RAILROADS Online News

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Railroads Online is like a playground – and we offer you some amazing maps to get creative on, each with completely different challenges and characteristics.

In today's trailer, we showcase their beauty in all its glory! With Railroads Online leaving Early Access on December 5, maybe it's time to start from scratch on another map?

Pine Valley embodies the vast and untamed beauty of the North American wilderness during the early railway era. Its lush forests, towering mountains, and deep canyons create a diverse and challenging landscape for aspiring railroad builders.

Lake Valley is also inspired by North American scenery, features iconic mountain ranges and a sprawling lake at the heart of the map. This central landmark plays a significant role in shaping your railway network.

Aurora Falls offers a breathtaking winter wonderland. Snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear mountain lakes, and dense coniferous forests define this frosty environment, complete with the magical glow of the aurora borealis.

And with the full release on December 5, a fourth map will join the already amazing roster: Mesa Plains is coming! This map delivers a fresh, arid desert setting where players travel through vast desert plains, narrow canyons and along a stunning shoreline. A major highlight of this map is the unique integration of pre-placed tunnels and a pier for unloading goods. Mesa Plains will launch alongside the full PC version on Steam, with console players receiving the map in a future patch.

Four amazing maps. Each one different from the other. The choice to build the railroad of your dreams is all yours.

December 5 can't come soon enough.

Your Railroads Online Team

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1696810/Railroads_Online/

To all passionate locomotive drivers: Listen up!

Just recently, we have celebrated our three-year anniversary of the game and soon we can finally celebrate a whole different kind of milestone: We are not just leaving Early Access - but will also finally release the game on consoles!

The Full Release for PC and the Console Release of Railroads Online are officially coming on December 5, 5PM CET!

[h3]So, what is to be expected?[/h3]
Since, this will be a very special day, we took time to prepare a great release update, which is filled with a whole bunch of very exciting additions, improvements, and further polishing!

Let’s dive into all the details:

[h3]Arriving at: Mesa Plains![/h3]

All Aboard on Mesa Plains! With the Full Release, we will be adding a beautiful desert/canyon themed map, completing our versatile selection of places to explore! Mesa Plains features a long shore line, fascinating canyons and wide open plains as well as some other interesting spots to discover. As special highlights we included a pier and pre-placed tunnels. Oh yes, they’re finally coming!

[h3]Let’s achieve big things together![/h3]

Are you looking for additional challenges and explorations? Then we have great news to share:
The release update contains 32 unique achievements, challenging your skills and knowledge about the game. No matter if you are a beginner or experienced player, you will find exciting tasks to fulfill along your Railroads Online journey. Lovingly designed icons in bronze, silver, gold and platinum show off your progress and that of your friends in your Steam user profile. Keep up the competition with your friends to see who can unlock all achievements first!

[h3]Small but mighty! The UINTAH RWY. 0-6-2ST 🚂 [/h3]

This uniquely designed locomotive was originally used by the “UINTAH Railroads of Mack”, known for its steep grades and windy tracks. It’s a solid mid-game Tier 4 engine with a price of 5,100$ and is customizable with 4 different paints and 4 smokestacks.

[h3]The monster you requested! The UINTAH RWY. 2-6-6-2T[/h3]

What is that? Another locomotive? Yes, but this one is build different! Originally, this very special locomotive was built by Baldwin for an order regarding a heavy articulated locomotive that could round a sixty six degree curve on a 7,5% grade… The largest 3ft. gauge locomotive to ever run in the United States!

With a possible tractive effort of 42,000 lbf, a weight of 236,300 lbs and a top speed of 30 mph this monstrous engine is by far the strongest and heaviest, while still being one of the fastest locos among all in the game! A 2-6-6-2T wheel arrangement completes the picture.

This UINTAH locomotive is fitting perfectly for the Full Release and End of Early Access, since it is by all means a true endgame player! You can probably already tell that it will be quite expensive, but its specs are worth it for sure and it even comes with a ton of different options for customization! There’s no way you’re not in love already 😉!

