After several false starts, it now seems like Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has a concrete launch date at last, and will be arriving on ninth-generation consoles and Steam on September 12, 2024.
The launch date was announced during the Bigben Week event, in Paris, by developer KT Racing’s parent company Bigben Interactive, which also provided some pre-release versions of the game for event attendees to play in its compact event space.
We’ve seen a few launch dates come and go for the game since it was first announced in 2020, with the first being September 2022. That was pushed back to 2023, and then later penciled in for early 2024 according to a financial statement. The new date does look like being the real deal — although with the delays in mind it’s pretty brave to show it off in a trailer with dates running out to 2028…
In addition to the official launch date, KT Racing also revealed the three different special editions you can pre-order now, with the various bonuses they confer.
You can pre-order any edition, including the $59.99 base game, to receive the 2006 Ford GT as a bonus for doing so. Don’t worry about it ruining the lower levels of the game, as the car will only be delivered once you reach level 20. Naturally players who opt to pick up any version after launch won’t get the free car.
There’s also two $79.99 “Silver” special editions, each of which is named after one of the two groups that comprise the game’s storyline. Both offer two days’ early access, beginning September 10, and access to the pre-launch Beta on August 27-30. Additionally you’ll have Solar Pass entitlement, giving you access to the premium tier of seasonal rewards.
The Silver Streets Edition gives you the Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR (at level 12) and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (at level 20), as well as a special “Lord of the Streets” outfit and a Streets sticker pack for customization. Meanwhile the Silver Sharps Edition sees you receive the Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupe (at level 12) and Audi R8 Spyder V10 RWS (at level 20), with the outfit now “Baron of the Sharps” and a Sharps sticker pack.
If that’s not quite enough, there’s also the Gold Edition at $89.99. That includes both the Sharps and Streets content, as well as the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE and Maserati MC20 (both at level 20), a “Board Committee Member” outfit and a Solar Crown sticker pack. Additionally the VIP Solar Pass unlocks the first 20 levels of the seasonal rewards automatically and there’s seven days’ early access, beginning September 5, as well as Beta access.
Of course KT Racing has yet to reveal quite what the seasonal rewards entail, although it’s clear that there’s a standard and paid premium tier — a tactic that continues to find its home on full-price releases after making its way over from free-to-play mobile titles. The fact that both tribes’ pack contents are included in the Gold Edition also suggests that your affiliation is not necessarily fixed.
With three months to go until launch, we’re expecting more details on Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown in the coming weeks.
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