Roadmap

This page serves to inform you about our future plans for Derail Valley. Please note that the list represents our current view, but is not a guarantee, and may be modified over time.

Major Project Phases

✅ 2016 - Demo
✅ 2019 - Early Access
✅ 2020 - Overhauled
✅ 2023 - Simulator
🚧 2027 - To be announced 

Update B100 (work title) - Around the end of 2027

We're hard at work on the next update, aimed to be released around the end of 2027. Like some before, this will be a major update, bigger than those before it. Some of the progress on it so far can be seen in this news post, and this is roughly what's planned:

Economy Improvements

• Locations dynamically create delivery orders based on their stock and realistic needs

• Your actions, and lack thereof, impact the game economy (depending on difficulty settings)

• Incentivized large-train multi-stop freight routing in late-gameplay

• 100+ new cargo types

Vehicle Improvements

• Electric locomotive WE6-960

• Locomotives and cars stay where you leave them

• Implied logistical operations (shunting, station fleet management...)

• Physical rerailing using railway cranes, winches and rerailers

• Train parts system, replacement and upgrading (simplified)

• New car types (bulkhead, centerbeam, powder, reworked hopper)

• Knuckles coupler system usage option

• North America DLC (paid extra)

  • 6 new USA-inspired locomotives

Track Improvements

• Overhead lines (3 kV DC), on some routes

• Optimized existing track layout for NPC trains (double-tracks, signals, etc.)

• More track detail (bridge/tunnel variety, retaining walls, etc.)

• Track and overhead line wear, visual and having effect on gameplay

• Track maintenance (simplified)

• Track maintenance vehicles (several)

• Improved speed sign accuracy

World Improvements

• Southeast Europe improvements (default map)

  • 10+ new industries and cities

  • 20+ villages (for the future passenger service)

• Road traffic, pedestrians, workers and wildlife

• North America DLC (paid extra)

  • New map, sized 256 km² (same as default map)

  • A desert valley with mesas and pine mountains

  • A new track layout, featuring more straight mainlines

  • USA-inspired buildings, road vehicles, etc.

UX Improvements

• An additional type of interface, allowing interaction with all the new features in an immersive and non-overwhelming way

• Revamped tutorial system with all game information granularized and better explained, at player-controlled pace

• Revamped license system, now a lot easier to overview with numerous new license types added

• The ability to get injured, the requirement to eat, sleep, etc. (optional)

• Graphics improvements

Plans for 2028 and later

In 2028 and later, if our previous goals work out as planned, the focus will be on wrapping up the core systems and producing additional themed content:

NPC Trains

• Non-player-controlled train driving and feature set

Passengers

• Passengers behavior simulation

• Timetable order system

• Railcars WE2P-380, DM1P-150

• Heritage Coach

• Air conditioning simulation

More DLC Packs

• More themed content, depending on the North America DLC success - to be announced

Mod Support

• Steam Workshop

Future plans summary

Our goal with Derail Valley is to maintain it as the best train simulator game in the world.

We aim to do this by vastly expanding map utilization, replayability, immersion and the scope of in-game activities for free, while providing significant additional value with paid themed DLC packs in the future. More is to be announced.

If you are wondering why we don't split the B100 major update into multiple smaller updates - it might appear counterintuitive, but every once in a while a series of small updates actually takes longer and results in lower quality, than taking a few years to develop a finished product all at once. We've been on both extremes with Derail Valley, and we know that for this update the long and big approach is better for everyone involved. Rest assured - as before, the wait will be worth it.

Feel free to discuss our plans with the community.

How you can help

If you've bought the game already and are wondering if there's anything else you could do to further help us - thank you so much for your support! There is indeed a couple of things you could do:

1. Spread the word about Derail Valley.
2. Buy Derail Valley for your friends - Steam
3. Buy our music - Steam
4. Buy Switchcars, our previous game - Steam

In the future we might also have merch available.

Thank you!

Home      News      Community      Contact