{
  "schemaVersion": "1.3",
  "id": "train-sim-world-7",
  "slug": "train-sim-world-7",
  "product": "Train Sim World 7",
  "title": "Train Sim World 7",
  "job": "Is the date real, do they need to spend, what can they skip.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-16",
  "timezoneNote": "Standard Edition unlocks September 15, 2026 across Xbox Series X|S / Xbox PC (Display Catalog OriginalReleaseDate 2026-09-15T15:00:00Z), PlayStation 5, Steam, and Epic (Dovetail: Epic full launch September 15, 2026 at 6pm BST / 17:00 UTC). Deluxe and Ultimate early access begins September 10, 2026.",
  "lifecycle": {
    "postedAt": "2026-09-16",
    "announcedPlatformReleases": [
      {
        "platform": "Xbox Series X|S",
        "date": "2026-09-15",
        "notes": "Standard. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S; Xbox Play Anywhere; Smart Delivery. Deluxe/Ultimate early access from 2026-09-10.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "xbox-wire",
          "xbox-store",
          "xbox-ultimate"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PC (Microsoft Store / Xbox on PC)",
        "date": "2026-09-15",
        "notes": "Xbox Play Anywhere. Deluxe/Ultimate early access from 2026-09-10.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "xbox-wire",
          "xbox-store"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PlayStation 5",
        "date": "2026-09-15",
        "notes": "Standard. Deluxe/Ultimate early access from 2026-09-10.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "playstation-store"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PC (Steam)",
        "date": "2026-09-15",
        "notes": "Standard. Deluxe/Ultimate early access from 2026-09-10.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "steam",
          "dovetail-ea"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PC (Epic Games Store)",
        "date": "2026-09-15",
        "notes": "Dovetail: Epic full launch September 15, 2026 at 6pm BST.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "epic",
          "dovetail-ea"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "text": "No paid links on this page. If a Need line later carries a paid link, it will be marked here."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "xbox-wire",
      "label": "Xbox Wire — Next Week on Xbox (Sep 14–18)",
      "url": "https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/09/11/next-week-on-xbox-new-games-for-september-14-to-18/"
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-store",
      "label": "Xbox Store — Train Sim World 7 Standard Edition",
      "url": "https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/train-sim-world-7-standard-edition/9pg6tw46qtzn"
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-ultimate",
      "label": "Xbox Store — Train Sim World 7 Ultimate Edition",
      "url": "https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/train-sim-world-7-ultimate-edition/9nrvzt9lc24z"
    },
    {
      "id": "dovetail-ea",
      "label": "Dovetail — Play TSW7 now (Early Access)",
      "url": "https://live.dovetailgames.com/news/play-tsw7-now-early-access"
    },
    {
      "id": "dovetail-pricing",
      "label": "Dovetail Direct 2026 recap / pre-order TSW7",
      "url": "https://live.dovetailgames.com/news/dovetail-direct-2026-recap-pre-order-tsw7"
    },
    {
      "id": "steam",
      "label": "Steam — Train Sim World 7",
      "url": "https://store.steampowered.com/app/4678800/Train_Sim_World_7/"
    },
    {
      "id": "epic",
      "label": "Epic Games Store — Train Sim World 7",
      "url": "https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/train-sim-world-7"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-store",
      "label": "PlayStation Store — Train Sim World 7 Standard Edition",
      "url": "https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/EP2866-PPSA37911_00-TSW7STANDARDEDIT"
    },
    {
      "id": "youtube-trailer",
      "label": "Train Sim World — Official trailer",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P--vamYET7Y"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-m2-ssd",
      "label": "PlayStation Support — add an M.2 SSD to PS5",
      "url": "https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/"
    }
  ],
  "official": [
    {
      "id": "launch-date",
      "label": "Standard launch date",
      "value": "15 September 2026",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Deluxe and Ultimate early access from 10 September 2026. Free Starter and console-compatible add-ons from full launch.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store",
        "playstation-store",
        "steam",
        "epic",
        "dovetail-ea"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "platforms",
      "label": "Launch platforms",
      "value": "Xbox Series X|S, PC via Xbox Play Anywhere / Microsoft Store, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam, PC via Epic Games Store. Not Nintendo.",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Publisher lock: PC (Steam, Epic, Xbox for PC) and Gen-9 consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X) only.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store",
        "playstation-store",
        "steam",
        "epic",
        "dovetail-ea"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-starter",
      "label": "Free Starter Edition price",
      "value": "Free",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "From full launch September 15.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dovetail-pricing",
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-standard",
      "label": "Standard price",
      "value": "$49.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Xbox Wire and storefront SRP. Pre-order/loyalty 10% discount was called out before launch — verify live cart.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store",
        "steam",
        "dovetail-pricing",
        "playstation-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-deluxe",
      "label": "Deluxe price",
      "value": "$79.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Includes 5-day early access from September 10.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dovetail-pricing",
