Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown launch plagued with server issues

The launch of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s early access has unfortunately been marred by server issues for the always-online game. Nacon and developer KT Racing are working diligently to address these problems before the full launch on September 12th.

A statement has been released on Steam by the studio, explaining the current issues and the steps being taken to resolve them:

Since the official server launch at 08:00 AM UTC today, many players have experienced significant connection issues with the game, particularly with login, lobbies, and various online features. These issues affect all platforms: PC (Steam), PS5 & Xbox Series X|S.

Our teams are actively working to stabilize the servers so that all players can enjoy the game as soon as possible. To provide more context on the situation, we have tried various solutions to address these network issues:

• Our server team has investigated the root causes of connection failures.
• We have implemented server optimizations to accommodate the high volume of players attempting to access the game.
• Server capacity has been increased to reduce queues and connection issues.
• Our quality assurance team has conducted thorough tests to ensure the stability of our fixes before deployment.

While each solution has provided some relief, some have also introduced new technical challenges.

We are actively working to address all network issues and appreciate your patience.

The issues were present even before the public launch, preventing us from reviewing the game due to maintenance affecting all journalists’ ability to play on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, a separate bug hindered our access prior to that.

A queue system is currently in place for the game, with approximately 1,600 players waiting on PS5 tonight. This number gradually decreases, but in our case, it led to being kicked out to a general ‘Login Error’ screen. SteamDB reports a peak player count on PC of 4,300, although this includes all players with the client open, so it is unclear how many are actively playing.

This situation is significant, prompting fans of the series and early purchasers to either request refunds or criticize the game’s always-online requirement. While an offline play option could have mitigated this issue, it would have implications for the game’s economy and progression.

Another potential factor is the ongoing strike by developers against Nacon, the publisher. Employees have organized under the union SJV, with RPG developer Spiders going on strike last week and Kylotonn joining them on Monday. The latter expressed frustration with management’s handling of demands and negotiations within the Nacon group.

Nacon has initiated discussions with workers, but concerns have not been fully addressed, potentially leading to further disruptions that could impact Solar Crown’s launch.

Overall, KT Racing is facing challenging times. We hope that they can resolve the server issues promptly and reach a satisfactory resolution in negotiations with workers across the company.