Test Drive has been making our hearts race for more than two decades now with its thrilling features and flashy mechanics. Originating in 1987, the series has made a name for itself by being one of the most exciting and longest-running car game franchises. The series will return to our gaming platforms with the long-awaited launch of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown.
In 2006, Test Drive Unlimited introduced open-world online MMO racing to car enthusiasts. That gave other famous racing franchises the courage to adopt and build on this exciting concept. However, after over a decade, the series is finally making a comeback, exciting racing fans worldwide! In this article, we’ll discuss everything there’s to know about the upcoming game!
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Release Date & Platforms
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown release date is set to be September 12, 2024, so there’s not much time left before you race on the streets of Hong Kong. However, players who have pre-ordered the game will be able to get early access from September 5. Initially, the game was scheduled to launch on September 22, 2022, but there have been many delays ever since.
In addition to this, the developer KT Racing has confirmed that Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown platforms will be PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Unfortunately, this is going to be a new-gen title only since the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were cancelled some time ago. It’s a bummer to many, but hopefully, the game will also come to old-gen consoles.
On the other hand, the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 versions are set to introduce quality and performance mode options. Performance mode will run at 1080P and 60PFS, whereas the Quality mode will function at 1400P and 30FPS. Therefore, if you’re a PC or current-gen console player, then you can easily enjoy Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown to your fullest!
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Location
Players finally get to drive through a location that has never been featured in any racing game so far: Hong Kong Island. The developer has recreated this place at a 1:1 scale, with many new and creative locations available for players to explore. Hong Kong is also one of the most modern cities with the top-leading technology that has the most fantastic street racing cars.
The Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown map is massive, with Hong Kong alone featuring so many exciting things. The island has a wide range of experiences for you to enjoy, such as the light shows at Victoria Harbour or Victoria Peak’s fast-moving trams. KT Racing has also confirmed that the game will also feature beaches, forests, mountains, and marshes alongside the city.
This means that players are going to have tons of fun racing through the narrow highways and beautiful mountain roads. Each race is set to have its own charm and thrill. So, get ready to cruise through these locations and roads either solo or with your friends. While you’re at it, look for the countless collectables that will allow you to earn various rewards. As per the Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown news, the Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown map size is set to be huge.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Game Play
Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown and its trailer feature fantastic gameplay, with many exciting features and mechanics that offer a unique experience. Become a part of one of the two clans battling it out on the streets for supremacy. The Sharps are the elite ones with plenty of adoration for luxury and sophistication. They are famous for their extravagance and elegance seen on the streets.
On the other hand, the Streets love standing out of the crowd, trying their best to make an unforgettable impression on anyone who crosses paths with them. This group has an “underground and extravagant street culture.” After a hard day of winning races, players can rest at the Solar Hotel, the main competition area, and the place where they live.
The Solar Crown organizers built this huge building that features a massive luxury hotel complex. The building can be seen from most of the island, with its interior design being made up of some of the most high-end materials and technology. The Solar Hotel perfectly falls upon the expectations of the most sophisticated and wealthiest people, so make sure to go there!
On top of this, the central Solar Hotel is set to be the leading social hub in Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown. So, this is where you come if you feel like interacting with other players, buying brand-new clothes, and changing your character’s appearance. Players can also show off their fabulous luxury and racing cars by displaying them in their Social Hotel suite’s garage.
Crossplay
Unfortunately, the Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown crossplay feature might not be available at launch. While KT Racing hasn’t officially said anything on the topic, many fans and reputable leakers claim that the game might not feature the option. However, the developers might add crossplay sometime after the launch since many gaming franchises have done that before.
Character & Car Customization
Players can create their own avatar from scratch through the game’s extensive character customization options by choosing their desired eye colour, hair colour, clothes, etc. Once you’re done with that, you can meet other car enthusiasts roaming around the fabulous streets of Hong Kong, the Solar Hotel, workshops, car dealerships, clan HQ, and so much more.
These are the best places to meet your type of people and discuss your favourite cars or racing strategies. The Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown car list is massive, featuring a wide range of luxury and race cars. These cars include the Abarth 500, Bugatti Chiron Sport 110, Chevrolet Corvette C1, Ferrari 812 SuperFast, Lamborghini Urus, McLaren 720S Spider, and more!
