The Game Shifts Into a Higher Gear
[p]Hello and welcome![/p][p]Since the release of the game yesterday at 10 a.m., we've received a flood of feedback and we're thrilled to see so many of you excited about the changes introduced this year! [/p][p]Your enthusiasm means a lot to the entire team. What you're playing today is the result of many months (and even years) of hard work, and it's incredibly rewarding to know you're enjoying it. If you're having a great time, we’d be hugely grateful if you could leave a positive review on Steam, it really helps us and supports the future of the game.[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks again for your support and most importantly, enjoy the ride with TDF 2025![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]For this devblog, we won’t be focusing on a single topic, but rather going over all the changes made to the game to make it more enjoyable and realistic.[/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]Let’s start with the game’s onboarding, which has been revamped with a welcome sequence on the first launch. This allows you to adjust brightness, sound level, and default difficulty without needing to go into the settings menu. It also includes options for color adjustments for colorblind players. These quick settings can later be modified in the Options menu, where all the usual settings remain available.[/p][p]Steam players will have access to additional advanced settings that were previously unavailable, allowing them to fine-tune performance, such as rider detail level, view distance, or motion blur.[/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]This might seem minor, but it brings us closer to realism: the game now handles certain special letters better. Characters like the “ž” in Primož or the “á” and “í” in Iván García were not properly supported before. Some letters might have been displayed correctly, but mechanics like having names pronounced by the speaker during the podium ceremony didn’t work. Now, more riders' names will be pronounced on the podium, with spelling more consistent with their native origin.[/p][p]Unfortunately, the “č” in Pogačar still isn’t handled properly — a particularly tricky case we hope to resolve by 2026.[/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]This year, we’ve taken audio updates a bit further. As mentioned, more rider names will be pronounced during podiums, and as always, stages come with their own dedicated commentary. We’ve also refreshed the menu environment. The sound effects have been reworked to bring a bit of freshness to an area that hasn’t evolved in the last 10 years.
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[/p][p]Thanks to the new engine, we’ve been able to add many more jerseys to the game. While we were previously limited to around ten jerseys for national champions, the game can now handle over fifty — including the new African champion jersey.[/p][p]We also took this opportunity, with help from Tomgtr7, to redesign the individual Pro Cycling leader jersey, which didn’t seem to be popular with the community 🙂.[/p][p]At the same time, we revised the rules for wearing this jersey based on your feedback: the World Champion jersey will now take priority if a rider qualifies for both. We've also updated these rules to reflect the new UCI regulation, allowing a national time trial champion to wear their jersey during a team time trial.[/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]Removing this technical limitation also allowed us to add 8 national teams for the World Championships, resulting in a more packed peloton with 25 teams at the start.[/p][p]![]()
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[/p][p]The new engine also lets us go further in visual race reproduction. Each ASO race now includes specific sponsorships we can more easily replicate in-game, making each race more unique and recognizable.[/p][p]Beyond sponsorships, we’ve also increased the number of bike frames and helmets. Every team in the Tour de France has its own customized frame and helmet. Sunglasses also enhance the visual resemblance between the game and reality.[/p][p]![]()
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[/p][p]We’ve made changes for Pro Mode fans concerning race participants. To reduce redundancy across seasons, rider lineups are now more varied, so you won’t always face the same opponents. This variation also applies from race to race, avoiding scenarios where Paris-Nice, the Critérium du Dauphiné, and the Tour de France all have the same favorites.[/p][p]This will create more open editions, where it’s even possible (though rare) that the world’s top 3 riders may not be present, leading to more diverse seasons. This change also allows for special cases — like Pogačar occasionally participating in Paris-Roubaix (still rare, but now possible).[/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]Let’s end with racing. While the new feeding zones have already been covered in a dedicated devblog, we haven’t yet discussed the collision system, which has undergone a significant update.[/p][p]Now, when your rider exerts a high effort (consuming the red energy), their collision box temporarily changes from a cube to a more elongated diamond shape. This makes it easier to weave through the pack and move up quickly when needed, preventing players from getting stuck without options.[/p][p][/p][p]Collision box at moderate pace[/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]Collision box at high effort
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[/p][p]This change also applies to AI riders and teammates, allowing for a more fluid peloton.[/p][p]![]()
[/p][p]We paid special attention to mass sprints to ensure they’re better organized, with real, effective lead-out trains competing near the finish. These trains and the riders forming them have been improved to be more efficient, with:[/p]![]()
[/p][p]Other fixes include:[/p]![]()
[/p][p]This year, we’ve integrated MyNacon into Tour de France 2025. This system allows us to learn more about you and what you enjoy in the game.[/p][p]For those unfamiliar, MyNacon lets you create a single account across all Nacon games, granting access to rewards and additional content in other titles we publish.[/p][p]However, we didn’t want this feature to feel intrusive or burdensome. That’s why, throughout the game’s lifespan, MyNacon will give you chances to win prizes and enter contests for free. In partnership with cycling brands, we’ll offer real-life competitions in Critérium mode, with top players able to win real-world cycling-themed goodies.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Here’s a list of helpful resources to get you started in Tour de France 2025:[/p][p]Frequently Asked Questions & Known Bugs: \[HERE][/p][p]If you encounter any bugs, crashes, or other problems during your gameplay experience, please don’t hesitate to report them here: \[LINK][/p][p][/p][p]![]()
>> https://linktr.ee/cyclinggames <
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- [p]Lead-out riders no longer unnecessarily slowing down their sprinter,[/p]
- [p]Teammates being used more effectively and adapting better to surprises,[/p]
- [p]Stronger pace-setting capabilities.
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- [p]Avoid falling back in the pack right before a sprint,[/p]
- [p]Stay aligned with their lead-out man to avoid wasting energy in the wind,[/p]
- [p]Time their sprint better when fatigued.
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- [p]In crosswind zones, riders position themselves more logically to form echelons,[/p]
- [p]Team leaders better anticipate crosswinds to avoid getting trapped by their own team,[/p]
- [p]Some teams now try to harden the race earlier to enable long-range attacks from their leader,[/p]
- [p]Fixes for teams/riders that should have been pulling but weren’t,[/p]
- [p]Adjustments to reduce excessive rider collapses,[/p]
- [p]Tweaks to ensure riders are a bit fresher at the end of easier stages,[/p]
- [p]And plenty of minor fixes that are hard to categorize or describe (and don’t make much sense out of context 🙂).
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