EXCLUSIVE: Farming Simulator 25 on Expanding Their Horizons – An Interview with Martin Rabl

We had the opportunity to have an exclusive email interview with Martin Rabl, Head of Marketing at GIANTS Software, revealing exciting insights into Farming Simulator 25 and the team’s vision for the ever-evolving simulation genre.

Crafting Immersive Landscapes and Welcoming New Players

The development team at GIANTS Software has gone to great lengths to create authentic and diverse environments. As Martin Rabl described, “In Farming Simulator 25, we introduced new crops such as rice, and we needed matching environments.” Riverbend Springs, one of the new maps, showcases their commitment to geographical and agricultural realism. The map features a massive river, complete with ferries and container ships, bringing a new dimension to player exploration.

“There is a huge river traversing the map, and we also introduced ferries as a new possibility to cross the river,” Rabl explained, highlighting the team’s dedication to creating “environments that reflect the challenges and spirit of farming in various parts of the world.”

Accessibility has been a key focus for Farming Simulator 25. “We include an improved tutorial system designed to help newcomers understand the core mechanics quickly,” Rabl shared. The game introduces step-by-step field work guidance, helpful NPCs offering advice, and a comprehensive Academy available on the official website. “From step-by-step guidance for working on the fields, the tutorials are crafted to ease players into the game,” he added. These features aim to make the complex world of farming simulation more approachable for those new to the genre.

Global Agricultural Diversity and Community Development

The latest iteration introduces exciting new elements that broaden the game’s global agricultural representation. “The decision to include buffalo and rice crops was driven by a desire to represent more diverse agricultural practices from around the world,” Rabl revealed. The addition of an East Asian map brings unprecedented diversity to the simulation. “For the first time, we created an East Asian map, and these are matching well-known elements,” he explained. This approach allows players to experience farming beyond traditional Western agricultural landscapes, with Rabl emphasizing their intention to “show a new environment with new gameplay.”

Player feedback remains crucial to GIANTS Software’s development process. “Community feedback is at the heart of our development process,” Rabl stated. Standout features directly inspired by community suggestions include ground deformation mechanics, GPS functionality, and dynamic weather events. “The newly introduced ground deformation and GPS features were often requested features,” he shared. The team has carefully listened to their community, implementing requested features while also maintaining the element of surprise with innovative additions.

Future Vision and Gameplay Features

The company’s long-term vision extends beyond traditional farming simulation. “Our vision is to continue evolving the series by incorporating new crops, activities and cutting-edge machinery,” Rabl explained. They aim to mirror real-world agricultural advancements while keeping gameplay engaging. “We want to expand the experience for users that the game and the topic becomes their hobby!” he added. This approach demonstrates GIANTS Software’s commitment to both authenticity and engaging gameplay.

Farming Simulator 25 introduces several notable features that enhance the player experience. “We added weather events, such as hail and twisters, which can occur in the game and even destroy crops or bales, even selected buildings,” Rabl shared. Acknowledging the potential impact, he noted that players have the flexibility to adjust these events: “As this could be a rather drastic damage to the player progress, we included the options to deactivate the weather events completely, or have visual effects only.”

Expanding the Horizons

While GIANTS Software remains committed to farming simulation, they see tremendous potential in the genre. “Simulation games are a growing genre, and we see tremendous potential for innovation,” Rabl explained. The team is exploring innovative ways to expand gameplay, including production chains and unique mission types. “We’re always exploring ways to broaden the genre, whether through complementary themes like the production chains or the construction missions,” he revealed.

The interview reveals a development team passionate about creating an authentic, engaging, and continually evolving agricultural simulation experience. With a commitment to player feedback, global agricultural diversity, and innovative gameplay, Farming Simulator 25 promises to offer both newcomers and veteran players a rich, detailed journey into the world of modern farming, blending educational insights with immersive gameplay.

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