---
title: "You Can Play the New ‘Test Drive Unlimited’ Game for Free This Weekend on PS5 "
date: "2024-12-28"
modified: "2024-12-28"
authors:
  - name: "Beverly Braga"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/beverly-braga"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/you-can-play-the-new-test-drive-unlimited-game-for-free-this-weekend-on-ps5"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "Video Games"
tags:
  - "Playstation"
  - "racing games"
  - "video game"
---

# You Can Play the New ‘Test Drive Unlimited’ Game for Free This Weekend on PS5 

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TDU-Solar-Crown-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>Nacon\</em\>*

Rather than wait around for the ever-elusive [*Grand Theft Auto VI*](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-most-interesting-cars-in-grand-theft-auto-vis-first-trailer>), this year's [*Test Drive Unlimited*](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-new-test-drive-unlimited-game-looks-like-forza-horizon-for-grownups>) reboot is free to play for the rest of the year. If you own a PlayStation 5, that is.

Announced on social media, PS5 gamers can download a free trial of [*TDU Solar Crown*](<https://www.instagram.com/p/DEFa91FtkVX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==>), the third installment in the *TDU* [video game](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/video-games>) racing series. The caveat is—well, there are a couple.

Depending on your location, you might need a [PlayStation Plus](<https://www.playstation.com/en-us/ps-plus/>) membership, which currently starts at $9.99 a month. Players based in Japan and South Korea won't be able to snag the freebie at all. Free-play trials for *TDUSC* are planned for other platforms, but the timing has not been announced yet.

The other notable heads-up is that *TDUSC* has been plagued by server issues since its debut in September. [*GTPlanet*](<https://www.gtplanet.net/tdusc-major-update-300-issues-20240916/>) reported there were more than 300 issues at launch. Even after the first patch, uninterrupted gameplay continued to remain elusive. So much so, players were thanked for their "patience and support" and [gifted an exclusive in-game car](<https://testdriveunlimited.com/en-US/news/patch2-compensation-next-steps>) (a 1986 [Porsche 911](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/porsche-911>) Carrera Coupe) during the second update. At this rate, expect a new patch (and new scarlet-letter compensation) every two months.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TDUSC_Ibiza_New_Cars_.jpg>)
**Nacon**

Anyway, sorry, I can't help you with the lag and loading problems, and neither can developer KT Racing, it seems. Frame rate drops continue to frustrate even PS5 Pro players, says *GTPlanet*. But hey, *TDUSC* released its first expansion this month, [a return to Ibiza](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/new-test-drive-unlimited-game-will-go-back-to-ibiza-soon-after-launch>)! So, if you're lucky enough, you might be able to check out the new rides, races, and, ooh, character fashions in [*TDUSC* Season 2](<https://testdriveunlimited.com/en-US/news/season2-all-you-need-to-know>).

If you can get some gameplay in with the Standard Edition (at least the freebie includes no time limits), some good news is that the Silver Streets Edition and Gold Edition are discounted by 40% to $47.99 and $53.99, respectively. Although the *TDUSC* free trial ends on December 31 at 9:00 a.m. UTC (4:00 a.m. EST), the edition upgrades will be on sale through January 7.

## Author
Born and raised in Hawaii, Beverly has been a prolific and published creative writer since her teens. As a contributor to The Drive, Beverly covers the weekend shift, blogging about all things automotive, mobility, transportation, and topics in-between. Currently a digital nomad, Beverly's only constant is her car, a second-generation Mazdaspeed3. Even though she's never in one place for too long, her hot hatch always feels like home.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<http://www.instagram.com/bev_b>)  
[LinkedIn](<http://linkedin.com/in/beverlybraga>)