Hong Kong Island contains 14 dealerships, from which you can go through manufacturer options and test the cars in a social hub featuring other players. The workshops present in the upcoming game will allow players to personalize their cars further. The overall Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown reviews have been amazing, with many appreciating its customization.
It contains even more customization options for you, allowing you to upgrade car performance and handling. You can also create liveries with the help of thousands of decals and stickers. Combustion-powered vehicles come with thirteen customizable performance parts, whereas electric cars will feature thirteen. Both are spread across six categories.
Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown also features some modification options that are unlocked based on your Reputation level. There’s also a livery editor that allows players to take their car customization skills to the next level. From here, you can choose your custom paint jobs to be done in metallic, chrome, matte, or pearlescent. You can also create your own unique designs!
Ranked Mode
In the game, players can absolutely crush their opponents by participating in a ranked mode that has been developed for competitive racing. The ranks start from Bronze and go all the way up to the most elite Solar King/Queen. From Bronze to Solar, your journey will be challenging yet satisfying. Players looking to dip their feet in PvP battles can also earn exclusive rewards!
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown System Requirements
Since the game was revealed, players got busy checking the system requirements and whether their gaming platform could handle it. However, similar to other racing games, the system requirements for Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown are no different. The minimum, recommended, and high-specification system requirements for the game are as follows:
Minimum System Requirements
Here are the Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown minimum requirements:
(Low 720p @ 30FPS)
- Operating System – Windows 10
- Processor – Intel Core i7-6700k or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
- Memory – 12 GB RAM
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 480, 8 GB
- Network – High-speed internet connection
- DirectX – 12
- Disk Space – 50 GB
Recommended System Requirements
Since Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is running in a 1:1 Hong Kong Island recreation, the recommended system requirements for the racing game are quite high. They are as follows:
(Medium 1080p @ 60FPS)
- Operating System – Windows 10
- Processor – Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800x
- Memory – 12 GB RAM
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, 8GB or AMD Radeon RX 6700, 10GB
- Network – High-speed internet connection
- DirectX – 12
- Disk Space – 50 GB
High System Requirements
Since Hong Kong is a breathtaking location, many players feel the need to capture the city’s beauty to the fullest. However, to get the most amazing gaming experience with epic graphics, you’ll need a highly powerful PC, so check out the requirements for that below:
(High 1440 @ 60 FPS)
- Operating System – Windows 10
- Processor – Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Memory – 16 GB RAM
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 12GB or AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, 16GB
- Network – High-speed internet connection
- DirectX – 12
- Disk Space – 50 GB
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Demo
Since the game is right around the corner, all the demos have been done and dusted. Steam featured a demo from June 9 to June 17 as part of the Next Fest event. On top of this, the game’s closed beta began on July 24 and ended on July 27. The Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC demos were successful, with many wanting to play more!
However, some players initially did face a Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown demo login error, but it was fixed in no time. If you’re bummed about missing out on the betas, then worry not, for the game is less than two weeks away. Soon, you’ll be cruising through the streets of Hong Kong, completing races. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown demo Xbox was also successful!
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Pre-Order & Editions
The Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown price depends on the game’s edition that you end up choosing. There are various editions for you to choose from, with each one having a different price and contents. Here are all the editions, so check out the ones best suited to you:
Standard Edition – ($59.99 / £49.99)
- Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown base game
Silver Streets Edition – ($79.99 / £64.99)
- Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown base game
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
- Lord of the Streets character outfit
- Streets sticker pack for car customization
- Free Solar premium pass
Silver Sharps Edition – ($79.99 / £64.99)
- Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown base game
- Jaguar F-Type SVT Coupe
- Audi R8 Spyder V10 RWS
- Baron of the Sharps character outfit
- Sharps sticker pack for car customization
- Free Solar premium pass
Gold Edition – ($89.99 / £74.99)
- Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown base game
- Maserati MC20
- Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
- SIlver Streets content
- Silver Sharps content
- Board Committee Member character outfit
- Free VIP Solar premium pass with 20 unlocked levels
If any of these editions look interesting to you, then you can pre-order them to get your hands on the early access option and some exciting bonuses. You can either pre-order through Steam or the official Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown website. Each edition you purchase comes with its own set of rewards, so make sure to sail through the streets of Hong Kong in style! In the Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown open world game, feel free to race your family or friends.