Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown to have fewer cars than Forza, but all of them will feel unique

When Test Drive Unlimited first launched in 2006, open-world racing games were a relatively uncommon thing, but that’s clearly no longer the case with franchises like Forza Horizon on the scene. So how will the upcoming Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown stand out from the more crowded field?

Well, in a new interview Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crowd creative director Alain Jarniou compared his game to the competition, especially the Forza Horizon series. Jarniou acknowledges that Solar Crown will have fewer cars than Forza, but the focus will be on earning and investing in fewer cars through upgrades and customization.

“In Forza Horizon you do a Wheelspin and you get two cars. Or you complete a mission and get another car. You have many cars in your garage. But you don’t work for it. There are fewer cars in TDU, but you choose those cars. The bond you have with your garage is stronger in TDU than in any other game. You need to earn money to buy the cars of your dreams. You spend time with your car, upgrade it, play with it and show it to other players.”

Plus, even though you might end up with a smaller garage than in other open-world racing games, each of your rides should feel unique…

“The idea is to be more of a simulation than The Crew or Forza Horizon, which are quite arcadey. Part of the fun of driving is having something that is realistic but not too simulative. But we want to give players the freedom to change the driving helps get something closer to a simulation if they want.

I want that feeling of driving the right cars with the right feelings to be stronger in TDU than Forza Horizon. This will not be a racing simulation – it will be a driving simulation. When you’re in a Ferrari or a Beetle, it’s not the same experience. You will feel it. That’s important when you love cars – you want to feel the difference between them.”

Jarniou also promises that while Solar Crown’s Hong Kong is quite a bit smaller than some of the maps the Test Drive Unlimited series has made in the past (Oahu was 600 square miles, while Hong Kong is only 30), it will be much more -dense and geographically diverse. As for when the game might come out, well, the KT Racing team wants to get things right, but don’t expect to wait years.

For now, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is scheduled to hit PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 sometime in 2023.