City Transport Simulator 2026 replaces the original City Transport Simulator (released in January 2025) as a standalone release rather than a simple patch. Developed and published by ViewApp, the 2026 edition rebuilds core AI and lighting systems while adding dynamic weather, seasons, manual ticketing machines, and an on-foot Free Roam mode.
Version Comparison: CTS 2026 vs 2025
The following table breaks down the core feature differences, technical specifications, and content carryovers documented across both versions.
| Feature / Aspect | City Transport Simulator (2025) | City Transport Simulator 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Type | Original standalone base game | Independent standalone installation |
| Launch Date | January 28, 2025 (Steam Full Release) | April 14, 2026 |
| Base Price | ~£45 (Bus & Tram bundle) | $39.99 (Free upgrade if owned prior to April 14) |
| Weather & Seasons | Static conditions | Dynamic daily weather (rain, fog, snow, storms) and 4-season visual changes |
| Passenger Ticketing | Automated boarding / non-functional kiosk | Functional bus ticket machine (cash, contactless, change calculation) |
| Free Roam Mode | Not available | Explore Tramau on foot, ride AI transit, takeover AI vehicles |
| Driver AI & Traffic | Prone to severe congestion and collision glitches | Reworked AI spawning, depot turnarounds, oncoming driver waving animations |
| Vehicle Controls | Regular and Easy presets | Regular and Easy presets, interactive dashboard buttons, cold start sequences |
| Primary Map | Tramau (Southern Germany inspired, 50+ km) | Tramau (50+ km, 80+ stations) with subsequent Vienna expansion DLC |
| Minimum Hardware | Unspecified legacy specs | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / i5-10400F, GTX 1070 / RX 6600 XT, 16 GB RAM |
Pricing and Upgrade Eligibility Rules
According to the official ViewApp FAQ posted on the Steam forums, players who purchased the original City Transport Simulator before April 14 receive City Transport Simulator 2026 completely free of charge. This entitlement grants the full base game rather than a trial or stripped-down Starter Edition.
Important ownership conditions include:
- Cutoff Date: Purchases made after April 14 do not automatically grant CTS 2026 for free.
- Independent Library Entry: CTS 2026 does not overwrite the older install. Both games remain in your Steam, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S digital libraries simultaneously.
- DLC Compatibility: All DLCs purchased under the original 2025 title transfer forward into CTS 2026 at no extra cost.
- Save Progression: Existing career and sandbox progress can be transferred into the 2026 version. PC players on the Steam forums noted that if the automatic transfer fails, save files can be moved manually between application data folders. Alternatively, players can choose to start fresh from Level 1 and replay the mandatory introductory vehicle tutorials.
Gameplay and Feature Upgrades
Dynamic Weather and Climate Effects
CTS 2026 introduces real-time weather evolution, allowing sessions to cycle dynamically between clear skies, fog, rainfall, snow, and thunderstorms. These changes affect vehicle mechanics:
- Seasonal shifts alter tree foliage and street scenes across Tramau.
- Low temperatures cause bus and tram windows to frost over, requiring drivers to operate interior defrost switches and climate control dials.
- Rainfall triggers operational windshield wipers to clear exterior views.
Realistic In-Bus Ticketing
Unlike the 2025 release where passengers simply boarded the bus, the 2026 update activates the dashboard ticket terminal:
- Drivers must zoom in or interact directly with the ticket console using the controller or mouse.
- Passengers request specific ticket tiers, such as single adult, child, day passes, or group options.
- The system processes both contactless payment and cash transactions, requiring players to dispense the exact change using an integrated coin pay table.
- Passenger satisfaction tracks whether transactions were completed accurately.
Pedestrian Free Roam and Shift Handover
In sandbox and free roam modes, players are no longer restricted to the driver's seat:
- You can spawn on foot, navigate the pavements of Tramau, wait at designated shelters, and ride AI-driven trams or buses as a passenger.
- Approaching an active AI vehicle allows you to hold the interact button (such as the X button on a PS5 DualSense controller) to immediately take over the shift from an AI driver without a loading screen.
- At route terminal stops or sidings, you can choose to hand the bus back to an AI colleague, who will sit in the cockpit until the scheduled departure countdown reaches zero.
Career Progression and Driving Handling
Both releases feature dual operational settings: Regular Mode and Easy Mode. Regular Mode demands manual operation over vehicle systems—requiring drivers to handle door lock releases, manual indicator cancelling, cold-start key turning, and physical switch controls. Easy Mode automates lighting, track switches, and door releases.
Handling buses requires holding brake pressure while waiting at traffic intersections to stop rolling, unless the station brake is engaged or the passenger doors are opened. Routes evaluate player performance in real time via an ITCS system, scoring drivers on schedule adherence, combo multipliers, speed limit compliance, and turn signal activation prior to departing bus bays.
Technical Performance and Community Feedback
Steam review reception for City Transport Simulator 2026 sits at "Mixed" (with 56 positive and 34 negative reviews recorded across its initial 90 submissions).
Console gameplay recorded on the PS5 Pro confirmed that severe legacy bugs—such as specific museum landmark models disappearing and popping back into view—have been resolved in the 2026 build. Oncoming bus drivers now realistically wave at passing vehicles, and the environmental engine sounds feature distinct brake squeal and switch-crossing audio tracks.
However, community reports highlight ongoing friction:
- Several PC users note frame rate caps hovering around 30 FPS regardless of hardware specifications.
- Players driving routes report that the scoring system occasionally penalizes vehicles for ignoring traffic signals even when passing through valid green lights.
- Route navigation relies on floor-projected guidance arrows that do not always synchronize dynamically when changing destination displays on the fly.
- Hardware support can vary; steering wheel setups such as Moza bases and custom Steam Deck layouts have generated controller configuration issues in player feedback threads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to re-download the game if I already owned the 2025 release?
Yes. Because City Transport Simulator 2026 was released as a separate game client to restructure background AI and lighting systems, it requires a complete, independent installation of roughly 20 GB.
Is the Citybus C2 included in the CTS 2026 base game?
No. ViewApp launched the Citybus C2 as a paid vehicle DLC alongside the 2026 release (€19.99 / equivalent regional pricing) featuring two solo and two articulated variants. New vehicle DLC purchases fund ongoing title development.
How do I switch station announcement languages?
Station voice announcements default to German. You can swap the announcer voice to English (Version 1 or 2), Polish, Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, or French via the game's personalization menu, where you can also customize driver names, stop display styles, and company liveries.
