The Farming Simulator series has spent its several years on the market gradually striving to add more realistic mechanics to its gameplay. Now, developer GIANTS Software is pushing things into real farmer territory with the release of the new Precision Farming DLC for Farming Simulator 19.
This new DLC pack (free for all players) adds a whole new level of depth to the gameplay. If you really want to go deep into the dirt with your skills, this one is for you. That’s because the Precision Farming DLC is exactly as its name implies — a more in-depth take on the gameplay mechanics. To optimize the output of your fields, this DLC pack introduces soil samples. There are four different types of soil: Loamy Sand, Sandy Loam, Loam, and Silty Clay. By taking the samples, you will have definite data on what kind of soil each field contains (and different parts of a field can contain different types of soil — e.g. one half loamy sand, the other half sandy loam). Once you gather the data, you will then be able to plant crops that are best suited to each soil type. In addition to that, the Precision Farming DLC also adds the monitoring of the pH and Nitrogen levels of your fields. Improving these levels involves spreading lime every so often, which was already introduced back when Farming Simulator 19 initially launched.
On top of all these fancy-schmancy new field mechanics, the Precision Farming DLC also adds more improvements for AI workers. By placing a radar station on your farm, AI workers can use GPS-enabled machines to more efficiently handle their workloads for each field. This, in turn, will save resources, especially the most important resource, money.
Okay, you still with me? Yeah, I’m a little overwhelmed too. Thankfully, Giants has provided a handy (and surprisingly brief) video that breaks everything down.
Thankfully, this DLC is purely optional. Thus, if you still want to keep your farm work as stupid simple as possible, you don’t have to worry about all these newfangled mechanics. Nevertheless, it is impressive to see Giants push the series this deep into realism. Farming Simulator 19 still has its issues, but this is a decent step in the right direction. Still, I have to say it’s a bit strange that the developers went this far and yet, rain showers still have zero effect on fields to this day. Even so, the work on this DLC pack isn’t done yet, as Giants has confirmed that this is a “two-year project.” So, expect more improvements to be worked in and features to be added on as time goes on.
If you want new content for Farming Simulator 19 that doesn’t feel like you need to take a college class to understand, then the recently released Alpine Expansion pack might be more up your alley.
Farming Simulator 19 is now two years old and there’s still nothing in sight in terms of a successor, which, under normal circumstances, would have released by now. It seems like, at least for now, Giants is more than willing to keep supporting this title for some time more.
