Trying to understand what is new and what is old

[Vlad Tepes]

Sorry I am not keeping up with these things, but this is a very confusing sim. So I had TSW2, then TSW3, purchased a couple of DLCs.. have Clinchfield, SandPatch.. ..
So I downloaded TSW5, didn't pay a dime, and it brings in all of my older DLC...
I understand that possibly some of these older ones still have the same bugs (I'm looking at you Sandpatch lol)....
The menu is TSW5 is so very confusing to me. They keep asking me to purchase TSW5.. different editions.. etc..
What am I getting more of if I pay another $60 or so that I don't already have?
Does the game change its graphics if I "buy" TSW5 even though I'm already playing it?
Is there content that is specific to TSW5 not available in all of my other DLCs that makes TSW5 shine and make it worthwhile?
There are so many things offered in the store, how to I sort through all this?
I guess I'm looking for any DLC (or even buying the game itself) that is an improvement over TSW2, TSW3, TSW4.....
Sorry I'm just very confused about all of this lol.
Right now I'm just replaying some of my original DLC and it looks about the same, but I do like the optional minimum HUD that is now available. Beyond that, I don't see anything different.
I'm not upset, since I didn't pay anything (yet) for TSW5.
Why does this have to be so confusing lol?

[GenX-Gamore]

Just take your time and look through the DLCs you have and what you don't. Steam will not allow you to buy the same thing twice, and it will show what you already own. Here is what you get with the Deluxe Edition, and I'm sure you can find a sale with third-party key retailers. I was Gifted this version and If I was to purchase TSW5 this is the one I would get.
The items you get with the Deluxe edition are Strickly for TSW5 only,
https://store.steampowered.com/sub/1083457/

As for in-game, it's just advertisements to BUY, I still get it with TSW2020 and in TSW2, 3, and 4. It's DTG's way of advertising its products.

[Ampyr]

There is a setting in the options that will disable that advertisement from popping up in TSW5

[Opus Aeterna]

TSW5 is a way better now. With more options like the Hopping system, better graphics etc...

[N Quarter]

You 100% already own TSW5, and as mentioned above, the advertisements are an option to toggle off, we ALL get the same notifications, even if we have paid for the Game.

Buying TSW5 will only offer you a "Route Bundle", so you will get some new Routes that come with it, but you already own any core updates such as the HUD options you mention. Buying the Game will not improve your experience one little bit.

Not all previous DLC has had graphical improvements done to it, so some you previously owned "may" or "may not" have been updated.

Essentially, this is the exact same Game just with a few minor tweaks, and that is literally it. You will experience the same later in the Year for TSW6.

You would think "buying a new Game" would provide many new great features that are fleshed out, but in DTG's world, "buying a new Game" just means you are buying a copy paste job with very little effort put into improvements.

So yes, the Game is exactly the same with some having graphics improvements.

[Vlad Tepes]

Thanks for all of the replies. This makes sense. So for example, I have SandPatch. I know I have had that since TSW2... When I go to TSW5 and look at the DLC, and view Sandpatch, it has a date of August 20,2024. Since I know that has been out longer than that, does it mean that they upgraded it or did something to improve it in order to work with TSW5?
When I click the link to the SandPatch DLC it says "requires TSW5".. it doesn't say TSW3 or TSW2..
Is it the same thing? It is my favorite DLC so far but it still seems to have some strange bugs.. I'm not complaining, just trying to understand how this is all done.

[GenX-Gamore]

If you look for Sand Patch, you will find a version for TSW5, TSW4, TSW3, and TSW2. Each version is made to work with that version of TSW. That is it. There are no upgrades or changes other than making it playable in the current TSW version. That is it...

[Vlad Tepes]

Got it, thanks!

[NYTJ718]

EVERYTHING IS OLD ALL THEY DO IS REFRESH THE GRAPHICS AND SELL IT TO YOU AGAIN WITH A FEW EXTRA NEW ITEMS, DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY SO MANY OTHER SIMS OUT THERE THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING BETTER LIKE RUN 8 OR TRAINZ. DTG ONLY CARES ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY CAN CHARGE FOR OLD CONTENT OVER AND OVER

[Vlad Tepes]

I have Run8 and it's ok but I tend to prefer this. Run8 got boring for me after a while and the graphics are not the best. Maybe one day I'll tire of this, who knows, but right now I have so many missions for me to do, I will be old or dead by the time I finish them all.
I'm ok with refreshing the graphics, not sure why that's a bad thing. I didn't pay a dime for TSW5 lol.

[Testikles]

Originally posted by Vlad Tepes:

I have Run8 and it's ok but I tend to prefer this. Run8 got boring for me after a while and the graphics are not the best. Maybe one day I'll tire of this, who knows, but right now I have so many missions for me to do, I will be old or dead by the time I finish them all.
I'm ok with refreshing the graphics, not sure why that's a bad thing. I didn't pay a dime for TSW5 lol.

You might also be interested in the wiki of TSW, as it gives some information about the individual routes, trains, synergies, and of course the TSW version they were originally released for :- )

https://train-sim-world.fandom.com/wiki/Train_Sim_World_Wiki

[N Quarter]

Originally posted by Vlad Tepes:

Is it the same thing? It is my favorite DLC so far but it still seems to have some strange bugs.. I'm not complaining, just trying to understand how this is all done.

It is 100% the same thing. The reason every DLC says the current "title" for TSW is each Yearly release, DTG update the name of the DLC so it creates a new entity on Steam which hides all previous negative reviews mentioning all of the issues. When TSW6 releases this year Sandpatch Grade will then be a TSW"6" DLC, yet be the exact same product with an updated name.

[Vlad Tepes]

Originally posted by Testikles:

Originally posted by Vlad Tepes:

I have Run8 and it's ok but I tend to prefer this. Run8 got boring for me after a while and the graphics are not the best. Maybe one day I'll tire of this, who knows, but right now I have so many missions for me to do, I will be old or dead by the time I finish them all.
I'm ok with refreshing the graphics, not sure why that's a bad thing. I didn't pay a dime for TSW5 lol.

You might also be interested in the wiki of TSW, as it gives some information about the individual routes, trains, synergies, and of course the TSW version they were originally released for :- )

https://train-sim-world.fandom.com/wiki/Train_Sim_World_Wiki

Thank you for this link! This is what I've been looking for!

[Vlad Tepes]

Originally posted by N Quarter:

Originally posted by Vlad Tepes:

Is it the same thing? It is my favorite DLC so far but it still seems to have some strange bugs.. I'm not complaining, just trying to understand how this is all done.

It is 100% the same thing. The reason every DLC says the current "title" for TSW is each Yearly release, DTG update the name of the DLC so it creates a new entity on Steam which hides all previous negative reviews mentioning all of the issues. When TSW6 releases this year Sandpatch Grade will then be a TSW"6" DLC, yet be the exact same product with an updated name.

Ok I appreciate the information. This all makes sense now. I have a feeling it will be a long time before I've run through every scenario of every route and/or DLC that I purchased, so I've got some time to give to the game lol.