The upcoming open-world racing game Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has been delayed (again). It was due to arrive in September 2022 and has now been pushed back to 2023.
In addition to this, it's also been revealed the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game have been axed in order to focus on the next-generation versions. Unsurprisingly, this news has raised some concerns about the future of the Switch release.
The Nintendo version was not mentioned alongside the PS4 and Xbox One update, and it wasn't referenced in the rest of the post on the Steam community boards. So it's either still on the way, cancelled, or perhaps there's some other thing the development team can't reveal right now. One other theory is it could be getting a cloud version release.
Test Drive fans are already asking for more information about the Switch release, so if we hear any updates, we'll let you know.
[source steamcommunity.com]
Comments 42
Cancelled or not, that trailer doesn't seem to give me any excitement for the game.
its a cloud version, I am guessing.
Or a completely different version
Where is Outer Wilds? Can someone from somewhere give us an update on it?
No interest in a cloud version. Give me a low res port or nothing lol
If they can’t get the games running well enough on PS4 and XBOX One than I’d imagine a Switch version is off the cards unless it’s a cloud version. Either that or they might have a port of Unlimited 2 or Ferrari Racing Legends. Or nothing. Who knows.
This is an interesting video
I’d guess they were aiming for a cloud version since the announcement.
Seems as though publishers are finally starting to call it quits for last gen. All things considered, cross gen really lasted a long time this cycle...no small part due to covid, no doubt.
@ATaco Well of course, they can't really do much with 2012 techs anymore. I doubt the Switch version is coming either. The Switch at this point is just a platform for last gen ports, retro remakes or remasters, re-releases, indies, and Nintendo games.
Can't see it coming to Switch in "conventional form" if cancelled for PS4 and XBOXOne.
If they were facing insurmountable technical difficulties with Switch, they would be officially ditching it in the same announcement - and cloud versions are normally announced from the start. Like I said on PS last night, Switch and the Gen 8 PlayBoxes are all technically "weaker hardware" compared to PS5 and XBSX now, but Switch's nature and tradeoff strengths can justify and sell a relative downgrade where PS4 would be challenged to.
@Serpenterror which isn't great considering that the steam deck can do all those things besides play Nintendo titles, and better.
Then again Nintendo has always banked off the success of their first party titles. Wouldn't surprise me if they consider non Nintendo titles selling well on the device just a bonus.
Nintendo need to stop making consoles so weak and they wouldn't have to worry about things like this. A console released 4 years after a ps4, shouldn't be weaker than a ps4. I've always been a Nintendo "fan boy" but unless they start releasing consoles that can at least keep up with the latest tech, they're going to slowly die.
@NinjaNicky It's amazing I've been seeing this comment since the Wii days yet Nintendo are in a stronger position than ever. Power in games consoles doesn't equal success.
@anoyonmus Switch gets cloud version, and is why Switch version isn't cancelled.
As we know, cloud games can even run on a smart watch.
@WillQuan but now with other handheld consoles like Steam Deck which is affordable and able to play to Nintendo games, Nintendo need to think about using decent software. Most of the games could probably run on a half decent Mobile Phone. When a console released in 2017 struggles to hit 60fps (and some games even struggle to hit 30fps), you know something isn't right. I'm stupid enough to always buy Nintendo consoles for their exclusives but my Switch is just an indie machine at the moment because they release half finished games lately.
@NinjaNicky I appreciate everything you just said but it simply doesn't effect sales of these systems. Game gear and Lynx more powerful than Gameboy, PSP and Vita more powerful than DS and 3DS. The weaker system has sold more pretty much every generation with portable systems.
The Steam Deck looks great performance wise but let's not pretend it's some perfect system that has huge wide appeal like a Switch. Also the Steam Deck being able to play Nintendo games really isn't a big deal, you've been able to play 90% of their back catalog on a computer and mobile for years.
@WillQuan Nintendo sell because their consoles are cheap, easily accessible and perfect for a family console also being portable is a huge plus. They are a big seller but think how much bigger they'd be if they competed with next gen consoles. Being handheld obviously has its limitations but a console weaker than a smartphone is laughable.
@NinjaNicky If they competed with next gen consoles they wouldn't be cheap, probably not as easily accessible or as family friendly. So the things that make them sell now would no longer be part of the product and instead they would be the same as their 2 main competitors which wouldn't be a good plan.
I just want to say Nintendo have been following this path since the Wii because their past 2 powerful consoles before that were outsold by PlayStation and quite significantly. At this point they aren't going to change so just seems redundant to complain about it.
@WillQuan they could atheist compete with last gen consoles though. I want to play my Switch so bad but when I can get almost all the games for half the price on Steam and they'll perform better, there's no reason to play it. They need to do more with motion controls too because there's not that much out there that properly uses it. I say keep the cheap switch but they could do a "Pro" version which promises 4k at 60fps docked and 1080p for handheld.
@NinjaNicky "Nintendo need to stop making consoles so weak and they wouldn't have to worry about things like this"
GameCube begs to differ.
"unless they start releasing consoles that can at least keep up with the latest tech, they're going to slowly die"
Wii, Switch and pretty much all their handhelds beg to differ.
