Scenery patch 24 is now live with the following changes:

• Fixed missing triangles on some platforms and water zones
  
• Fixed shadow quality and vegetation shadows to work again (broken by the Unity update in the previous patch)
  
• Fixed flickering when entering and exiting tunnels
  
• Fixed possible incorrect textures at the edges of some terrain tiles

• Fixed a possible scenery related crash when editing track in the route editor
  
• Fixed train models getting rotated by 180deg when packed
  
• Added chain link length and heading to node info text in route editor
  
• Updated steam_api64.dll and Steamworks interface to reduce semi-random crashes when uploading content to the workshop
  
• Added progress indicator when uploading content to the workshop

• Attempted to fix a possible null reference crash (Lambourn Valley route)
  
• Fixed AI stopping too short for some reversals

The next major update will be the gameplay update, to be ready for open beta testing by the end of the year.

Scenery patch 23 is now live with the following changes:

• Fixed a possible crash in custom model loading
  
• Fixed a possible crash when loading an .obj file
  
• Fixed custom models not being loaded correctly if there are multiple copies of the same route or train with the same id
  
• Fixed custom textures to load properly in some cases (like normal maps)
  
• Fixed custom normal maps to look right
  
• Fixed material handling to clear and reload materials properly (fixes custom materials becoming pink when restarting sim or editor)
  
• Fixed asset packing to not pack some textures multiple times
  
• Fixed asset packing to use the correct colour space (gamma/linear) for textures
  
• Fixed material overriding by matching name to work correctly after packing certain textures
  
• Optimised .obj loading when one or more .mtl files are missing

• Fixed a possible crash in the route editor
  
• Fixed route editor custom model selection in model id field to list root-level nodes only

• Fixed error report sending to work again
  
• Fixed a possible crash during simulation
  
• Fixed a possible crash in terrain loading
  
• Fixed incorrect terrain splatting and vegetation in some zones
  
• Fixed loading of weather settings for saved runs
  
• Fixed AI driver to handle controllers with key stops correctly

The next major update will be the gameplay update, to be ready for open beta testing by the end of 2025, along with smaller patches as required.

Scenery patch 22 is now released. This patch fixes the recently announced security vulnerability[unity.com] found in most games made with Unity.

Constracktion is a new track building and traffic optimization game based on the Diesel Railcar Simulator (DRS) codebase. The gameplay is very different, focusing more on building and less on realism. The theme is vaguely North American with a total of six desert and mountain maps.

If you already own DRS, you'll get a -30% discount by purchasing a "complete the set" bundle containing both games. The bundle will be released at the same time with the game, on 1st of September. Wishlist Constracktion so you won't miss it!




The truth is that DRS hasn't sold enough to cover the development costs in years. It's difficult to see this situation suddenly changing in the near future, due to the competition and saturation of the traditional train sim market. Unlike DRS, Constracktion has novel and unique ideas which makes it more potent for success.

The release of another game does not mean that DRS has been cancelled, although it does mean that the gameplay update has been delayed. There are several reasons to continue working on DRS:

• The game still has potential, especially by focusing on pre-1990s railways and making modding easier
  
• Many modders have spent thousands of hours in total on developing content for DRS. It would be a shame to see all that effort go to waste
  
• The technology behind DRS is evolving and usable for other spin-off games, so it makes sense to keep developing it further
  
• The release of Constracktion hopefully brings a surge of new players to DRS too
  
• It's embarrassing to not finish Early Access properly

The next major update is the gameplay update, intended to be ready for open testing by the end of the year. Since the codebase for the gameplay update and Constracktion was shared up until this point, many of the gameplay update features are already present in Constracktion, such as:

• Simpler and more consistent main menu system
  
• HUD menu allowing changing graphics settings and other settings on the fly instead of having to navigate separate menus. The HUD menu will be just one (small) part of the DRS HUD though
  
• Simpler and more intuitive key, mouse and gamepad bindings
  
• Derailments
  
• Wheel flange squeal and hiss sounds
  
• Tandem AI drivers
  
• Performance improvements

Many of the minor improvements applied to DRS in patches over the past two years were a direct result of the work done on Constracktion.

Constracktion also has some features that can't be introduced to DRS just yet due to the constraints of the sim, but they form a solid base for the forthcoming train and traffic updates, and the possible expansion to US railroading:

• Walking outside the train
  
• Automatic block signals
  
• Animated couplings
  
• Manual point operation
  
• Dynamic text on trains for headcodes, destination boards, unit numbers etc.
  