        "xbox-store",
        "dovetail-ea"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-ultimate",
      "label": "Ultimate price",
      "value": "$129.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Includes early access plus extra routes/locos.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dovetail-pricing",
        "xbox-ultimate",
        "dovetail-ea"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-category",
      "label": "ESRB rating",
      "value": "E",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "From Xbox Store (EVERYONE). Dedicated esrb.org page not located. Hold storefront letter.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-descriptors",
      "label": "ESRB descriptors",
      "value": "No content descriptors listed",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Interactive elements on store/catalog: Users Interact; In-Game Purchases.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store",
        "steam"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "publisher",
      "label": "Publisher / developer",
      "value": "Dovetail Games",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store",
        "steam",
        "dovetail-ea"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "game-pass",
      "label": "Xbox Game Pass",
      "value": "Not day one",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Xbox Wire entry has no Game Pass day-one tag. Xbox store shows cloud play with Game Pass tiers but game purchase required.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-size",
      "label": "Install size",
      "value": "Steam 35 GB",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Xbox and PlayStation install sizes not published on opened storefront pages.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "steam"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "media": {
    "trailer": {
      "label": "Official trailer",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "kind": "youtube",
      "youtubeId": "P--vamYET7Y",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P--vamYET7Y",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "youtube-trailer"
      ]
    },
    "still": {
      "label": "Official still",
      "src": "/media/train-sim-world-7/official-still.jpg",
      "credit": "Xbox Store / Dovetail Games",
      "pageUrl": "https://store-images.s-microsoft.com/image/apps.3294.14190707718688425.c1135e99-4a46-40e4-826e-739ca9a66825.5a64b4ac-7755-4053-a118-96dc6c19293d",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    }
  },
  "decisions": [
    {
      "id": "buy-now-set",
      "item": "Buy-now set",
      "verdict": "empty",
      "rationale": "Nothing currently earns a yes for a paid buy-the-game slot. Empty buy slots are intentional. No catalog. No affiliate slots until a line is a yes.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "free-starter",
      "item": "Free Starter Edition",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Official free path from full launch September 15. No spend required to try the base offering.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dovetail-pricing",
        "xbox-store"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "game",
      "item": "Standard Edition ($49.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Official SRP is $49.99 on Xbox, Steam, and aligned storefronts. Not on Game Pass day one. Free Starter covers a no-spend try path; Standard is the paid full game.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-wire",
        "xbox-store",
        "steam",
        "dovetail-pricing"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "deluxe",
      "item": "Deluxe Edition ($79.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed at $79.99 with five-day early access from September 10. Worth it only if early access matters; Standard at full launch is the cheaper full-game path.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dovetail-pricing",
        "dovetail-ea",
        "xbox-store"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ultimate",
      "item": "Ultimate Edition ($129.99)",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "Confirmed at $129.99 with early access plus extra routes and locos. Extras are not required when Standard or Free Starter covers play.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dovetail-pricing",
        "xbox-ultimate",
        "dovetail-ea"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-1tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 1 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Need if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-2tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 2 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Larger option if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    }
  ],
  "openHoles": [
    {
      "id": "esrb-org",
      "question": "What is the dedicated esrb.org page URL for Train Sim World 7?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Storefronts show Everyone / E with interactive Users Interact and In-Game Purchases. Dedicated esrb.org listing not located. Hold store E wording.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-install-size",
      "question": "What is the Xbox install size?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Display Catalog package MaxDownloadSize not published on Standard SKU packages when checked.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "ps-install-size",
      "question": "What is the PlayStation 5 install size?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Not published on the opened PlayStation Store US product page.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "preorder-discount",
      "question": "Does the Dovetail 10% pre-order/loyalty discount still apply after Standard unlock?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Dovetail called out a 10% discount on selected platforms before launch. Verify live cart after Standard unlock.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-16",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dovetail-pricing"
      ]
    }
  ]
}