Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown: Release, gameplay, cars, trailers, more

A new installment in the Test Drive series, Test Drive Unlimited Soloar Crown, will be hitting the streets in 2024. Here’s everything we know about the latest open-world entry. 

Once helmed as a pioneer of MMO open-world racing games, the Test Drive series was dormant for nearly a decade with the last installment dating way back to 2012. It was only in 2020 that the now-IP owner, Nacon, announced Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is developed by KT Racing, as the original team of Eden Games is long gone and some are now part of Ubisoft’s Ivory Tower, the developers behind The Crew Motorfest. Solar Crown, as usual, is attempting to be a cut above its contemporaries, like The Crew and Forza, in terms of quality.

So, here is everything about the returning Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown.

• Is there a Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown release date
• Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown platforms
• Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown gameplay details
• Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown map and setting
• What cars are available in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown?
• Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown trailers

Is there a Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown release date?

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is scheduled for a release sometime in early 2024. Nacon’s online racer was first scheduled for a 2022 release, but it would eventually slip to 2023, and then to the current timeframe of early 2024.

Given we’re already a couple of months into 2024, it is increasingly likely that TDU Solar Crown has once again missed its release schedule. In their February 29 briefing, speaking about the release date developers said, “Although a launch date has been considered several times, we want to take the time needed to ensure that your experience of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is as smooth, stable, and fun as can be.”

With no mention of a definite date and the early part of 2024 already nearing its end, TDU Solar Crown is at least a few months away. Of course, we’ll update you whenever a release date is announced, so circle back whenever you want to check the latest update. 

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown platforms

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

While the Nintendo Switch was also mentioned early on by developers, it was absent entirely in the latest briefing. The last-gen, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, version was canceled, so uncertainty looms on the possibility of a Nintendo Switch port. 

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown gameplay details

We already had an extensive uncut look at Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown gameplay, giving us a brief idea of what to expect from the upcoming racer. 

To no surprise, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is very much a racing game. Thematically, the focus is on “lavish lifestyle” and car culture. Based on what we know so far, the story revolves around two clans, the Streets and the Sharps, all pitting themselves against each other for the Solar Crown.

Much like other racers, it will have activities and races scattered around the open world, with the gameplay said to lean more towards realism than arcade. 

There is a bit of on-foot gameplay as well, similar to The Crew—a hub-like system, Solar Hotel, where you can walk around with your friends and explore on foot. It is here where you can customize your appearance as well.

It wouldn’t be a TDU game without a dealership, so Solar Crown will feature 14 dealerships. Some focus on a particular car brand, like Lamborghini, where you can buy cars from the said manufacturer. These dealerships are in the game to make your car purchase feel “special.”

There are workshops to customize cars and in terms of customization, there will be around a dozen parts that you can tweak, with some locked behind your reputation level. You can also paint your cars with liveries, and like car parts, a higher level means more fine-tuning capabilities.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown map and setting

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown will feature a 1:1 scale of Hong Kong Island, covering a distance of over 600km (375 miles).

There are 14 different districts to explore in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, with a good mix of cityscape, off-road mountains, and long highways to test the car’s speed.

What cars are available in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown?

KT Racing has yet to share details on how many cars will be available on Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. Although the developers once said that there will be a “limited” number of cars emphasis has been put on making players “earn” each of those cars.

Here is a list of cars confirmed so far, as seen in their promotional materials and trailers, although we expect more to come:

• Abarth 595
• Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
• Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
• Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
• Alfa Romeo Mito
• AC Shelby Cobra 427
• Alpine A110 (2017)
• Apollo Intensa Emozione
• Aston Martin DB11
• Aston Martin Vantage (AM6)
• Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro
• Audi R8 (Gen.2)
• Audi TT S
• BMW i8 Roadster
• Bugatti Chiron
• Bugatti Chiron Sport 110 Ans
• Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
• Chevrolet Corvette (C1)
• Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C7)
• Citroën 2CV
• Dodge Challenger SRT 392
• Dodge Viper GTS (VX I)
• Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M
• Ferrari LaFerrari
• Ford F-150 Raptor (P552)
• Ford GT (Gen. 2)
• Ford GT40 (Mk.I)
• Ford Mustang Fastback 302cid Cruise-O-Matic
• Ford Mustang GT (Gen.6)
• Jaguar F-Type SVR
• Koenigsegg Regera
• Lamborghini Huracán Performante
• Lamborghini Miura P400SV
• Lancia Delta (1992)
• Lancia Stratos (1975)
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR (2018)
• Lotus Evora GT430 Sport
• Lotus Exige (2017)
• McLaren 720S
• Mercedes-Benz G 65 AMG
• Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG (2008)
• Nissan 370Z (Z34)
• Nissan GT-R (R35) (2012)
• Porsche 911 R (991)
• Porsche 918 Spyder
• Porsche Cayenne Turbo (9Y0)
• Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo
• Volkswagen Beetle 1303 S
• Volkswagen Beetle Baja
• W Motors Fenyr Supersport

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown trailers

Here is the most recent Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown trailer, uploaded on March 1:

Here’s a similar trailer titled “The Racer,” providing a peek at the competitive side of Solar Crown:

And, finally, here is a trailer showing the on-foot gameplay as well as raw cruising gameplay:

That’s all the notable bits of information about Test Drive Unlimted Solar Crown. For more on racing games, check out:

The Crew Motorfest best drift settings | How to earn money fast in The Crew Motorfest | Best starter car to pick in The Crew Motorfest | Forza Motorsport segment score explained | Best Forza Motorsport controller settings | Best cars in Forza Motorsport |  EA Sports WRC Wheel settings explained | EA Sports WRC All compatible steering wheels, pedals & controllers | Best PC Settings for EA Sports WRC