Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is back with a fresh injection of content in Season 3 – and it brings a host of improvements including a much-requested Solo mode!
Season 3, a free update for all players on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, is available now, bringing new mission types, cars, customisation options, and highly requested quality-of-life improvements.
KT Racing and NACON have clearly been listening to player feedback (did they have any choice!?), shifting gears from the initially planned Clan Wars to focus on enhancing the core gameplay experience.
This season introduces two new mission types: Navigation and Convoy.
Navigation missions challenge you to reach a target within a time limit, relying solely on a compass – no map allowed! It’s a test of your directional skills and knowledge of Hong Kong Island. Convoy missions, a throwback to the original Test Drive Unlimited games, task you with carefully transporting a designated vehicle to its destination.
These missions feature varying difficulty levels, impacting traffic, weather, distance, and vehicle type.
New Rides and Customisation Options
Following on from Season 2, Season 3 also adds a selection of exciting new cars to your garage, including:
- Aston Martin Valour
- Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
- DeLorean DMC-12 (yes, that DeLorean!)
- Pininfarina Battista (previously a Season 1 ranked reward, now available for purchase)
But it’s not just about the cars. New customisation options are also available. Sharps and Streets Clan HQ shops now offer a variety of items for both your cars and your avatar. And, by popular demand, personalised license plates are back, letting you add a custom touch to your rides.
Solo Mode and AI Difficulty: Addressing Player Feedback
Perhaps the most significant addition in Season 3 is the new Solo mode. This allows you to instantly start races against AI opponents, pause the race at any time, and restart instantly. You can also choose from five different AI difficulty levels, tailoring the challenge to your skill level.
This is a huge quality-of-life improvement, addressing one of the common criticisms of the base game.
Building on the Foundation
We reviewed Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown at launch, giving it a 3.5/5. We said: “Ultimately, a dozen years on from Test Drive Unlimited 2, and nearly half a decade from initial announcement, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown launches with problems. But if you can look past the glitches, the bugs, the low-quality cutscenes, slow lifestyle elements and the numerous server issues, you’ll find a wonderful driving experience. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown lets you explore a brilliant Hong Kong Island, partaking in some great racing as you go. Only time will tell if further additions to this MMOR are able to build things out some more.“
Season 3 seems to be a direct response to some of those concerns, particularly with the addition of Solo mode and AI difficulty options. It shows a commitment from the developers to improve the game and respond to player feedback.
Season 3 Highlights
- New Mission Types: Navigation (compass-only challenges) and Convoy (vehicle transport).
- New Cars: Aston Martin Valour, Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, DeLorean DMC-12, Pininfarina Battista.
- Solar Pass: Now with 50 levels of free rewards (increased from 25).
- Customisation: Clan shops and personalised license plates.
- Solo Mode: Instant races against AI, with pause and restart options.
- AI Difficulty: Five difficulty levels to choose from.
- Available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
Hit the Road!
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Season 3 is available now as a free update. Whether you’re a returning player or new to Hong Kong Island, there’s plenty of new content to explore.
Jump in via a download from your favourite store (ours being the Xbox Store), check out the new missions and cars, and experience the improved gameplay.
This could be the update that elevates TDUSC to the next level…