[h3]The Pioneers of tomorrow are you![/h3]

You already know about this one, but here’s a little reminder! The Pioneer DLC will also be released on December 5, containing the unique Tender Locomotive Bell’s Gap 0-6-0, a small but great starter engine, also with different paint schemes, smokestacks and headlights! Also included is the Red Mountain Depot Building, which has a fancy interior and was named after the town of Red Mountain in Colorado, it was originally located at! Last but not least, the DLC contains the special “Lake Valley” skin for the Montezuma engine, featuring a cool used look!

Most importantly: This DLC will be free for everyone who purchased the game in Early Access or pre-ordered the game for consoles on retail! So if you and your friends haven’t already gotten the game, this is your call! Thank you all so much for your support ♥

From December 5, the Pioneer DLC will still be purchasable at a small price of $2,99!

[h3]Important info for all Console Players![/h3]
We are so happy to finally be releasing the game on consoles and work tirelessly on giving you an amazing product. Since we know that many of you have been waiting for a console version for some time now, we wanted to make sure to still have the release in this year. However, there will be some differences to the PC version. Firstly, there will be no In-game Chat on consoles and the save slots will be limited to 5 slots for both Singleplayer and Multiplayer each. There will also be some content that will be implemented later on in another update, releasing early next year to allow for further polishing. This update will include the Mini-/Maximap and the new content from the latest Anniversary Update alongside the aforementioned Release Update. We know, it’s a pity, but on the bright side: You’ll still have something to look forward to! 🤍

[h3]Mark the day and visit our Livestream![/h3]
On December 5, at 4:00pm CET we will host a livestream on the official astragon YouTube channel, where we will do a fun countdown event for the release! Come by and celebrate with us!

We hope, you are just as excited for this milestone as we are!
See you in two weeks!

[h3]Your Railroads Online Team[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1696810/Railroads_Online/

Wanna learn more about what has happened in the last three years of Railroads Online? Here's our brand-new trailer:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

What an exciting day!

In the past (two) weeks, our latest update has been tested on the beta branch. Thanks a lot to everyone who gave feedback and reported bugs to us! With your help, we’re now finally ready for the next step:

The Anniversary Update is now available on the Main Branch!

Let’s dive right in and have a good look at all the new content and what we have adjusted in these past weeks:

[h3]The UI has gotten a fully new design! 🔄[/h3]

Yep, it was about time! The User Interface has undergone various changes over the years, but it never felt cohesive. We've had a placeholder UI for a long time now, and it never really all fit together that well. Since the mood of a game can be strongly influenced by the UI, we have revamped the design that now matches flawlessly with the look and feel of the game world aesthetics!



So, how is it different now? Well… As you can see in the shots above and below, all the different menus, like the main menu and the construction menu have gotten a beautiful and much smoother design with more satisfying animations and transitions between screens. For further improvement of the UI usage, the new design comes with some useful feature changes, including better divisions and displays for more useful info on the spot and more intuitive interactions when constructing buildings, shopping for new engines or just getting around the settings in general.



You have always missed a preview of the different buildable items, so you don’t have to remember all the exact names and locations and scroll miles and miles down the lists to find anything? Yeeeah, we did too! The new construction menu gives a much better overview, being divided into four simple sections to easily find exactly what you’re looking for, while providing previews for each item and color option!

We could seriously go on and on about the new UI, like how there are beautiful changing wallpapers in the main menu now… But you better go see it all together for yourself!

[h3]We have finally added an Ingame Chat!💬 [/h3]



So, you’re playing a Multiplayer session with your friends and you’ve just read their minds for what they are planning on doing next.. Wait, you can’t read other people’s minds?? Don’t worry, we got something that will make you feel almost like a superhero😏

With the new ingame chat, you can finally chat with your fellow party members and tell them all about that crazy dream you had last night about a certain exciting Anniversary Update👀! No, but seriously. Railroads Online really needed a chat function and now it is finally up and running in the game! Communicating with each other and coordinating all your goals and tasks is now easier than ever and simply makes the game so much more alive! We hope you love this addition!

[h3]What happens when I click that “Prelaid” button? 🤔 [/h3]

Trying out all kinds of different builds can be fun and we all know how many possibilities there are. We also know how much fun starting over a game can be, especially with different friends, and you may just find yourself creating a new map every now and then. But let’s be real… Starting with nothing, over and over again and having to work your way up from 0 is not for everybody!



