The Bus news & patch notes

Hello everyone!

The Ebus 2.2 will soon expand your fleet in The Bus with a modern, fully electric city bus. The DLC launches in August 2026, and we will announce the exact release date soon.

Before then, you will soon be able to add the Ebus 2.2 to your Steam wishlist. We will let you know as soon as the store page is available!

The DLC includes the Ebus 2.2 as a 12-metre solo bus and an 18-metre articulated bus, each available in different configurations. This makes it suitable for shorter routes as well as busy services with high passenger numbers. Depending on the configuration, the bus offers a range of up to 600 km and space for up to 150 passengers.

Included configurations

• Ebus 2.2 solo bus with a length of 12 metres and 2 or 3 doors

• Ebus 2.2 articulated bus with a length of 18 metres and 3 or 4 doors

What to expect

• Fully electric city bus with a range of up to 600 km

• Capacity for up to 150 passengers depending on the configuration

• Customisable exterior and interior

• Classic exterior mirrors or a MirrorEye camera system with two HD cameras on the sides of the vehicle

• Real-time split-screen camera feed displayed on monitors in the A-pillars

• CornerEye camera system covering the areas in front of and alongside the vehicle

• LED lighting, air conditioning, electric heating and a heat pump

• USB ports in the passenger compartment

• Charging via a CCS connector

We will keep you updated on the exact release date!

– Maurice Community Manager TML-Studios

Hello everyone,

the next update for The Bus will be released in August for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will include plenty of new content, bug fixes, and improvements.

A Public Beta for the update will launch on PC later this July. Together with you, we want to identify and resolve potential issues early so that the update can be released on all platforms in August with as few issues as possible.

What to Expect in the Next Update

The new content, bug fixes, and improvements include:

• AI trams

• Custom operating plans in Economy Mode

• Reworked wheel physics

• Force Feedback and Telemetry on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S

• Numerous bug fixes

• Further performance improvements

We are currently working on a few remaining issues with the AI trams to ensure they react correctly to their surroundings. The custom operating plans are also still in development. They will allow you to create your own schedules and adapt Economy Mode more closely to your individual preferences.

At the same time, we are continuing to work on performance improvements so that The Bus runs more smoothly and reliably across your individual systems.

Do you have suggestions or are you experiencing problems with The Bus? You can contact our support team at any time. You can also join our official Discord server to talk to other players and discuss the latest developments.

We look forward to launching the Public Beta together with you later this month!

See you soon, and have a smooth shift on your routes!

– Maurice Community Manager TML-Studios

Following the end of our Summer Sale, Games Composed in Germany gives you another chance to pick up The Bus at a discount. Until July 27, you can save 10% on both The Bus and the Hamburg City DLC, so head over to Steam and check out the sale!

We have updated the roadmap for The Bus to show which features are already planned for the next update. These include, among others:

• AI trams

• Force feedback and telemetry on consoles

• The new wheel physics

• Custom operating plans for Economy Mode

• Bug fixes

• Performance improvements

More content is planned for the next update beyond the points listed above.

Custom operating plans will allow you to create your own operating plans in Economy Mode.

Another item on our roadmap is the rework of the transmissions in the individual buses, which has frequently been suggested by the community and is now in development. It is not currently planned for the next update. At the same time, work is already underway on bringing the Hamburg City DLC to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

You can share your own suggestions in the dedicated channel on our Discord server. Other players can vote for your posts there, and we may pick up some of your ideas in the future.

You can also find more content on the roadmap that has already been implemented or is planned for future updates. Feel free to take a look!

View Roadmap

We are currently reworking the way wheels interact with their surroundings in The Bus. The previous systems are being replaced by the new 3D Collision System, which can detect obstacles around the wheel more reliably.

Note on the screenshots shown

For the screenshots shown, we illustrated the systems using a bus from Fernbus Simulator. However, the new 3D Collision System will initially be used in The Bus.

The previous systems

Previously, the Lateral Collision System and the Longitudinal Collision System were used for this. Both systems worked with a simplified check that started from a point near the center of the wheel and only checked in one dimension whether an obstacle was detected.

Lateral Collision System

The Lateral Collision System was responsible for side contacts. If a wheel was close to an obstacle, it could happen that the obstacle was not detected correctly at first. Instead, the road surface was often registered. As a result, the wheel visibly penetrated the obstacle without the suspension reacting to it. This was especially unrealistic for obstacles positioned to the side of the wheel.

