City Transport Simulator 2026 free roam mode allows players to step out of the driver's cab, explore urban streets on foot, board AI-controlled buses and trams, and take over or hand off vehicles without encountering loading screens. This guide details how the mode functions across the fictional city of Tramau and expansion maps like Vienna, covering vehicle hijacking mechanics, passenger interactions, and version-specific features.
What Is Free Roam Mode?
In previous entries and standard career sessions, players remain primarily tethered to their assigned transit routes and cabs. City Transport Simulator 2026 introduces Free Roam as a dedicated mode accessible directly from the main menu, alongside Quick Play, Career, and Sandbox options.
When entering a Free Roam session, you configure environmental conditions—such as initial season (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring), weather transitions (Dynamic, Static, or Random), transition speed (Fast at 15 minutes, Medium at 30 minutes, or Slow at 60 minutes), and start time—before spawning directly into the game world on foot as a pedestrian.
| Feature | Free Roam Mode | Standard Career Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Starting State | Spawn on foot as a pedestrian | Spawn inside assigned vehicle cab |
| Timetable Obligation | Optional; drive or observe at will | Strict schedule and timetable scoring |
| Vehicle Switching | Instant takeover/handover of AI vehicles | Restricted to assigned vehicle per shift |
| Progression Economy | No company economy management | Route expansion, XP points, and network unlocks |
| Map Boundaries | Freely accessible street areas | Bound to assigned active routes |
Exploring on Foot and Discovering Collectibles
While navigating as a pedestrian, you can walk through open-world city centers, old towns, and suburbs. The streets feature ambient pedestrian activity, functional traffic signals, and licensed AI delivery vans such as DHL, alongside familiar German retail storefronts including REWE, Tegut, MediaMarkt, and Deutsche Post.
Walking around transit hubs also lets you search for hidden collectibles scattered across the map. These collectibles trigger specific Steam achievements when tracked down:
- Greetings from the City: Unlocked by finding all Postcard collectibles.
- Tram Fanatic: Unlocked by collecting all Tram Keychain collectibles.
- Bus Buddy: Unlocked by finding all Bus Keychain collectibles.
- Coffee Break Complete: Unlocked by discovering all Mug collectibles.
Certain physical boundaries exist on foot; areas beyond operational transit corridors are walled off by invisible map limits.
How to Board and Ride AI Vehicles
Players can approach any active bus stop or tram platform, wait for an oncoming AI vehicle to arrive, and board through open doors like an ordinary commuter.
The Passenger Experience and Seating
During the initial launch of CTS 2026, boarding an AI bus or tram placed the player in a standing-only perspective, allowing you to walk the aisles, listen to interior passenger announcements, or press the stop-request button.
In Update 26.2.0, developer ViewApp added the ability to physically sit down in passenger seats during Free Roam, allowing you to view routes entirely from a rider's perspective. Additionally, the update introduced internal cab acoustic muffling, making vehicle soundscapes reflect the separation between the passenger cabin and the driver's cockpit.
Taking Control and Handing Over Vehicles
One of the central mechanics of Free Roam is the seamless transition between riding and driving.
- Board the Target Vehicle: Step inside an AI-driven bus or tram at any designated stop along its route.
- Initiate Takeover: Approach the driver's cabin or interact with the driver seat. On controllers, a prompt appears (such as holding X on PlayStation). Confirm the prompt asking: "Are you sure you want to take over the vehicle from your colleague?"
- Resume Route Driving: Once in control, the vehicle's ITCS system and timetable appear. You can choose whether to wait out the scheduled departure countdown or skip break time via the pause menu to proceed immediately.
- Handing Over to AI: When arriving at an end stop or depot, you can exit the driver's seat, locate the relief driver standing nearby with an operational indicator above their head, and hold the interaction button (such as Triangle on PlayStation) to hand control back to the AI without interrupting the simulation.
If you encounter issues where route navigation markers do not immediately show up after taking over an AI vehicle, note that Update 2026.0.3 specifically resolved navigation arrows and switch control bugs caused by vehicle takeovers in free exploration.
Free Roam Across Different Maps
The availability and behavior of Free Roam features vary depending on whether you are navigating the base game's fictional map or DLC expansions:
- Tramau (Base Game): Offers full free roam support across more than 50 kilometers of routes and 80+ stations. You can wander freely, hop onto buses or trams, and run looped or linear lines.
- Vienna Expansion Map: Features real-world routes (tram lines 37 and 38, alongside bus line 35A). While free roam can be accessed via Quick Game or by handing over vehicles at terminal stations like Nußdorfer Straße or the Gürtel depot, player reports note that AI pedestrian volumes and schedule frequencies behave differently compared to Tramau, and economy management features are absent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sit down as a passenger in Free Roam?
Yes. While the launch version only allowed standing on AI buses and trams, Update 26.2.0 added the ability to take a seat in passenger seats during Free Roam.
Do route timetables and scoring apply in Free Roam?
When you take over an AI vehicle mid-route, the vehicle displays its active departure timetable and scheduled stops. However, Free Roam does not enforce career-mode company point mechanics, giving you the freedom to drive leisurely or step off at any point.
What should you do if steering wheel inputs malfunction on PS5?
For certain wheels like Thrustmaster models on PS5, players reported input loops when starting the game with the wheel connected. The recommended workaround is to launch the game to the main menu first, connect the wheel via USB, and authenticate using the wheel's console button. Update 2026.0.3 also added customizable individual device profiles and force-feedback calibration settings.