"They are a big seller but think how much bigger they'd be if they competed with next gen consoles"
They had a next gen console three years before Sony and Microsoft did. But what how do you picture this competition, a $500 home console vs a $600 cooking panel of a hybrid that will get all of said home console's newest AAA multiplats to run them for the grand 15 minutes undocked? Sorry, but realistic people don't quite expect that even from the Gen 10 successor. The shortcomings and compromises of Steam Deck (while a comparison of limited fairness since it's not a console per se) only drive the point further home.
The only way for Nintendo to even chase spec parity again would be to make a pure home console - which, after Switch's success and the merging of the home and handheld production domains, would come across as sheer devolution. Switch can't be weaker than PS4? Well, it is, and it will soon have sold more than PS4 in a significantly shorter while. You're suggesting Nintendo turn their backs on their golden egg goose in favour of the goals that have long left them disillusioned.
@nhSnork of course they sell, it's less than £300 for their most expensive version. If they at least kept up with today's software, they wouldn't have to bring out a new console as often. There's rumours of the Switch 2 being released next year (yes they're rumours but wouldn't surprise me if see a new "updated" version either this year or next). It just sucks for long time Nintendo fans that they can't play their favourite games on the go and the ones you can play, is 720p at 30fps. Their game prices for downloads need to drop too. £50 for Mario golf but you can buy a physical copy for £30. Any indie on the eshop is half the price on Steam and if you have a basic laptop you can play it on the go with better performance and better battery. It's fine staying behind the competition but developers aren't going to try and release their big games on the Switch because it's too much effort for terrible results. Look at FIFA, Switch users get the same game with zero updates to gameplay or graphics, only updated teams. Steep was meant to come out but that was cancelled.
There's 1 of 3 outcomes:
1. Switch version is a cloud version
2. Studios are happy enough with PS5/Series X|S stock to drop PS4/XB1 versions but will do a native Switch version because the Switch is so insanely popular
3. More powerful Switch launches before the Switch version comes out and it turns out the Switch version is only playable on the more powerful Switch
Switch cloud versions are announced when the Switch version is announced so I don't see it being point 1 and point 2 only really makes sense if it gets put on Game Pass and/or PS+ so I'm leaning towards point 3 given there's been a lot of signs recently of more powerful Switch incoming.
This is exactly how you screw up a game. I'm not sure what kind of mindset goes into this, but I'm pretty sure the PS4 and Xbox One can run a game like this reasonably fine. Just look at all the Gran Turismo and Forza games of that generation! Something isn't right here...
If you want to play this kind of games at the price of a switch just get a xbox series s, that's what I did when the switch oled was released and I don't have to wait anymore on poor switch ports or cloud games, best of both world a switch and a xbox series s.
❗️Either give us a cut down version or TD: Unlimited 2...
It cracks me up seeing people think there's going to be a Switch+ model that suddenly lets you play these games in 1080 60fps. Nope, not happening, that's called a switch 2.
Still find it odd that they'd cut the PS4 and XBone. They'll come up with some guff about how 'the experience wouldn't be as good' or 'ooooh, look at the raytracing!' but I bet the Pro and XOX would've put on a damn good effort.
Oh well, significantly less money for KT Racing devs and their publishers. And given the trailer (such as it was), don't think we'll be missing much if the Switch dodges this.
@anoyonmus Test Drive: Quite Limited Edition.
Maybe the Switch version will just have a different graphics mode, like the original DOS game, which I played on my CGA monitor:
https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/10138-test-drive-dos-screenshot-cga-sample-screen.gif
@WillQuan £250 for a series S / £259 for a Nintendo switch I wish people would stop saying Nintendo's consoles are cheap when they aren't for the tech that you get
@Would_you_kindly Does a Series S come with a screen and is portable?
@Would_you_kindly Can you play Nintendo games on an Xbox?
@WiltonRoots yeah you can actually 😂
@WillQuan can you play the switch lite on your TV ?
@Would_you_kindly Ahhh how does it run?
@NinjaNicky Well to be fair the switch is a handheld not a console. I don't think it would have been possible putting all the power into a switch with its design as powerful as a ps4 back in 2017
@Matthew90 but it's not even as powerful as a PS3. I understand they're staying behind because if they try and compete with Sony or Microsoft then they won't sell as much but they should try and be one generation behind not 2 or 3
@Would_you_kindly that's why you buy a PS5, Series X (or a PC/laptop) and a Switch then you have access to all games and don't need to choose just one. Why limit yourself to one console.
@NinjaNicky I think you may be wrong about that. Just looked it up and apparently the PS3 has 203 GFlops and the switch has 1 Teraflop making the PS3 5 times slower than the switch
@Matthew90 Correct the PS3 has 230.4 GFlops but the Switch actually has 393.2 GFlops undocked and 500GFlops docked. It is quite a bit behind the 1.4 TFlops that the PS4 has.
I think this will either be cancelled, a cloud version or it would have to be cut down signficantly more than they was even willing to do on the Xbox One.
@Matthew90 but they need to release a console more powerful than ps4 but less than ps5 to keep the price down and not be a competitive console because developers aren't going to put time and effort making a game for a weaker console. EA have given up on it, Ubisoft cancelled Steep for it and developers just aren't interested. Just look at the eshop, half of it is free mobile games that Nintendo charge £10 for. No man's sky is coming to Switch which is pretty decent now the updates have rolled out but I honestly can't see it looking that great.
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