Longitudinal Collision System

The Longitudinal Collision System worked in a similar way, but for obstacles in front of or behind the wheel. When the vehicle approached an obstacle from the front, the wheel could also detect the obstacle too late. In certain situations, the check still only detected the road surface, even though the obstacle was already directly in front of the wheel. As a result, the wheel could also penetrate the obstacle without the suspension being triggered correctly.

The shared problem

In both cases, the problem was that the position of the obstacle was calculated using only a simple line from the area near the center of the wheel. This meant that the obstacle was only detected once the center of the wheel was exactly at the surface or had already passed it. In other words, the system reacted too late.

The new 3D Collision System

With the new 3D Collision System, we are solving exactly this problem. The new solution combines the previously separate approaches of Lateral Collision and Longitudinal Collision and now checks the area around the wheel in three dimensions. As a result, obstacles are no longer detected in only one direction, but throughout the relevant area around the wheel.

As soon as an obstacle is detected by the 3D Collision System, the vehicle reacts accordingly. The wheels no longer penetrate obstacles unnaturally, but can detect them earlier and respond to them in a more predictable way.

This becomes especially visible during side contacts with the environment, for example when the vehicle drives close along a boundary. If you drive parallel to an edge, the wheel now follows the actual shape of the tire much more closely thanks to the new system. As a result, it runs along the edge instead of sliding over it unnaturally or penetrating the boundary.

The new 3D Collision System can also react earlier and more accurately to obstacles in front of or behind the wheel. This means that a reaction is no longer triggered only once the center of the wheel has already reached or passed the obstacle. Instead, the area around the wheel is taken into account.

When the system reacts

If an obstacle is close to the wheel but still outside the relevant collision area, the suspension remains unchanged. Only once the obstacle reaches this area does the 3D Collision System take effect.

What this improves

With the new 3D Collision System, the check is no longer based on a single line from the wheel. Instead, the relevant area around the wheel is taken into account. In the video, we illustrate how the system detects obstacles, height differences, and sloped surfaces more accurately, and how this improves the way the wheels react in many situations.

The system shown is still in development and is not final. We will keep you updated and continue to share further insights into the ongoing work on The Bus.

The TML-Studios Summer Sale 2026 has started!

From June 25 to July 9, 2026, you can save up to 80% on selected games from our catalogue. This includes The Bus, Fernbus Simulator, Tourist Bus Simulator, numerous add-ons, as well as older titles such as Munich Bus Simulator, New York Bus Simulator, and the World of Subways series.

If you want to expand your collection, discover another add-on, or try one of our older titles, now is a good opportunity.

Check out the offers in the Steam Store and get your favourites at a reduced price.

See all offers

Hello everyone,

with Update 1.1, we released the next important step for The Bus. At the same time, we know that many of you are wondering what comes next and which topics are currently on our list.

That is why we would like to give you an overview of what we are currently working on, which content is already in development, and which improvements are planned for future updates. Our roadmap is updated regularly, so it is always worth taking another look if you want to follow the current status of planned content.

🚋 AI Trams

One larger topic we are currently working on is AI trams. These are already driving through our game world internally and are currently being tested and adjusted further.

This is not only about having them follow fixed routes, but also about how they behave in traffic. The trams need to react to their surroundings, stop at tram stops, and take other road users into account. That is why we are currently testing different situations to further improve their behavior and adjust the final details.

The AI trams will later drive independently and expand the traffic in the game world. However, they will not be drivable by players, and drivable trams are currently not planned.

🎮 Force Feedback and Telemetry on Consoles

On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, we are also working on a topic that many of you have been asking for since release: Force Feedback and telemetry.

We know that these features are especially important for players using steering wheels, which is why we are currently working on expanding the support on consoles. As soon as we can share more details, we will of course let you know.

⚙️ Reworking the Wheel Physics

Alongside new content, we are also continuing to work on existing systems. This currently includes the wheel physics, which we want to improve further.

Our goal is for the wheels to react more consistently and realistically to their surroundings. Among other things, we are looking at the behavior around curbs, edges, and uneven road surfaces, so that driving feels more coherent in different situations.

⚡ Ebus 2.2 as an Upcoming Add-on

In addition to the free improvements, a paid add-on is also in development. With the Ebus 2.2, we are expanding The Bus with a modern electric bus that will be available in four different versions as both a solo and articulated bus. One special feature of the vehicle is its analog and digital mirrors, which can be freely configured and allow for different equipment variants.

We are already working on several new features, improvements, and additions for The Bus. As soon as we can share more details about the individual topics, we will of course let you know.

