Play Train Sim World 7 with the ICE 4 today – but only with Deluxe or Ultimate: Is the extra cost worth it?

If you are reading this article on Thursday morning and still cannot start Train Sim World 7, there is no need to worry at first. Advance Access does not begin at midnight or in the early morning, but will only be unlocked later today . On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, it is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. German time, with Steam and Epic Games Store following at 7 p.m. The regular release date for all editions is September 15.

This gives Deluxe and Ultimate buyers a full five-day head start over the Standard Edition. Whether that alone justifies the higher price would, however, be a rather simple calculation – and would make Deluxe look unnecessarily bad. The extra cost does not consist solely of early access.

The Standard Edition normally costs 49.99 euros and already includes the three new main routes in Train Sim World 7. These include the British Airedale & Wharfedale Network, Florida Tri-Rail between Miami Airport and Boca Raton, and the German Nürnberg–Würzburg route, which is more than 100 kilometers long. The vehicles included in each edition as standard, as well as TSW7’s new core features, are also part of this version.

For many German players, Nürnberg–Würzburg will likely be particularly interesting. The Standard Edition already offers a fairly extensive selection of vehicles there, with the BR 440, BR 442, ICE 1 and Vectron. The ICE 4 is not included, however.

This is exactly where the actual added value of the Deluxe Edition for 79.99 eurosbegins. For an additional 30 euros, the package includes three more vehicles: the Northern Class 333 for Great Britain, the GP49H-3 for Florida and the DB BR 412, better known as the ICE 4, for Germany. Deluxe buyers also receive today’s Advance Access.

The ICE 4 is not simply another livery or vehicle variant. Dovetail is implementing both the 12-car and 13-car versions and integrating the train into the timetable for Nürnberg–Würzburg. Those who also own Nürnberg–Ingolstadt will receive suitable ICE 4 services there as well. This means the vehicle can be used beyond its actual new route and additionally enhances an already-owned DLC.

This makes the price difference look considerably different. If you were actually paying 30 euros solely for five days of early access, that would work out to six euros per day. In reality, Deluxe also buys you three additional vehicles, with Advance Access on top. Those who definitely want to drive the ICE 4 will therefore likely think less about the five days than about whether they want Nürnberg–Würzburg without the new German high-speed train at all.

Until the regular release, the decision is also made somewhat cheaper by the current 10 percent pre-order discount . This reduces the Standard Edition to 44.99 euros and Deluxe to 71.99 euros. During the promotion, the actual difference is therefore 27 rather than 30 euros.

Nevertheless, Deluxe is not automatically the better choice. Those who are mainly getting it for Nürnberg–Würzburg, are satisfied with the ICE 1, regional services and Vectron, and do not need the two additional vehicles for Great Britain and Florida will still save considerably with the Standard Edition. And by September 15 at the latest, the advantage of early access will disappear completely anyway.

It becomes even more extensive with the Ultimate Edition. It normally costs 129.99 euros and, in addition to all Deluxe content, includes additional routes and vehicles from the existing Train Sim World offering. These include the Riviera Line, Leipzig–Dresden and Morristown Line, as well as vehicles such as the Class 220, DB BR 294 and NJ Transit ALP-45DP. This can make the package interesting for newcomers, while owners of a larger TSW collection should carefully check how much of it they already own.

Long-time players also have a fourth option. With the regular release on September 15, a free Starter Edition of Train Sim World 7 will appear again. It does not include any of the three new main routes, but allows existing players to switch to the new TSW7 core and continue using compatible content from their existing collection. So anyone who does not need Nürnberg–Würzburg, Florida or Airedale & Wharfedale at all for the time being does not necessarily have to buy one of the paid editions.

All in all, the decision therefore depends less on today’s Advance Access than the marketing might initially suggest. Standard is aimed at players who primarily want the three new routes. Deluxe becomes interesting as soon as the ICE 4, Class 333 or GP49H-3 is on your personal wish list. Ultimate is mainly worthwhile if the additional older content is also still missing from your collection.

Today’s early start is still a nice bonus: From the late afternoon or evening onward, Deluxe and Ultimate buyers can already drive their first kilometers, while Standard players still have to wait until Tuesday. In the long term, however, what will likely matter less is who was allowed to start five days earlier, and more which additional vehicles you actually use regularly afterward.

Which edition did you get? Is the ICE 4 the decisive reason for you to choose Deluxe, or is the Standard Edition completely sufficient for you? And would you pay more at all just to be able to play a simulator five days earlier?