As a seasoned player of Farming Simulator, I remember being thoroughly impressed by the improvements between FS17 and FS19, and even more so when FS22 came around. However, the promotional material for Farming Simulator 25 has left me somewhat underwhelmed; it seems akin to a potential DLC for FS22, particularly since it mainly emphasizes the new inclusion of rice farming. From what I've gathered so far, we're essentially looking at FS22 refreshed with additional crop varieties and corresponding equipment, plus a slight upgrade in graphics. After three years of development, I expected something more substantial. Consequently, I haven't rushed to pre-order FS25; it merely sits on my wishlist for now.
One feature that truly excited me was ground deformation, which was only briefly mentioned in a blog post as though it was an afterthought rather than a groundbreaking addition. I'm also keen on seeing a greater variety of older and smaller machinery. My favorite aspect of the game is to start from scratch, working contracts to afford my first field, then progressively acquiring machines, buildings, etc.
Furthermore, I had hoped that dynamic ground would bring more authenticity to suspensions and overall realism. While it's contentious to compare two distinct genres, I'd like to see FS evolve in a direction somewhat reminiscent of SnowRunner—not to replicate its mechanics squarely, but to adopt a dynamic ground model that reflects conditions such as dry, normal, and wet terrain, complete with significant deformation for particularly soggy fields. I envisage scenarios where you might get a tractor stuck and have to wait for the ground to dry, then later even out the trodden land with a cultivator.
Regarding vehicle dynamics, let's face it—the physics are still a bit unconvincing for a 2024 game, at least as they were in FS22. The bounce and suspension response of the vehicles haven’t evolved as much as I'd like since FS11. Improvements are there, but not to the extent I desire.
I'm also advocating for more realistic interactions with elements like manure. In my corner of the world, manure is tilled into the soil, and this is a process I feel is inaccurately represented in the game. There should be significant benefits for using manure in conjunction with plowing, minimal effects for using either independently, and moderate results for using solid fertilizers (with an option to revert to old gameplay mechanics).
Lastly, I believe the way machinery accumulates dirt could be more authentic. It currently seems like there are just layers of dirt that change opacity based on activity, rather than a more realistic build-up.
Despite my critical view, I'm sharing this as a wishlist for FS25—a list that I acknowledge might be unrealistic. Yet, I still hold much affection for the franchise.
