It Looks Like A PSVR Train Simulator Is Finally On The Way (Sort Of)

It Looks Like A PSVR Train Simulator Is Finally On The Way (Sort Of)

You know what PSVR doesn’t have enough of? Simulation games. Not the silly type that star goats, I mean actual simulators. It’s a surprisingly untapped market for such a dedicated audience. That said, it looks like the first PSVR train simulator is indeed on the way. Sort of.

Gematsu recently spotted an Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) listing for A-Train Express. It’s a train simulator that released in Japan in late 2017. And, yes, it has PSVR support. The ESRB listing suggests it’s on its way to the US.

In the game, you build your own railways and develop cities around them. There’s a driving mode that gives you a first-person view of the action, though the game’s mainly concerned with making everything run on time. Check out the trailer below.

Sadly, though, it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to actually drive trains in VR. PSVR support includes a ‘VR Railroad Model Mode’. This apparently just lets you view certain cityscapes as VR dioramas. That’s a bit of a disappointment. We wouldn’t hold out hope for any significant additions to the game since the Japanese release, either.

Still, it’s the closest thing PSVR fans have to a proper simulation right now. We don’t know when A-Train Express will be officially announced for PS4 but keep an eye out for it. Over on the PC VR side, promising train simulator Derail Valley will be arriving later this week. That looks like a more thorough entry into the genre that we’ll hopefully see on PSVR too at some point.

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A-Train Express to Include PlayStation VR support

A-Train, an urban development and railroad management simulation videogame, was announced for PlayStation 4 back in September 2017. Now, developer Artdink, has revealed that the launch edition of A-Train Express will include support for the PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD) from day one.

A-Train Express screenshot

A-Train Express implements various features from A-Train 9, the most recent PC edition in the series, but for the first time bullet trains from across the country, north to south, have been implemented. Additionally, with PlayStation VR support, players can experience the world of railroad models, including N Gauge and H0 Gauge scaling, anew through the ‘VR Railroad Model Mode’.

The VR Railroad Model Mode allows players to experience a railroad model cityscape that feels like a diorama. The mode has four gameplay options, and players can select a scale for each gauge including the “N Gauge”, the “HO Gauge” and more. A ‘Flight Mode’ offers support for the DualShock 4’s motion-controller capability, however it’s not yet been confirmed whether PlayStation Move support is included in the videogame.

At present, it appears as though the PlayStation VR compatibility is limited to this VR Railroad Model Mode and does not encompass the construction aspect of the videogame. However, more details on this will become available at the time of the videogame’s launch.

A-Train Express screenshot

For newcomers to the franchise, A-Train Express will include a ‘Guide Movie’ feature which will teach you the basics of how to play the videogame. Guide Movies are being prepared for every situation to support the user as needed, and with the implementation of ‘Maps with Guides’, new users can learn the basics of how to control and play A-Train.

A-Train Express is set to launch in Japan on 21st December 2017, known as A-Train de Ikou Exp., and can be pre-ordered now from Play Asia. However, given that the videogame is a management simulation there’s likely to be significant hurdles with the language barrier for many players. There has not yet been any confirmation of a western release nor any additional language options included with the Japanese release.

Further details on A-Train Express and any potential western release will likely arrive in early 2018, and VRFocus will of course keep you updated with all the latest details.