Now, what does happen when you click that button in the map selection screen? Prelaid maps provide you with an amazing base set of engines, logging cars and already placed industries and even some money to get you started into the actual game much faster! You’re not happy with the arrangement of the base build? Don’t worry, it’s not glued to the map, you can edit it anytime😉

To everyone new: If you feel a little overwhelmed when first opening the game, a prelaid map might be just the perfect choice to start off with and simply build up on! You will receive a great first impression on what to do and where to start, so you’re not getting lost right at the beginning.

[h3]Loading and Unloading made comfortable! [/h3]

It’s annoying to get off the train every time you want to load or unload something from your logging cars? We get that! From now on, you don’t have to do that anymore! Loading and unloading can now be done from the comfort of the cars, without needing to ever get off! So much easier and of course faster!

Okay, great! But what else?



You really enjoy thunderstorms, but it takes ages until you finally get one naturally? Just get into the Gameplay Settings and select your desired weather and time of day! What that means? Jup, Dynamic Weather is back and fully customizable! You can even freeze the day or set a timer to change the weather condition after a certain time that you can also set yourself!

Going back to superheroes: Flying is now easier than ever, since the flight mode is now part of the radial menu! Finding everything in one place is just so much more convenient!



[h3]Bugfixes & what’s changed since the beta? [/h3]

Okay, we have talked a lot about the new content that was tested on the beta branch these past weeks. Now, let’s see, what we changed in that time to get the update ready for today’s default release.

Within the last Hotfix we also implemented the new Multi Unit control system. That means you now can control several locomotives that are coupled together. Once you enter into your locomotive and work with the reverser, brake, regulator or whistle, it will control all other locomotives that are coupled in the same way. So now it is way easier, especially in Single Player mode, to haul long trains with several locomotives.

We also adjusted the level system and some prices:
Level 1 to Level 2: 0 - 1000 XP
Level 2 to Level 3: 1000 - 2500 XP
Level 3 to Level 4: 2500 - 5500 XP
Level 4 to Level 5: 5500 - 10000 XP
Level 5 to Level 6: 10000 - 20000 XP
Level 6 to Level 7: 20000 - 35000 XP
Level 7 to Level 8: 35000 - 50000 XP
Level 8 to Level 9: 50000 - 65000 XP
Level 9 to Level 10: 65000 - 80000 XP
Level 10 to Level 11: 80000 - 120000 XP
Level 11 to Level 12: 120000 - 155000 XP

The new prices and new XP you will gain for unloading a freight type can be found in the Ingame Wiki.

We also added a small notification for the Chat that pops up for some seconds if somebody writes a message to make sure you be aware of it. You can then open the chat as usual.

Bugs we fixed after the last Hotfix https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1696810/view/4691153175743629180?l=english):

Fixed an issue where locomotives did not consume water
Fixed an issue where industries were not shown completely on the Maxi Map
Fixed an issue where the West Side Lumber Snow Plow appeared to have brakes after rerailing (added hand brake again)
Fixed an issue where pre-laid save files showed wrong XP and Money level in the save game list
Fixed an issue where the Montezuma derailed when choosing it as starter loco for Aurora Falls
Fixed an issue where 2 Water towers showed wrong preview pictures in the construction menu
Fixed an issue where sometimes you could click on "Back" in the menus and sometimes you couldn't
Fixed an issue where the unloading UI showed a wrong key binding (left mouse click instead of Enter)
Fixed an issue where the Oahu Water Tank car could not be deleted anymore
Fixed an issue where loading grain into the Boxcar with the new loading feature caused the boxcar to derail
Fixed an issue where clients could not control locomotives at long distances anymore.
Fixed an issue where looking at long distance caused a big FPS loss
Fixed an issue where opening the Maximap caused a big FPS loss in zoom level 0. This should also have solved the issue where clients got massive sync issues while the host opened the map.
Fixed an issue where crude oil loading didn't work correct with the new loading system (directly from the car)
Fixed an issue where iverted axis controls didnt work
Fixed several optical locomotive issues (missing doors, windows...)
Fixed an issue where Locomotive and Car header were switched in Purchase menu
Fixed an issue where facilities could not be placed on ground level
Fixed an issue where loading screens would not swap tips or facts while loading
Fixed an issue where the rotary snow plow was missing it’s stack and light options
Fixed an issue where the refinery and the water well were missing snap links
Fixed an issue where the water hose at the farming chains did not connect to the water cars
Fixed an issue gold ore on the gold mine did not drop into the car while loading

Also, check out our latest DevVlog, where you can get all the info in action and color! Or, you just get into the game right now and check it out for yourself! Probably more sufficient😉

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

You’re still reading? Get into the game and enjoy!

