This is the second smaller patch in the series of patches after the Frozen Depths update. While addressing further issues that have been pointed out to us, we’ve followed the discourse in the forums closely and of course played the game a lot ourselves. It was to be expected that for some players the difficulty reduction would render the game too easy. Others welcomed the change and of course we understand that we won’t be able to satisfy every single one of you just by tweaking the difficulty back and forth.
However, we have to point out that we always need to balance the progression as a whole. If you have everything unlocked (particularly the new class marks) naturally the game will be much easier for you even in the currently final stage. Keep in mind at which point Frozen Depths get unlocked. You can enter the stage after defeating the second boss of the Forgotten Viaduct. Each time we add a new stage, we move the goalpost in a way that doesn’t feel challenging for players who already have 100% of the content unlocked. But we need to make sure that players who follow a natural progression (i.e. when the game leaves Early Access) don’t hit a brick wall.
Frozen Depths is not the final stage. We have more content planned, and we also have a concept for the late game, which should allow challenge-driven players to ramp up the difficulty to their liking, while it doesn’t make other players feel like they have to take on those challenges. But this is an entire feature for a later bigger update. For now we will stick to improving the game where it still feels rough until we’re ready to add new content.
That being said, here is the list of changes for this patch. It’s focussed on improving the game feel of the Beast Huntress and her hound. There also have been some other minor tweaks, like small balancing adjustments in the Frozen Depths based on our own playthroughs and improvements in visibility.
Change Log | 2023-09-07
Summons in general
fixed floaty movement behaviour by adjusting mass/movement speed ratio
Beast Huntress
improved game feel increased attack speed proportionately lowered damage and frost chance improved projectile visuals
Hound
increased attack speed
reduced damage proportionately
Hound will choose targets that are closest to the Beast Huntress instead of its own position
increased aggro range and movement speed
changed attack to a circular emitter in front of the Hound
added a better visual effect and sounds for the attack
Norseman
added missing description of Frost Nova ability
Visibility
Player's Frost Avalanche ability effects have been moved below characters sprites and enemy projectiles.
Enemies' frost avalanche effects have a higher contrast and stand out more against the frozen depth background.
Ability opacity setting now also affects Shadow Cloak, Arcane Rift areas, Arcane Rift Splinters, and Ringblades.
Ember Grounds tweaks
minor adjustments in XP distribution during early waves
slightly increased pickups in stage
slightly increased health values of some enemies
Bugfixes
Spirit Warrior falsely reacted to "+Spawn" modifiers, which was unintended.
What's Next?
Don’t worry, we’ll get back to the Spirit Warrior ability soon. The list of planned changes is the same as it was in the previous announcement. We’ll keep you posted.
The English translation is currently under development and is expected to be finalized within approximately two weeks. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
I'm so happy to announce that our 2nd expansion, Atlas of Discovery, is now available!
If you're thinking about starting fresh, now is a fantastic time to do so! This expansion focuses on adding content from Levels 1-99. If you're brave enough, you could try out the new Ancient Relics Gamemode!
If you're looking to purchase it, or see more information regarding the expansion, you can do so below.
Train Sim World 4 is coming September 26th and with it, the ability to dream big and play your way. In this article we introduce more about the exciting new PC Editor (beta) and cover everything you need to know about Antelope Valley Line – our latest foray into California railroading.
Our journey through California continues with passenger services, a cab car and a powerful, streamlined locomotive. Fans of California railroading may recognise the sun-kissed setting akin to our previous Peninsula Corridor and Cajon Pass routes and in many ways Antelope Valley Line is a happy marriage between the two.
The Route: Los Angeles – Lancaster
Metrolink’s railroad network accommodates commuters, visitors and locals within the wider Los Angeles area, taking these passengers out to the wider suburbs and cities throughout California. The Antelope Valley Line has origins in the late 1800s and closed to passenger and freight traffic in the 1970s before being reopened as a commuter rail service in the early 1990s.
Trains depart the impressive Los Angeles Union Station – the largest passenger terminal in the Western United States – and head in the direction of Santa Clarita to the north, before turning east toward Palmdale and north again to Lancaster. A brand-new station at Vista Canyon is opening in 2023 and this station has been implemented in-game ahead of its opening in much the same way we did with University Station in Birmingham Cross-City.
Like Cajon Pass, from Train Sim World 3, the Antelope Valley Line depicts the changing and challenging scenery of California railroading, starting in the built-up and heavily populated city of Los Angeles, before fading into rugged terrain, desert and the twisting curves and canyons of the wider LA County. At times players may think that they are in fact operating along a freight route, but with the joy of stopping at stations (there are 13 in total) along the way as well as switching ends and heading back using the cab car.