With the major May update, The Bus – Hamburg City not only introduced the new Economy Mode and the extension of Line 17, but also added the brand-new Line 218. Stretching approximately six kilometers, this route connects Rübenkamp S-Bahn Station with Ellernreihe/Heukoppel and takes you through a variety of districts in Hamburg’s northeastern area.

From residential neighborhoods and prominent intersections to the newly added construction zones along Hebebrandstraße and Leeschenblick, Line 218 offers plenty of exciting locations for virtual bus photographers. Combined with numerous new buildings, updated route sections, and Hamburg’s characteristic green streets, the route provides countless opportunities for memorable screenshots.

That’s why we’re launching a new screenshot contest dedicated to Line 218.

It’s Your Turn

Show us your best shots from along the new route and capture your favorite moments on Line 218. Whether it’s a stunning cityscape, atmospheric lighting, a perfectly framed bus shot, or a creative perspective, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.

A dedicated contest channel has been set up on the official TML Discord server, where you can submit your in-game screenshots.

Once a screenshot has been submitted, it can immediately be rated by the community on Discord. Voting remains open throughout the entire contest period until the submission deadline.

Participation Rules at a Glance

• Participants must own both The Bus and the Hamburg City DLC

• Only screenshots taken on Line 218 are eligible

• Screenshots from other areas of the Hamburg map are not permitted

• Only vehicles and repaints included in the Hamburg City DLC may be used

• Mods from the Steam Workshop or any other source are not allowed

• The Bus’s built-in photo mode may be used

• Each participant may submit one entry consisting of up to five screenshots

• Screenshots must not be edited with image editing software or filters

How to Participate

Click here to participate!

From June 17, 2026 until June 26, 2026, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Voting and Prizes

The community can vote on all submitted screenshots directly on Discord as soon as they are published. Voting remains open until the contest ends on June 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

After the contest closes, the five entries with the highest number of community votes will advance to the final round. From these five finalists, Halycon will select the overall winning screenshot.

The winner will be contacted directly via Discord after the contest has concluded.

The prize will be awarded in the form of a Steam Wallet voucher (a digital Steam Gift Card, equivalent to those available at retail stores).

We wish all participants the best of luck and look forward to seeing your creative submissions!

This contest is organized by the publisher and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Valve or Steam.

Hello everyone,

Update 1.1 for The Bus is now available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

With this update, we are releasing the Economy Mode Update and expanding The Bus with new features, improvements and bug fixes. The focus is mainly on Economy Mode, additional customization options and improvements to existing systems.

What’s new in Update 1.1

🏢 Economy Mode: Custom logos

On PC, you can now further customize your company in Economy Mode and use your own logos.

🎨 Economy Mode: Repaints & components

Repaints and components have been integrated into Economy Mode. This allows you to further customize your vehicles within your company.

⚖️ Economy Mode: Rebalancing

We have adjusted several values in Economy Mode to make progression feel more balanced.

🚍 Economy Mode: Vehicles visible in the depot

Your own buses are now visible in the depot. This feature was originally planned for a later update, but has already been integrated into Update 1.1.

🧩 Simplified vehicle selection & presets

Vehicle selection has been simplified. You now only need one click to confirm that you want to use the selected bus. In addition, vehicle configurations can now be saved and loaded as presets.

📞 Multiplayer: Call function in buses

On PC, the call function for multiplayer has been added and expands communication inside the vehicles.

🎮 Consoles: Custom keybinds

On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, you can now customize your keybinds individually.

🛠️ Bug & level art fixes

Update 1.1 also includes further bug fixes and improvements to the game world.

⚙️ Performance optimizations

In addition, the update includes further optimizations intended to improve performance. The impact may vary depending on your system.

Changelog

PC – 1.1.96961

Added

• Improvements to asset loading

• Repaints and components for Economy Mode

• Company logo modding for Economy Mode, PC only

• Call function via the on-board computer for multiplayer, PC only

• Hot-plug support for steering wheels

Improved

• Rebalanced reputation in Economy Mode

• Reworked vehicle customization and switched it to presets

• Blocked roads are now visible on the map

• ATRON PIN code can now be configured in the profile

• Mirrors now dynamically adjust their resolution based on the selected draw size