[h3]Your Railroads Online Team!💜[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1696810/Railroads_Online/

Dear Community,

We just released a hotfix on the beta branch for the Anniversary Update! With this update, we're fixing a bunch of issues that came up since release and were reported to us by the community – thank you ♥

This update will once again only be available on the beta branch – so if you want to try it out, make sure you're on the right version! Go to your library in Steam, right-click on Railroads Online, open Properties, go to Betas, and select "Beta" under "Beta Participation - an update will now be triggered.

The update isn't available for you yet? Please make sure to verify your game files after downloading the update: Go to your library in Steam, right-click on Railroads Online, open Properties, go to Installed files and click on "Verify integrity of game files".

Your Railroads Online Team

[h3]New Features[/h3]

Happy 3rd Anniversary, everyone! 🎂

Three years ago today, we first released Railroads Online and the game has evolved quite a lot since then! It is so exciting to see how far we’ve come with the development and with you as a community, supporting us on every step of the way! Soon, we will even leave Early Access and finally release the full version of Railroads Online, for which we are beyond happy and thankful.

As already announced last week, we have worked for this special day on some very exciting additions and improvements that are now finally on the Beta Branch for all of you to try and review!

Making it official: The Anniversary Update is now uploaded on the Beta Branch!

You want to know what this update is all about? Stick with us to find out!

[h3]The UI has been completely redesigned! [/h3]


The User Interface has gotten a whole new design that now matches effortlessly with the games' aesthetics for a smoothed out in-game look! The redesign also includes feature changes regarding several parts of the various game menus to improve their quality-of-use and broaden their potential.

Just to mention only a few examples: The new main menu – shown above – received cool, changing wallpapers, while the construction menu – shown below – is now divided into four sections and displays many more details to provide you with a better overview of everything available!

We have even added a new feature that can be used to undo and redo an unlimited amount of steps, while you are building or demolishing, as long as the menus are open!


[h3]Hurray! Multiplayer has an In-game Chat!🎉 [/h3]


It is finally here: The In-game Chat has been added to the game! Are you ready for some life-changing conversations in Railroads Online?

[h3]Loading and Unloading right from the car![/h3]


Loading and unloading has become much easier: You can now use this feature while remaining in the driving mode and switching effortlessly between the different cars!

[h3]Let’s get a headstart! [/h3]


From now on, you can select the option to get a Prelaid Map when starting a new game! That will not only be very useful when you want to start over and don’t want to begin at zero amount of progress, but also when you are new to the game and need ideas on how to start. You will enter a map with a basic build fitted to the map that you’re choosing and even receive a couple of engines, a string of logging cars and your first money for the perfect headstart!

[h3]And so much more!🪶[/h3]


The Flight Mode can now conveniently be accessed via the radial menu, the permissions systems has been reworked and Dynamic Weather is back and improved for more control and customizations!

Of course, we have also targeted several issues that were reported in the last weeks and integrated a bunch of Bug Fixes! 🫶 Check out the changelog down below to get a detailed list of everything new and adjusted!⬇️

[h3]The complete changelog - Build 0.10.0.0.0. / 50996:[/h3]

Main Menu Overhaul:

• Updated the start screen menu
  
• Includes options for Single Player, Multiplayer, Tutorials and Options
  
• The main menu will scroll through some cool screenshots
  
• All menus can be closed with ESC key
  

Multiplayer Menu Overhaul:

• Multiplayer menu has been overhauled
  
• Finding servers has been cleaned up
  
• Menu is no longer bunched up, server information no longer overlaps making it much easier to read server names, player count, and what map players are on.
  
