Gearheads and racing games go together like Ford Mustangs and 5.0-liter V8s. They allow us to (virtually) experience cars we could only dream of driving, allowing us to live out our automotive lifestyle fantasies. Moreover, many will know that few video games did it better than 2006's Test Drive Unlimited and its 2011 sequel.
The TDU series has allowed players to indulge their passion for cars with million-dollar supercars, multi-million-dollar garages, and luxurious locations. And now, there's a new one on the way named Solar Crown. It's being developed by KT Racing and published by Nacon, who have recently released a brief trailer for the highly-anticipated title. Here are eight things you need to know about the game.
8 The Cars Are Exceptional
A core aspect of the previous two Test Drive Unlimited games has been working towards and living the most lavish lifestyle possible. With this in mind, expect a wide range of cars with a focus on high-end, premium automobiles and exotics, such as the two seen in the trailer above.
Although a full car list is yet to be announced, from this trailer we can see many car keys from manufacturers such as Bentley, Mercedes, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, and more. In addition, copyright information (as well as last year's teaser trailer shown above) has also seemingly confirmed the likes of Dodge, Koenigsegg, and Porsche to be present in the game.
7 Customization Options Galore
While the Test Drive Unlimited series has never been known for widebody kits or neon underglow, the previous two games have allowed players to spec their new cars at dealerships as one would do in real life. This meant various exterior and interior color options, as well as different rims to choose from. Hopefully, although it is yet to be confirmed, this should make a comeback – and be improved upon – in Solar Crown.
On the other hand, what has been confirmed is character customization. Alain Jarniou, KT Racing's creative director, has said: "In terms of your avatar, you will have lots of customization options, such as luxury clothes and accessories." Jarniou has worked on the previous two TDU games and is currently aiding the third's production, so it's safe to say he knows what he's talking about.
6 Development
Test Drive Unlimited and its sequel were developed by Eden Games and published by Atari. However, this is not the case for Solar Crown, as Atari sold the Test Drive IP (Intellectual Property) to BigBen Interactive in 2016. BigBen, a French video game company, became Nacon in 2020.
After acquiring the IP, Nacon put Paris-based developer KT Racing in charge of producing the next installment in the Test Drive Unlimited series. The studio expressed having been working on Solar Crown for "several months" before the release of its first teaser trailer in July of 2020. KT Racing is known for creating various other Nacon-published racing games, such as WRC 9 (pictured above) and Isle of Man TT 2.
5 The Solar Crown Championship
The Solar Crown Championship, which first made its debut in the second Test Drive Unlimited title, is making a prominent return – so much of a return that the game has been named after it. During last year's reveal, Jarniou described the championship as offering "players a variety of things to do and the freedom to progress through the game however they want."
While details are currently extremely sparse on what the Solar Crown Championship entails exactly, a Nacon press release mentions it having "mysterious stakes". Is there more to the Solar Crown than initially let on? We'll have to wait and find out.
4 Focus On Social Status
In the previous Test Drive Unlimited games, racing may have been at heart, but what made them extra special is what you could do with the fame and money you get from winning. With TDU, it's always included elements of progressing up the social ladder, competing with rivals, and living a luxurious lifestyle.
And already, it's been made very clear that this will be a huge focus for Solar Crown, with Nacon going as far as to say "social status is everything in the world of TDU". This, hopefully, will result in players starting from the bottom and working their way up to being a racing legend.
3 A 1:1 Scale Island
Realistic, luxurious, exotic island locations are core to Test Drive Unlimited, so it's good to see that Solar Crown will also feature such a setting – one which will be of 1:1 scale. While this has been confirmed, we don't quite know what island it will be just yet, though some have their theories.
Some are speculating various meanings behind the cars' number plates in the recent trailer, saying they may be coordinates, a possible release date for the game, or something else entirely. For now, people are guessing places such as Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
2 All The Platforms You'll Be Able To Play It On
Something that was revealed during the recent trailer was what platforms Solar Crown will be releasing on. And as you can see, there are quite a few to choose from depending on which you own.
So, while there's the latest generation of Playstation and Xbox – the PS5 and Xbox Series X and S – it will also be releasing on the previous generation consoles as well: the PS4 and Xbox One. Also, it appears Solar Crown will be available on the Nintendo Switch, too.
1 More Coming In July
Though some were disappointed by the recent trailer's length and lack of new information, it's safe to say Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is relatively far away from being released, so it's still early days. That being said, more is coming in July.
Will this mean the setting for the game is revealed? Perhaps more cars will be announced? Maybe some gameplay? Well, we simply don't know yet, but it's best to keep an open mind and not set your expectations too high. We will say, however, that a couple of short teasers already revealed have got us excited and we can't wait to see more.