• Improved on-board computer tutorial

• Improved usability of the preset configuration in vehicle selection

• Updated vehicle selection in the vehicle selection menu

• Updated device assistant

• Updated component prices for Economy Mode

• Performance optimizations*

Fixed

• Routes no longer lead through invisible walls

• Admin menu fixes

• Economy tours could not be completed due to incorrect break stops

• The “Buy 50 buses” achievement did not work correctly

• Movement on foot was displayed incorrectly in the profile

• No passengers were present after a time skip

• Dashboard buttons of the Solaris were not animated in multiplayer

• Various crashes fixed

• AI buses did not move when they were further away

• The wrong server GUID was displayed on first launch

• Workshop interaction in Economy Mode did not work correctly

• Incorrect purchase requirements were displayed in Economy Mode

• AI buses could get stuck in certain situations

• AI buses waited at the last stop instead of the break stop

• Intercom calls only worked from a very short distance

• Workshop fleets did not load components and repaints correctly

• The selected vehicle could not be changed in certain situations

• Removed debug text from the vehicle selection menu

• Unloaded AI buses drove to break stops for too long

• AI buses sometimes only half-despawned

• AI buses spawned directly in front of the player

• The selected vehicle was not updated in the Freeplay menu

• Older vehicles spawned with the wrong repaint at the economy depot

• Bug fixes

• Level art fixes

*The impact of performance optimizations may vary depending on your system, including hardware, installed software, and background processes.

PlayStation 5 – 01.001.000

Added

• Repaints and components for Economy Mode

• Keybind customization

• Default horn keybind

Improved

• Rebalanced reputation in Economy Mode

• Reworked vehicle customization and switched it to presets

• Blocked roads are now visible on the map

• ATRON PIN code can now be configured in the profile

• Mirrors now dynamically adjust their resolution based on the selected draw size

• Improved on-board computer tutorial

• Camera switch now only changes between inner and outer camera by default

• Performance optimizations*

Fixed

• Routes no longer lead through invisible walls

• Navigation in several menus fixed

• Graphics mode was not saved correctly

• Economy tours did not finish due to incorrect break stops being used

• Several trophies fixed

• Movement on foot was displayed incorrectly in the profile

• No passengers were present after a time skip

• Various crashes fixed

• AI buses spawned directly in front of the player

• Bug fixes

• Level art fixes

*The impact of performance optimizations may vary depending on your system, including hardware, installed software, and background processes.

Xbox Series X|S – 1.1.96.961

Added

• Repaints and components for Economy Mode

• Keybind customization

• Default horn keybind

Improved

• Rebalanced reputation in Economy Mode

• Reworked vehicle customization and switched it to presets

• Blocked roads are now visible on the map

• ATRON PIN code can now be configured in the profile

• Mirrors now dynamically adjust their resolution based on the selected draw size

• Improved on-board computer tutorial

• Camera switch now only changes between inner and outer camera by default

• Performance optimizations*

Fixed

• Routes no longer lead through invisible walls

• Navigation in several menus fixed

• Graphics mode was not saved correctly

• Economy tours did not finish due to incorrect break stops being used

• Several achievements fixed

• Movement on foot was displayed incorrectly in the profile

• No passengers were present after a time skip

• Various crashes fixed

• AI buses spawned directly in front of the player

• Bug fixes

• Level art fixes

*The impact of performance optimizations may vary depending on your system, including hardware, installed software, and background processes.

But that is far from everything. We are already working on more content, features and improvements that we want to add to The Bus in future updates.

Thank you for your patience, your feedback and your reports during the Public Beta. They helped us prepare Update 1.1 for all platforms.

We wish you a good drive with the Economy Mode Update!

Before switching to the beta version, please back up your save files, as they may not be compatible with the current live version.

Important note: This is a beta version that is still in testing. Technical issues or instability may occur. Please also check your installed mods to ensure they are compatible with the current beta.

We appreciate your feedback and bug reports. They help us improve The Bus.

How to install the beta version:

Hello everyone,

from now on, we would like to regularly present the Picture of the Month from The Bus.

In this new monthly format, we will show a picture from the community that can either come from the current or the previous month. The selection is generally made at random. At the same time, we also pay attention to how the picture is presented, whether it feels authentic, and whether it has a clear connection to The Bus.

The picture should either be taken directly in The Bus or clearly be about The Bus. We especially like pictures that show a believable scene from the game, with a vehicle, a good perspective, or a special situation that fits The Bus.

Please also note that we can only mention names to a limited extent. If a picture was shared via the Community Hub on Steam, we can name the creator accordingly. For pictures from other sources, this is not always possible.

Our first Picture of the Month

For the first Picture of the Month, we selected a picture taken by Maximus, showing the VDL Citea LLE on line 147 near S+U Friedrichstr.