• More flexible system for static text (not just platform signs)
  
• AI support for moving under shunting orders
  
• US locomotives and wagons
  
• US style offset rail joints and signals
  
• Additional industrial scenery models

The gameplay update will be followed by improvements to the train and route editors to facilitate modding and content production. More spin-off games may also appear in the future, depending on the popularity of the two games.

Is your day ruined or are you cool with this? Leave a comment!

Scenery patch 21 is now live with the following changes:

• Fixed crash when removing a stream or a grid from the side panel in route editor
  
• Fixed node and 3D-gizmo dragging in route editor to work more reliably
  
• Improved mouse hit points for chains and zones in route editor 3D view
  
• Hid chain nodes from hierachy when viewing the properties of a chain in route editor
  
• Fixed map behaviour when adding a new template in timetable editor
  
• Fixed train editor to display vehicle correctly after changing it to be a livery for another vehicle
  
• Added list of recently selected options to the bottom of the editor side panel when selecting from a long list
  
• Added automatic height balancing of hierachy and form views in editor side panel

• Fixed possible AI pathfinding error
  
• Fixed LOD rendering of some custom models
  
• Fixed wrong material order in some models (Workshop Class 122 in NSE livery)
  
• Added v-sync graphics setting

The next major update will be the gameplay update, to be released in 2025, along with smaller patches as required.

Scenery patch 20 is now live with the following changes:

• Added an adjustable fogginess setting below the cloud slider next to the Watch and Drive buttons
  
• Permanently enabled haze graphics effect since fog won't work without it
  
• Enabled sky reflections for the highest graphics quality level by default
  
• Adjusted grain graphics effect
  
• Reduced water flickering
  
• Improved clouds

• Fixed a severe performance problem caused by extremely long shadows during sunrise and sunset
  
• Fixed a possible crash in the controls configuration screen
  
• Fixed minimap to update signal state immediately upon passing a clear AWS magnet
  
• Disabled ability to mess with controls in watch mode because axis-based hardware controllers would prevent AI from doing its job
  
• Removed "accurate tunnel mouths" graphics setting because it would make terrain load too slowly even on high-end systems
  
• Optimised shadow rendering

The next major update will be the gameplay update, to be released in 2025, along with smaller patches as required.

Scenery patch 19 is now live with the following changes:

• Fixed missing train bodyshells when starting multiple runs without restarting the game
  
• Fixed missing textures for "BR Carflat" workshop item
  
• Fixed HUD timetable box to not show departure time for the last stop unless it's a portal exit
  
• Sped up loading of track sleepers and fastenings

• Fixed a reversing related bug that might cause pathfinding to fail
  
• Fixed a possible bug causing pathfinding to break after loading a saved run, leading to a traffic jam
  
• Fixed scenery chain links becoming unresponsive in route editor after splitting one with a new node
  
• Added 13 CPU optimisations for physics, pathfinding and simulation
  
• Changed screenshot saving path setting to use default value when the entry is blank instead of automatically filling in the default path

The next major update will be the gameplay update, to be released in 2025, along with smaller patches as required.

Scenery patch 18 is now live with the following changes:

• Adjusted TAA sharpness
  
• Adjusted SSAO settings and window glass materials
  
• Improved lighting under overcast sky
  
• Added sky reflections option (disabled by default)
  
• Added performance impact warning to water reflections setting
  
• Fixed default antialiasing setting for "high quality" preset

• Fixed camera aspect ratio in editors when not using FSR3
  
• Fixed possible crash in service detail screen caused by missing or invalid train material

The next major update will be the gameplay update, to be released in 2025, along with smaller patches as required.

Scenery patch 17 is now live with the following changes:

• Added FSR3 upscaling/anti-aliasing method. You can select this from the anti-aliasing menu on the graphics screen. There's also another drop-down menu below for selecting the rendering resolution when using FSR3. Reducing the rendering resolution should yield higher frame rates with relatively small impact on visual quality

• Fixed crash in train editor when regenerating vehicle guid
  
• Fixed problem with terrain node height being drawn over node information in route editor if they're close to each other
  
• Improved editor side panel form layout
  
• Added chain subdivision tools to route editor

• Updated the project from Unity 2019 to Unity 2022. This may affect the performance and stability of the game, hopefully in a positive way
  
• Fixed possible crash when starting sim and quickly cancelling it
  
• Fixed possible crash when loading scenery (Rural line)
  
• Enabled physical key layouts. This means that the default keys always correspond to their physical location on a QWERTY keyboard, even when using another layout like QWERTZ or AZERTY
  
• Optimised DDS texture loading during the sim

The next major update will be the gameplay update, to be released in 2025, along with smaller patches as required.