• Starting servers have been reworked, if you want to start a multiplayer session simply click on the multiplayer button on the main menu and you will be able to create your new save or load a previous save for a multiplayer session
  

Buy Menu Overhaul:

• The buy menu has been completely reworked, there are now two tabs, one for rolling stock and one for locomotives
  
• The buy menu can now be accessed by pressing the B key
  
• Buy menu also includes buttons for customization, this will open a new window to allow you to put custom text and numbers on your desired car or locomotive
  
• Buy menu now shows what cargo cars can hold
  
• Buy menu shows what fuel type engines have
  
• Buy menu will show locks for things that you are not the proper level for, each item will also have a level ID on them to indicate what levels they are unlocked at.
  

Construction Menu Overhaul:

• Construction menu has been reworked it can now be open with the G key
  
• Has tabs for:
  
  • Rails
    
  • Facilities
    
  • Industries- Hosts only
    
  • Props
• Some items have a sub menu that will pop up by left clicking on the four colored boxes in the top left of the item.
  
• This will give you the ability to see alternate options for some items, weather it be colors or different rail types
  

Added an Undo/Redo Functionality:

• You now have the ability to Undo/Redo while demolishing and building. You can undo and redo as many steps as you want as long as the menus are open.
  
• Can be used in build and demolish modes
  

Added in game chat:

• Can be opened by using the “CTRL right” key
  
• Added a chat filter to prevent inappropriate language
  
• Hosts can clear the chat history by typing “/clear” and hitting enter
  
• We also added the chat permission which can be set by the host in the player list (TAB)
  

Added new loading/unloading feature:

• Loading and Unloading has now become easier for players
  
• While in the driving UI use the up and down arrow keys to cycle between cars
  
• Driving UI stays up so you can spot cars
  
• Press enter to begin the unloading process
  
• Press space bar to begin the loading process
  
• Camera must be facing the side you want to load/unload. Make sure your car is aligned with the platform, crane, chute, spout or conveyor
  
• Loading works on industries, water tower, coal tower and sandhouse
  

Added fly mode to radial menu:

• Fly mode toggle has been added to the radial menu
  
• Hold down middle mouse button to open the radial menu and select the icon for the fly mode to activate and deactivate it
  
• Press space bar to switch between height stability and free fly mode
  

Dynamic weather is back and reworked:

• Dynamic weather can be found by pressing Escape - Options - Gameplay
  
• From there you can customize your weather options and time of day
  
• There is an option for dynamic weather and custom weather
  
• Dynamic weather can now be timer set to change every X minute
  
• Added slider for time of day
  
• You can pause time of day to freeze the day/night cycle
  
• You can set time of day to run on X minutes
  
• Only hosts can change weather and day/night cycles
  

Reworked permissions:

• Permissions can now be accessed by pressing TAB
  
• Tab for Player list and banned players
  
• You can set individual player permissions here
  
• Pressing F will pull up the steam friends list to allow you to invite players to your session
  

Added Pre-Laid maps options:

• Added the ability to start a pre-laid map when starting a new game
  
• When starting a new game there is a check box to get the pre-laid map
  
• Each map starts you off with 2,000$ and 0XP
  
• You are given a couple engines and a string of logging cars to get you started.
  
• Maps can be edited if you want to make any changes
  
• Maps have vanilla industries
  

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed an issue where clients would crash saves when joining servers
  
• Fixed an issue where splines would snap in the wrong direction
  
• Fixed an issue where there was a hole in the Aurora Falls map that caused players to fall out of the playable bounds of the world
  
• Fixed an issue where windows would have a mirror like reflection
  
• Fixed an issue where the Class 47’s audio was too quiet
  
• Fixed an issue with multiplayer
  
  • The issue known as “Desync” is now gone. Trains should now be properly in sync for the host and clients
    
  • The severe issue with rubber banding when running trains as a client and host (single player) are cleaned up.
    
  • We added a new option when creating servers: Hosts can set a server refresh rate. We recommend setting this value just under your average frame rate for the smoothest gameplay experience.
    

[h3]Check out the DevVlog for all the details! [/h3]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We are so excited to hear back from you and receive your feedback on all these changes! If you spot any bugs or other issue, be sure to let us know under this post or via our social accounts 😊 See you soon!

[h3]Your Railroads Online Team!💜[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1696810/Railroads_Online/