With the Picture of the Month, we want to put you and your impressions from The Bus more in the spotlight. We look forward to presenting a new picture from the community every month and showing how varied The Bus can be.

We hope you enjoy the first Picture of the Month and look forward to seeing more pictures from the community!

Before switching to the beta version, please back up your save files, as they may not be compatible with the current live version.

Important note: This is a beta version that is still in testing. Technical issues or instability may occur. Please also check your installed mods to ensure they are compatible with the current beta.

We appreciate your feedback and bug reports. They help us improve The Bus.

How to install the beta version:

Before switching to the beta version, please back up your save files, as they may not be compatible with the current live version.

Important note: This is a beta version that is still in testing. Technical issues or instability may occur. Please also check your installed mods to ensure they are compatible with the current beta.

We appreciate your feedback and bug reports. They help us improve The Bus.

How to install the beta version:

In The Bus, there are 49 achievements that you can unlock.

Some of them can be completed during your first steps in the game. These include achievements such as “Ready to Go”, “Home Sweet Home”, “Snapshot” or “Easy Does It”. In many cases, you only need to try out certain features, complete your first drives or get familiar with different parts of the game.

Other achievements require a bit more endurance. “Night Shift”, for example, is all about driving at a later hour, while “Zero Emissions” focuses on electric vehicles. In Economy Mode, you can also unlock achievements by building your own bus company, generating revenue and expanding your fleet.

“Around the World” is all about endurance. For this achievement, you need to drive a total of 40,075 km.

Many achievements can therefore be unlocked naturally during your drives. Others give you specific goals for Freeplay, Economy Mode and your daily routes through the city.

Which achievement is your favorite in The Bus? And which one do you still want to unlock?

Since the release of the The Bus – Hamburg City DLC, the map has grown tremendously.

Through several free updates, the DLC has been expanded and improved step by step. New route sections, additional bus lines, numerous new buildings, reworked areas, and countless detail improvements have made Hamburg City significantly larger and more immersive than it was at launch.

The major May Update alone brought a massive expansion to the DLC.

With the introduction of the new Line 218, the extension of Line 17 to Bramfelder Dorfplatz, the new depot, and the newly available Economy Mode, many highly requested community features were added to the game.

In addition, many existing routes have received visible improvements.

Numerous areas have been visually expanded, new landmark buildings have been added, and countless details have been refined to make Hamburg feel even more authentic and alive.

We are especially pleased to see how actively the community continues to support and accompany this project.

Many reports, suggestions, feature requests, and pieces of feedback from players have directly contributed to the ongoing development of the DLC and helped us continuously improve and expand it.

With the May Update, work on the console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S has also officially begun and is already progressing at full speed.

We will share more information on the console release in the future.

If you have enjoyed the free expansions, the new bus lines, or the many improvements and additions introduced so far, we would greatly appreciate a review on Steam.

If you have not yet left a review, we would like to warmly invite you to do so.

Long-term projects like Hamburg City benefit enormously from community feedback, while reviews also help new players make informed purchasing decisions.

We would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who has already reviewed the DLC, shared content, or supported us throughout the past months.

We wish you many more enjoyable journeys through Hamburg and thank you for the incredible support surrounding The Bus and Hamburg City!

Before switching to the beta version, please back up your save files, as they may not be compatible with the current live version.

Important note: This is a beta version that is still in testing. Technical issues or instability may occur. Please also check your installed mods to ensure they are compatible with the current beta.

We appreciate your feedback and bug reports. They help us improve The Bus.

How to install the beta version:

Before switching to the beta version, please back up your save files, as they may not be compatible with the current live version.

Important note: This is a beta version that is still in testing. Technical issues or instability may occur. Please also check your installed mods to ensure they are compatible with the current beta.

We appreciate your feedback and bug reports. They help us improve The Bus.

How to install the beta version:

With the major May update for the The Bus DLC – Hamburg City, Hamburg’s route network has been significantly expanded.

To accompany the release, a brand-new video is now available on our YouTube channel, showcasing the new content for the very first time in its final version.

While previous videos were recorded using work-in-progress builds, the new footage is based on the now officially released update version, which is available free of charge via Steam.

In the video, we take an in-depth look at the new Line 218, connecting the Rübenkamp S-Bahn station with Ellernreihe/Heukoppel and expanding the Hamburg DLC by around six additional kilometers.

The route passes through residential neighborhoods, industrial areas, and numerous recognizable landmarks in the northern part of Hamburg.

