City Transport Simulator 2026 requires at least a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 operating system, an Intel Core i5-10400F or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and an 8 GB VRAM graphics card such as an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT. Because developer ViewApp built the public transit simulator on Unreal Engine 5 with dynamic weather and real-time passenger AI, hardware demands are steep.
Official Minimum and Recommended System Requirements
ViewApp provides the following official hardware specifications for the Windows PC version available on Steam:
| Component | Minimum Specification | Recommended Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) | Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor (CPU) | 2.9 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-10400F (or newer) | 3.6 GHz, 8-core CPU (such as i7-10700K or Ryzen 7 3800X) |
| System Memory (RAM) | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (8 GB) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (11 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB) |
| DirectX Version | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage Space | 20 GB available space | 20 GB available space (SSD strongly recommended) |
| Network | Broadband Internet connection | Broadband Internet connection |
| Additional Notes | Mouse and keyboard or Xbox Controller required | Mouse and keyboard or Xbox Controller required |
Hardware Analysis and VRAM Bottlenecks
Meeting the minimum specification ensures the game can initialize its DirectX 12 render pipeline, but the engine demands substantial video memory. CTS 2026 simulates a southern German city featuring more than 50 kilometers of routes, over 80 stations, dynamic weather changes, and licensed traffic vehicles like DHL delivery vans.
Community testing shows that graphics cards equipped with only 4 GB to 6 GB of VRAM frequently encounter GPU resource exhaustion during extended driving sessions. When the system exhausts available video memory, Unreal Engine 5 triggers a process crash dump with the identifier UE-TramSimNext. To avoid these out-of-memory errors, an 8 GB VRAM card is the functional baseline, while 11 GB or more is recommended to maintain stability across high-density routes.
While 20 GB of storage space fits onto standard hard disk drives, installing the title on a solid-state drive (SSD) prevents hitching when the game streams high-resolution vehicle interiors and city assets.
Best Settings to Fix Low FPS and Stuttering
If your PC meets the minimum requirements but suffers from frame rate drops in crowded city centers, adjusting specific graphical options yields substantial performance gains without compromising cockpit detail:
| Setting | Recommended Value | Performance Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Global Illumination | Low or Medium | Highest impact. Disabling high Lumen volumetric bounce significantly stabilizes open-city frame rates. |
| Shadows | Low or Off | High impact. Dynamic daytime transitions and street lighting create severe CPU/GPU overhead. |
| Traffic and Pedestrian Density | Low or Medium | Substantial CPU relief. Reduces processing overhead for pathfinding passengers and AI vehicles. |
| Textures | High | Minimal impact on FPS. Keeps licensed bus and tram cockpits sharp without draining computing resources. |
| Reflections | Medium | Moderate impact. Prevents severe slowdowns on wet road surfaces during rainstorms. |
| Anti-Aliasing | TAA or FXAA | Low impact. Avoids the heavy performance cost associated with multi-sample anti-aliasing in UE5. |
| Motion Blur | Off | Removes unnecessary GPU rendering overhead. |
| View Distance | Medium | Lowers geometry draw calls across distant suburbs while preserving clear sightlines for driving. |
Outside of the game client, set your Windows Power Plan to High Performance via the Windows Control Panel to prevent processor throttling during AI traffic spikes. Additionally, enabling Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling in Windows Display settings resolves common frame timing stutter.
Resolving UE5 Crashes and Long-Session Memory Leaks
The game process identifier "UE-TramSimNext" frequently generates crash reports under sustained loads. Player reports indicate two primary causes: driver mismatches and memory saturation.
Driver Adjustments and File Verification
If crashes began occurring immediately after updating graphics drivers, rolling back to the previous stable driver release through NVIDIA or AMD utility software frequently resolves the issue. Before starting a route, verify your files on Steam by opening Properties, selecting Installed Files, and clicking Verify integrity of game files to repair corrupted route assets.
Managing Playtime Memory Leaks
CTS 2026 retains assets in system RAM and VRAM during extended driving shifts. While ViewApp introduced dynamic vehicle unloading updates, memory usage steadily rises over 1.5 to 2 hours of uninterrupted gameplay. Relaunching the simulator every 60 to 90 minutes clears the allocated cache and prevents sudden mid-route application exits.
DirectX 12 vs. DirectX 11 Launch Options
The game is natively designed and optimized for DirectX 12, which correctly renders curved tram windscreens, clear window glass, and foliage coloration. Switching to DirectX 11 by adding -dx11 to the Steam Launch Options provides a boost of approximately 10 to 12 FPS on older hardware, but it introduces visual bugs including missing glass surfaces, seams in vehicle cabins, and tinted grass. Use the -dx11 parameter only as a diagnostic fallback if persistent DirectX 12 crashes prevent the game from running.
Steam Deck and Controller Support
Valve rates the title as Playable on Steam Deck. However, because the recommended specifications target high-tier desktop hardware like an RTX 2080 Ti, the Steam Deck's integrated APU faces strict performance boundaries.
If running the title on Steam Deck or desktop Linux distributions via Steam Play:
- Open the game's Properties menu in Steam.
- Navigate to the Compatibility tab and check the option to force a specific Steam Play tool.
- Select Proton Experimental to prevent startup rendering crash loops.
- Set in-game display resolution to native screen values and reduce all graphical presets to Low.
CTS 2026 features native keyboard, mouse, gamepad, joystick, and steering wheel input mapping. When configuring dedicated steering hardware such as Fanatec CSL or DD Pro setups, calibrate pedals and wheelbases in their proprietary vendor software prior to launching the title. If the game detects your wheel but shows no response, try running the game as administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run City Transport Simulator 2026 with 8 GB of RAM?
No. The game strictly lists 16 GB of RAM as the minimum threshold. Running with less than 16 GB causes system stutter and rapid memory allocation crashes due to background AI scheduling and dynamic city streaming.
Why does the game screen turn solid blue during tutorials?
A solid blue screen where background audio continues playing is an Unreal Engine 5 rendering initialization failure. To fix this, verify the game files in Steam, disable fullscreen optimizations on the game's executable file, or switch the display mode from exclusive fullscreen to borderless windowed mode.
Is City Transport Simulator 2026 free if I own the previous CTS?
Yes. ViewApp provides City Transport Simulator 2026 as a free upgrade for owners of the original City Transport Simulator, allowing DLC licenses and profile progress to carry over directly on Steam.
