Having been on Early Access for some time now and dealing with middling Steam reviews, RollerCoaster Tycoon World is now going off of Early Access November 16th. The intriguing aspect regarding this release date is that it just so happens to be one day before the release of Planet Coaster from developer Frontier Developments.
Atari, the publisher of RollerCoaster Tycoon World, announced the date and also gave an update on what will be added to the game now that it has lost its Early Access tag:
“As the newest PC installment of the world-renowned RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise, RollerCoaster Tycoon World will be available for download on Steam following an Early Access period of more than seven months. In addition to general optimization and graphics improvements, several new gameplay features were added during that time—including a piece-by-piece builder, progression system, updated peeps, and a new user interface.”
“In celebration of the launch,” the announcement continues, the price of RCTW will be $34.99, a step down from the current Early Access price of $49.99, though it’s uncertain if that’s a discount just for the launch period or it will remain at that price. I’ve asked for clarification and will update this post when I hear back. Update: I was just told “…the $34.99 price point is for the Standard Edition only, which will go into effect at launch and will be the permanent sale price.”
A price drop can always be appreciated, and with new additions coming to the game, there should be more value than ever. The Steam reviews for the game are certainly divisive, with many people having strong feelings about the game on both sides. However, the decision to set the release date right next to Planet Coaster certainly shows somewhat of a challenge on Atari’s part sent to Frontier Developments. It’s unclear whether Frontier Developments will answer in any definitive way, but if Planet Coaster ends up finding more success, maybe a snappy retort will not be necessary on FD’s part.
The devs for RCTW recently released a video on their Piece-by-Piece feature, which you can check out right here:
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_juWoIBX1t4
What do you think about this decision? Who do you think will win between RCTW and PC? Let us know in the comments!