The video also features the major extension of Line 17. Instead of terminating in Barmbek, the line now continues all the way to Bramfelder Dorfplatz. This adds another five kilometers to the route and opens up additional parts of northeastern Hamburg.

Also featured is the new Alsterdorf depot located at Tessenowweg, introduced with the May update. The real-world Hochbahn depot has been recreated with great attention to detail and is considered one of Hamburg’s most modern bus depots.

The new Bramfeld Süd depot is also showcased in the video. Created specifically for the economic mode, this depot provides plenty of space for player-owned buses and future expansions, forming the foundation for the newly available economic gameplay mode in the Hamburg DLC.

In addition, the video highlights numerous new details along the routes, including new buildings, construction zones, redesigned streets, as well as many additional objects and improvements introduced with the May update.

The major May update is now available as a free download via Steam.

With the release of this new PC version, development work on the console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S is now officially underway.

If you do not want to miss any news related to The Bus and the Hamburg City DLC, be sure to follow our Facebook page, visit our website regularly, or subscribe to our Telegram channel. That way, the latest information will reach your smartphone especially quickly through push notifications.

The major May update for the popular DLC Hamburg City for The Bus is now available for download via Steam.

With the new update, the map receives not only numerous optimizations and improvements, but also extensive new route sections, an additional depot, and the new bus line 218.

The new line 218 will connect the S-Bahn station Rübenkamp with Ellernreihe/Heukoppel and expands the route network by around six kilometers.

The route passes through residential areas, industrial zones, and several well-known landmarks in northern Hamburg. Especially around Hebebrandstraße and Leeschenblick, challenging construction zones provide additional driving challenges and create an even more authentic representation of Hamburg’s current traffic situation.

In addition, line 17 has been significantly expanded.

It no longer ends at Barmbek, but now continues all the way to Bramfelder Dorfplatz. This extends the route by another five kilometers and opens up additional areas in northeastern Hamburg.

The update also introduces the real-life Alsterdorf depot on Tessenowweg into the DLC.

This modern Hochbahn depot is considered one of the most advanced depots in Hamburg and has been recreated with great attention to detail.

For the economy mode, however, a specially created fictional depot located at Bramfelder Chaussee Süd will be used instead.

Due to its structure and limited space, the real Alsterdorf depot does not provide the necessary possibilities for economy mode and future expansions. Therefore, a new facility was created, offering enough space for player-owned buses, expansions, and upcoming features.

Visually, the DLC has also been expanded extensively. Numerous new buildings and recognizable landmarks were newly created, including the Marktplatz Galerie, the renovated former gas station, Osterkirche, the Ellernreihe police station, the S-Bahn station Rübenkamp, and many additional details along the new route sections.

Furthermore, existing sections of lines 7 and 277 have been expanded with additional houses, signs, and many new details.

Work on line 17 is continuing as well.

In the long term, the route is planned to be extended beyond Karlshöhe all the way to the final stop U-Berne.

Console Port Coming Soon

With the May update now available for PC, development of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions can begin.

However, the porting process itself and the approval of the console versions are not directly controlled by Halycon. Therefore, no specific release date can be announced at this time. The corresponding store pages are already being prepared.

May Update Changelog

• New line 218 from S-Bahn station Rübenkamp to Ellernreihe/Heukoppel

• Extension of line 17 to Bramfelder Dorfplatz

• Challenging construction zones in Hebebrandstraße and Leeschenblick

• New Alsterdorf depot on Tessenowweg

• Economy mode with fictional Bramfelder Chaussee Süd depot

• Numerous new objects and landmarks along the route

• Expansions and additional details on lines 7 and 277

• Kurt-Schumacher-Allee Süd stop enabled for custom timetables

• New VHH repaints (without double-decker buses)

• Revised Hochbahn repaints

• Adjusted timetables

• Optimized AI lanes and vehicle paths

• Various bug fixes and improvements

Update Notice

If the update does not download automatically via Steam, the download can be started manually.

Simply open the “Downloads” section in the Steam library and start the download next to The Bus.

Stay Up to Date

Further information about The Bus and the Hamburg City DLC is available through our social media channels as usual.

New information is shared especially quickly via our Telegram channel, where updates are delivered directly to your smartphone.

We hope you enjoy the new May update, the new line 218, and the extended line 17 in Hamburg!

Hello everyone,

thank you to everyone who took part in our current feedback survey for The Bus. Based on the responses received so far, we would like to share the survey results with you today.

The survey will remain active after this evaluation. Additional responses will continue to be reviewed internally and included in our further planning.

