Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is an upcoming racing video game developed by KT Racing and published by Nacon. It will be the twenty-first game in the Test Drive series, the first title in the series since 2012's Ferrari Racing Legends, and the third game in the franchise's Unlimited reboot, following 2011's Test Drive Unlimited 2. The game was teased on 3 July 2020 on Twitter[2] and was officially revealed during the Nacon Connect event on 7 July.[3][4] Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is set to be released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2024.[5][6][7]

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
Cover art featuring the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Porsche Taycan Turbo S
Developer(s)KT Racing
Publisher(s)Nacon
Director(s)Alain Jarniou[1]
SeriesTest Drive
EngineKT Engine
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: Early 2024
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Development

It was reported in December 2016 that French publisher Bigben Interactive (now called Nacon) acquired the Test Drive intellectual property from Atari, with plans to reboot the franchise.[8] In 2018, Bigben announced the acquisition of French game developer Kylotonn, with Roman Vincent, president of Kylotonn suggesting they were working on the next installment of Test Drive.[9] In April 2020, Nacon filed a trade mark to the Intellectual Property Office for Test Drive Solar Crown,[10][11] the last two words referring to the Solar Crown in-universe racing competition series featured in 2011's Test Drive Unlimited 2.[12]

The game will feature a 1:1 recreation of Hong Kong Island as revealed in a trailer released on 6 July 2021 during Nacon Connect 2021. Unlike its two predecessors of both Oahu and Ibiza, the road will be left-hand traffic, a first in the series since The Brotherhood of Speed's Tokyo and London. There will be 550 kilometres (340 mi) of drivable roads, as stated on Steam news hub for the game. Creative director Alain Jarniou, who worked on the first two Test Drive Unlimited games, stated in the Nacon Connect 2020 showcase that Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has only been in development for "several months" by that time.[13][14]

Release

On 3 July 2020, the official Test Drive Twitter account tweeted a twelve-second video clip of a crown-shaped logo with the letters "SC" in it forming, announcing a full reveal during the Nacon Connect video event on 7 July.[2][11] The game was officially announced on that date during the event with a 25-second teaser trailer,[15] with Kylotonn (under their KT Racing brand) developing.[4][1]

On 18 May 2022, Nacon and Kylotonn announced on the game's Steam news hub that the game will be delayed to 2023 and that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions have been cancelled to focus on taking advantage of the more powerful hardware provided by their respective ninth generation successors—the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X and Series S—and improving the quality of the game.[5][6] In July 2023, the game was announced to be postponed to 2024.[7]

References
  1. Prescott, Shaun (7 July 2020). "Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is an open world racer where 'social status is everything'". PC Gamer. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. Test Drive [@testdrive] (3 July 2020). "We're back! ☀👑 #NaconConnect 7th July" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 July 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. Stefan L (7 July 2020). "Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown officially announced". TheSixthAxis. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. Robinson, Martin (7 July 2020). "Kylotonn's new Test Drive Unlimited officially unveiled". Eurogamer. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. Middler, Jordan (18 May 2022). "Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown delayed to 2023 and last-gen versions cancelled". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  6. Romano, Sal (18 May 2022). "Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown delayed to 2023, PS4 and Xbox One versions canceled". Gematsu. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  7. Justin Melillo (12 July 2023). "Closed Beta for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown starts 24th July". Traxion.
  8. Parfitt, Ben (15 December 2016). "Bigben has acquired the Test Drive brand". MCVUK.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  9. Leonard, Michael (18 October 2018). "Kylotonn Games Working on the Next Test Drive Unlimited?". GT Planet.
  10. "Trade mark number EU018224192: TEST DRIVE SOLAR CROWN". Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  11. Bodnarescu, Florin (3 July 2020). "Test Drive Solar Crown teased, reveal happening on July 7 during Nacon Connect". Neowin. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  12. Evans, Andrew (21 April 2021). "Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown First Trailer Released". GTPlanet. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  13. Nacon Connect | 7 July (7PM CEST / 1PM EDT) (Trailer). Nacon. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  14. Robinson, Andy (8 July 2020). "Test Drive Unlimited 3 will 'modernise' the series, says director". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  15. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown (Trailer). Nacon. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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