosing 5 community created races for players to try out, and 1 community created livery for players to win as the reward! Let’s talk about this in more detail! [/p]
Livery Vote
[p]We’ve seen some incredible liveries the community has made over the past year since TDUSC has released, so it’s time we shed some light on that! Send us your best livery design in the Discord channel #community-week-livery and vote on which player has the best! We’ll have this as the reward for the live event! [/p][p]Important Note: The livery must NOT be a replica of a real life livery nor include real logos, however, a referenced recreation or individual creation is allowed. We will be moderating the submissions and any liveries that may not be allowed will be removed from the channel. A good example of a referenced recreation is below… hey, maybe you will see this reward soon too...[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/2a6b2dfd6572a4f2267cae896f31e8df9c827cd2.jpg"][/p]
Race Vote
[p]A livery isn’t the only thing we want to have you vote on! We want you to create a race design too! This can be done using the in-game multi-route GPS system, or create a route with the below high-res images of Hong Kong Island or Ibiza! There’s no limits to how long your race can be, or how crazy it is. Give us your best shot! Just don’t forget to give it a name and let us know how many laps you want it if it isn’t a point A to B race. Submit your race design in #community-week-race in the Discord![/p][p][/p][p]Discord.gg/TestDrive [/p][p]Winners will be announced in next month's letter![/p][p][/p][carousel][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/f9de225e4cf12e3fe96665c23344f7d453f6f96c.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/4426c43213e3d3d14ced55b480b8e2e01c887dd0.jpg"][TAG-540][p]Thanks to the community for the HKI screenshot! [/p]
🫂 Meet the Team Series
[p]We have an amazing team at KT Racing dedicated to working on Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s updates, and we think it is something that should be highlighted more! With that, we’ve thought of the idea to create a new series within each monthly letter called ‘Meet the Team’. Let’s talk about it![/p][p][/p]
What Is It?
[p]Each month, we would like to introduce you to developers who work on TDUSC at KT Racing. This can be vehicle artists, level artists, gameplay programmers, UI designers, engine programmers, network developers, technical artists, sound designers, community managers, producers, graphical designers, animation artists, and much more! We want to highlight some of the great work our developers are doing, and we think this is a great opportunity to show it.[/p][p][/p][p]Side note, who knows, it may be possible to even get some behind the scenes looks at some future seasonal content that the developers are working on… so stay tuned![/p][p][/p]
When Will It Arrive?
[p]The first Meet the Team will arrive in a future letter, likely in February, but don’t worry, the next letter we plan to have ready for you around Christmas… and we of course, will make sure to leave a nice present for those TDUSC fans who want to learn more about Season 6…[/p][p][/p]
🖼️ Community Spotlight Winners - October
[p]Yup! It’s time to announce the winners for the month of November![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/38247908/74e52ae30b02c79ce06a8c4bc3622b3a5ce91441.jpg"]An honourable mention for the stunning De Tomaso P72 group photo by AndyGilbert![/p][p][/p]
Winners
[p]There have been some amazing pictures sent in for this month's Community Spotlight, but here are the top 3 voted photos for the month of October![/p][p] [/p]
[p]Discord member Watch Man wins this month's Community Spotlight with… yeah, the team was not expecting this, but by popular vote, the screenshot of an in-game ad poster for Solar Cream wins... So congrats and your reward is the exclusive Alpine clothing hat, shirt and pants, which won’t arrive to all players until a later season, and 2,000,000 Solar Coins!
[p]Discord member Leon_JHK takes second place in this month's Community Spotlight with their Aston Martin DBS Superleggera photo! Congrats! Your reward is the Alpine clothing shirt, pants and 1,000,000 Solar Coins!
[p]Discord member Cake comes third in this month's Community Spotlight with their La Ferrari! Congrats! Your reward is an Alpine shirt and 1,000,000 Solar Coins!