Your playtime and satisfaction

We are especially happy to see that many participants have already spent a lot of time in The Bus. More than 56% have played for over 50 hours, with around 30% having played for more than 100 hours.

Overall satisfaction also shows a solid foundation. Around 65% of participants currently rate The Bus between 7 and 10 points. This shows us that many of you enjoy spending time in The Bus. At the same time, your answers help us better understand which areas we can continue to work on.

We also received many helpful responses regarding marketing and communication. Around 70% of participants rate the current content and frequency of our posts between 7 and 10 points. We will use the information gained from this to better adapt future posts, formats and information to your wishes.

What motivates you in The Bus

A clear picture also emerges when looking at what motivates you the most in The Bus:

• 77% mention realistic driving and vehicle operation

• 62% enjoy exploring Berlin and the different lines

• 54% are motivated by completing lines and schedules

• 41% enjoy relaxed driving without specific goals

• 40% are especially interested in building and managing their own bus company

We will keep these points in mind as we continue developing The Bus.

Singleplayer also plays an important role for many of you. Almost half of the participants mainly play Singleplayer Freeplay, while around one third mainly play the Singleplayer Economy Mode. Another part of the community regularly switches between multiple modes.

Your wishes for further development

For future updates, the results show a balanced picture. Around 59% would like to see both new content and further optimizations and bug fixes.

The most frequently mentioned areas for improvement are:

• Performance

• AI traffic

• Physics

• Stability

• Sound

• Economy Mode

For future content, the following topics were mentioned particularly often:

• additional vehicles

• new lines and expansions

• more modding options

• the wish for driving to feel even more realistic overall

The evaluation shows us above all that many of you already see a strong foundation in The Bus and want the game to keep growing. This feedback is very valuable to us and will be included in further development, upcoming content and our communication.

Thank you for your feedback

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their impressions, wishes and suggestions with us. Your feedback helps us continue developing The Bus and better evaluate our next steps.

The “White Repaint Pack” by Daste brings new Workshop content to your fleet in The Bus.

The pack includes several white liveries inspired by BVG designs and supports all solo and articulated buses currently available in the game. You can use it to give individual buses a new look or bring a more unified style to your entire fleet on the streets of Berlin.

In the screenshots, you can see the repaint on the Scania Citywide LF 18M 4D. Especially on the articulated bus, the bright design gives the vehicle a clean look that fits well into the cityscape of Berlin.

Thank you to Daste for creating the pack and sharing it with the community.

We would like to feature more Workshop content from the community in the future. If you have discovered any mods, repaints, or other Workshop items we should take a look at, feel free to share them in the comments.

Over the past few days, many players have been eagerly trying to solve the mystery of which city was hidden behind the altered image in our picture puzzle.

Now the secret is revealed: The image featured St. Mary’s Church, one of the most iconic landmarks of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck.

And with that, we are excited to officially announce the next expansion for The Bus:

The Bus DLC – Lübeck

With Lübeck, another major German city awaits you in The Bus — a city full of unique character, an impressive historic old town, and a varied bus network.

At launch, the DLC will initially include Lines 30 and 40. Both routes begin at the Central Bus Station next to the main railway station before heading towards Travemünde along different paths.

What makes these routes especially interesting is their varied layout: Not only do the lines take different paths through Lübeck and its historic old town, but in some sections, the outbound and return journeys even follow different routes.

This creates highly diverse drives with constantly changing scenery, road layouts, and city views.

Line 40 is currently planned to terminate at Strandbahnhof in Travemünde, while Line 30 is expected to continue all the way to Travemünde Gneversdorf.

As a result, you can look forward not only to urban driving through Lübeck’s city centre, but also to longer interurban stretches leading all the way to the Baltic Sea coast.

From One Hanseatic City to Another

Following Hamburg, our team is once again turning its attention to a northern German Hanseatic city known for its unmistakable atmosphere and numerous famous landmarks.

Lübeck’s historic old town in particular offers an incredible variety of unique architecture and atmospheric streetscapes.

As always, we are placing great emphasis on delivering a highly authentic and instantly recognisable recreation of the city.

Alongside characteristic streets and distinctive intersections, many of Lübeck’s most famous landmarks are being recreated in great detail for The Bus.

These include the city’s unique old-town houses, the striking church towers of Lübeck’s historic churches, numerous medieval buildings, and of course the world-famous Holstentor.

It is no coincidence that Lübeck’s old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, making it one of the most significant historic city centres in Germany.

The combination of narrow historic streets, more modern urban districts, and the long journeys towards Travemünde makes Lübeck an especially exciting setting for The Bus.

