This is nothing new, there have been no additional requirements/chain elements added since release.
You can see on the
AmpliTube 5 page when you click "Compare Versions" that the free (CS) version does not have certain parts of the chain enabled. You cannot put stomps post-mixer nor in the DI path for example.
Also, you do not have to repurchase anything and to get a huge amount of features (including an entirely rewritten new engine) and 600+ IRs per speaker with the new VIR™ technology is not a huge amount of money. You get these features, the improved cab/speakers with VIR™, etc with AmpliTube 5 SE, 5, or 5 MAX. And your existing purchases are supported and upgraded to use the new technology.
AmpliTube 5 SE is $/€149.99 and if you do have a lot of previous gear you'd likely have enough JamPoints to take off an additional up to 30% off that. It was also on sale during Black Friday. You get a lot for that as
AmpliTube 5 is a massive upgrade to AmpliTube 4 plus you can use all of your existing gear which will sound better in
AmpliTube 5If anybody in this thread is still experiencing issues that should not happen in their version of
AmpliTube 5 please open a ticket with IK Support and they will assist you directly. Thank you.