[p]Congrats again to the winners! By the time you see this letter, restart your game if you’re already logged in, and you will see your rewards! Post you outfits [/p][p][/p]
How To Enter
[p]First, join our Discord which can be found at Discord.gg/TestDrive. Once you join our Discord, you’ll see a channel called ‘community-spotlight’. Here, you can send the best pictures you've taken in TDUSC! You aren't limited to cars, too. Feel free to send pictures of your liveries, cars, sceneries, garage, etc. The community will vote for the best photo to be featured in-game and win some prizes![/p][p][/p][p]Here are the rules:[/p]
[p]Pictures must be high quality and not edited outside of the game or taken with tools that are not native to TDUSC's in-game photo mode[/p]
[p]Only 1 picture is allowed in a post[/p]
[p]You are only allowed one post per month; however, you can delete your post and make a new one to replace it.[/p]
[p]The top 3 voted posts in the month will win prizes[/p]
[p]The most voted picture in the month will be selected to showcase in the in-game news section in TDUSC[/p]
[p]The thread will be wiped on the release of every Solar Club Letter[/p]
[p]Users can only win once every 2 months (including podium spots 1st, 2nd, 3rd) [/p]
[p]Note: Posting in this channel means you allow your picture to be used by Nacon/KT for promotional use. [/p]
❤️ Final Message
[p]We are getting close to the next chapter of TDUSC in 2026, and we can’t wait for the road ahead. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, see you again soon![/p]
[p]The TDU Team[/p]
Season 5 Patch 1 - Hotfix Notes
[p]The first hotfix for Season 5 is here and it brings some very important fixes to the game since the launch of the Season. The update will be live on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. All the details can be found below. [/p][p]Maintenance Confirmation: We will be starting the server maintenance at 9:30am CET and the maintenance could last up to 6:00pm CET. We will keep you updated on our progress during the day. [/p]
🛠️ General Fixes & Improvements
[p]Fixed HDR settings not working as expected[/p]
[p]Added optimizations to reduce GPU hang issues[/p]
[p]Re-enabled claiming the Solar Pass using tokens[/p]
[p]Ensured the Lamborghini Urus is added to the inventory after claiming the Solar Pass[/p]
[p]Fixed live event rewards not being added to the inventory properly (Solar Coin Bonus)[/p]
[p]Changed the date of the end of the season displayed in the Solar Hotel[/p]
[p]Fixed crash when starting game on Ibiza between 12 am and 12:30 am on some timezones[/p]
[p]Fixed time when returning to freeride after Taxi mode[/p]
[p]Fixed crash when a remote player opens his vehicle window[/p]
[p]Fixed an issue where the application crashes during the loading screen on selecting the 'Continue' option after the Initial Interactive Screen, when the user travels to the solar hotel and re-launches the application[/p][p][/p]
🃏 Poker
[p]Fixed crash when joining poker room during a reveal action on any table[/p]
[p]Fixed action buttons being displayed while watching own cards or board cards[/p]
[p]Fixed action timer freeze when stop watching own cards or board cards[/p]
[p]Fixed possible crash when entering poker room[/p]
[p]Fixed crash when leaving table while second player has been kicked out of table[/p]
[p]Fixed dealer button not moving between players[/p]
[p]Fixed reveal camera not switched when player folds during reveal[/p]
[p]Fixed timer synchronization between client and server[/p]
[p]Fixed wrong token count when leaving poker table[/p]
[p]Fixed token count in rebuy popup[/p]
[p]Fixed being able to rebuy when having no tokens left[/p]
[p]Fixed poker chips balance display not being updated after exiting from a table[/p]
[p]Enhanced player experience during poker sessions[/p]
[p]Fixed multiple possible crashes during poker sessions[/p][p][/p]
🖥️ PC
[p]Added vram usage table for fidelityFX (FSR3)[/p]
[p]Added vram interpolated calculation for fidelityFX custom mode[/p]
[p]Added support for FSR3 in settings screen[/p]
[p]Fixed DLSS option not being active[/p]
[p]Moved dynamic probe from high to ultra in "SSR" option[/p]
[p]Fixed a crash when using AMD graphics cards from series 9000[/p][p][/p]
🌐 Network
[p]Better Stability and Performance[/p][p][/p]
🏗️ Other Details
[p]More details on the next fixes will arrive in the November Solar Club Letter. This letter will discuss the release date for Update 1, as well as some planned fixes we have for it.[/p][p][/p][p]There are some bugs we could not yet fix in time for the hotfix, some of this including the Poker gameplay freeze and the PS5 random crash (however, some may experience a crash fix based on 'Fixed an issue where the application crashes during the loading screen on selecting the 'Continue' option after the Initial Interactive Screen, when the user travels to the solar hotel and re-launches the application'). You may also see the following issues as well:[/p]
[p]An overall illumination problem that dyes the screen green or red can always happen rarely. In some cases, a workaround for this can be opening the photomode, and closing. This should however, be fixed on XSX/S and PC.[/p]
[p]When a player leaves a poker table during the card dealing phase, the other players are stuck on that phase of the game (you have to leave the table when this happens).[/p]
[p]On PC, the option that uses the XeSS causes the user to crash when selecting an upscaling value.[/p]
[p]On PC, selecting a value for all upscaling modes is reset to 50 at launch of the game without saving the chosen value[/p]
[p]Please continue to report any issues you have on the MyNacon Support Page and we will make sure to follow up with any other issues you are experiencing. Update 1 and Update 2 are planned to have more bug fixes, with Update 2 focusing a lot on optimisation for all platforms.[/p][p][/p]
❤️ Our Final Message
[p]We thank you for your patience and understanding with the release of this hotfix. We are continuing to work on improving the release of the next Seasons. See you soon in the November Solar Club Letter![/p]