The Locomotive / Cars
Metrolink EMD F125
Flying the flag for all-American diesel traction is Metrolink’s F125 locomotive. Unique to Metrolink (a new operator in Train Sim World), the F125 is a relatively recent addition the USA’s wide variety of diesels, being built between 2015 and 2021. Its streamlined nose reflects its need to whisk passengers between stations on the line at speeds of up to 79 mph, rather than the sharp angles seen on most freight-hauling diesel locomotives.
Rotem Commuter Cars
Behind the F125 are the multi-level Rotem Commuter Cars, with the final car in the consist having its own cab for push-pull operation. Cab cars as a concept are more popular in the US than they are in places like the UK and allow for the engineer to operate the locomotive from the opposite end of the train. Players of our German content may be familiar with the concept from routes such as Bremen – Oldenburg with the n-Wagen cab car or previous US routes like NEC: New York – Trenton or Peninsula Corridor.
The Rotem Cab Car is unique in Train Sim World, with a high position for the engineer and more streamlined exterior. These cars are built by Hyundai Rotem and are used in real-life at opposite ends of the USA, both here in California and by another operator in Florida.
Services, Layers and other features
Services for the F125 are primarily formed of the end-to-end passenger runs as part of Metrolink’s passenger timetable, stopping at the 11 intermediate stations and averaging a speed of 35-40 mph (max speed 79 mph) across the 75-mile route. A handful of services from LA to Burbank or Via Princessa can also be operated as can non-revenue services from LA to Metrolink Carriage Maintenance Facility.
The F125 sits on the northbound end of each train, meaning that services out of LA are pulled by the locomotive, whereas services from Lancaster heading south are headed by the Rotem Cab Car.
Freight services will also be available to players that own Cajon Pass from Train Sim World 3. A selection of BNSF trains will be available as service layers to give some variety to traffic in and amongst the F125-hauled passenger trains.
With the real-life route being Union Pacific territory, those that own Sherman Hill (available separately and as part of the US Super Bundle pack) will instead see the freight services swapped out with Union Pacific locomotives. Both Cajon Pass and Sherman Hill are required in order to operate these. Additional Union Pacific substitutions for the BNSF services will be available from Cane Creek locomotives too.
There’s also a service layer for the Santa Fe F7, which is part of the TSW Compatible Loco Add-on Bundle.
Scenarios center very much around the Hollywood theme, with one of Train Sim World 4’s new in-game Moments featuring in ‘Blockbuster’. Collectibles include a Cowboy Hats spread far and wide along the route as well as a food vendors. And the brand-new Diorama feature brings track workers and other non-standard NPCs to life, as in all of Train Sim World 4’s core routes.
Antelope Valley Line – Route Preview
You can view a preview of the Antelope Valley Line tonight with the Railfan TV from 18:00 UTC on YouTube and Twitch
PC Editor (beta)
For the first time ever in Train Sim World, skilled and ambitious players on Steam and Epic will be able get creative and craft their own Scenarios, design their own trains and even build the routes they’ve always dreamed of with access to the PC Editor (beta).
In the first of this week’s live streams, the Railfan TV team brought in Junior Software Engineer Will Kaye to discuss the power of this feature and how both Steam and Epic players will be able to utilise the same functions and tools that our Development Team use to make our in-game content.
If you missed the live stream, you can rewatch over on YouTube and see Matt and Will demonstrate:
Landscaping
Track Laying
Route & Scenery Building
Placing a Train
Track Markers
Play In Editor function
And many questions answered!
The PC Editor (beta) will be available for Steam and Epic players to download from the Epic Games Store for free from launch day - 26th September 2023.
Pre-order & Early Access: Play from September 21st! Train Sim World 4 will release for Windows PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles on Tuesday September 26th.
As always, we've been working hard behind the scenes to make sure Spirittea is as perfect as possible at launch, whether that means changing things, and of course adding new features which we think you'll all love!
So we thought, why not make Spirittea feel a bit more personal and real? With hobbies, making friends, owning and decorating your house, it's not so different from real life after all! Minus the mischevious spirits on the loose, of course...
With that being said, we added a mailbox outside your house, which means the village locals can write to you and leave you very nice messages!
You'll get mail daily from everyone around town, and you'll be able to read all the nice messages the villagers have left! Whenever you have new mail to be read, the little flag on the mailbox will flash.
Whether it's an invite to her shop from Song, or an invitation to go bug catching from Sujin, you'll always be able to stay in touch with your newly made friends!
Thanks for tuning into this update - we're off to the Post Office!
HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ 2 - Turbocharged - Milestone Community Manager
Gear up for the third thrilling appointment with THE INSIDE TRACK! Don't miss this exclusive peek into the dynamic crossplay and online mode in #HotWheelsUnleashed2.