The DLC is currently still in development

Over the coming months, we will regularly share new insights, screenshots, videos, and additional information about the new map.

While we are not yet ready to announce a release date, we can already confirm that a console version is planned as well.

Of course, the development of Lübeck does not mean the end of work on The Bus – Hamburg City DLC.

Hamburg will continue to receive updates, improvements, and additional content in the future.

We are incredibly excited to present Lübeck as the next major expansion for The Bus and cannot wait to hear your feedback on the official reveal.

Your feedback is an important part of the ongoing development of The Bus. Since release, we have been continuously working on improvements, bug fixes, and new content for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Even if we cannot always reply to every report directly, we keep everything in mind and want to communicate known issues as transparently as possible.

We want to continue improving The Bus together with you. That is why we would like to run regular surveys to better understand which areas are currently most important to you.

This time, we would like to collect your feedback in our May Survey.

The survey only takes a few minutes: https://forms.office.com/e/XF89ByDEaA

The survey covers topics such as which platform you play on, which mode you use most often, how satisfied you currently are with The Bus, and which areas you think should be improved or expanded next.

Your feedback helps us prioritize future updates and work more specifically on improvements, bug fixes, and new content.

If you enjoy The Bus, we would greatly appreciate a positive review on your platform. If your review would currently not be positive, please contact us first and let us know what bothers you. This allows us to look into the issues more specifically and continue working on solutions.

The Bus is available on the following platforms:

PCPlayStation 5Xbox Series X|S

The latest work-in-progress videos from recent weeks already give a good impression: the next major update for the Hamburg DLC is making strong progress and has now entered the final stages of development.

Both the new Line 218 and the first extension of Line 17 to Bramfelder Dorfplatz are largely completed and currently undergoing final polishing work.

WIP videos for all new sections have already been published on our YouTube channel, which is linked at the end of this news post.

The upcoming May Update will also introduce the Economy Mode to the Hamburg DLC. Originally, the new Alsterdorf depot on Tessenowweg was planned as the main depot for this feature. However, during the final stages of development, it became clear that this depot could not be integrated into the Economy Mode as intended from both a technical and gameplay perspective.

The Alsterdorf depot will of course remain fully accessible and can still be used freely as a starting point. For the Economy Mode itself, we will instead use an alternative location in the southern Bramfelder Chaussee area. A new depot is currently being built there, offering enough space for managing and operating your own bus fleet.

While this location represents a slight compromise in terms of authenticity, it also comes with advantages: the functional and slightly worn appearance of the Economy depot fits this new gameplay area much better than the modern Alsterdorf facility.

Due to this adjustment, we need to slightly revise our original schedule. In addition to the depot itself, the surrounding roads, terrain, and connections also need to be rebuilt and redesigned. At the same time, this new area offers additional opportunities to expand and enhance the map in a meaningful and atmospheric way.

Once released, the May Update — including the new Line 218, the Line 17 extension, and the Economy Mode — will be available free of charge for all owners of the Hamburg DLC.

Development of the Hamburg DLC console version will begin after the release of the update.

In addition to the YouTube channel linked below, this news post also includes several development screenshots of the Alsterdorf depot as well as the new Economy Mode depot.

Please note: all shown content is taken from a work-in-progress version and may still change before the final release.

If you do not want to miss any news about The Bus, be sure to follow our Facebook page, regularly visit our website, or subscribe to our Telegram channel to stay up to date with all future updates.

Hello everyone,

today we want to give you a first look at another feature we are currently working on for the multiplayer of The Bus: the new radio system, also called Intercom.

With this system, we want to expand communication between drivers in multiplayer. Players will be able to call either all buses nearby or a specific bus directly. This should create more direct interaction between drivers in multiplayer without replacing the existing voice chat completely.

The feature is based on the already existing voice chat and expands it with an integration through the ATRON board computer of the buses. For the setup, we are trying to stay as close as possible to the real radio communication system used by ATRON and BVG.

How it works

First, the driver selects the type of radio call they want to start in the ATRON board computer. This can be done either through one of the colored Intercom buttons in the bottom left or through the direct call menu.

After that, a call request is sent to the selected target buses. Depending on the selected option, the radio call can be sent to buses nearby or directly to a specific bus.

When another bus receives the request, the driver can either accept or decline the call. If the call is accepted, a voice connection is established between the two drivers until the call is ended.

Current development status

The Intercom system is still in development and is currently planned for Update 1.2. Since we are still working on the feature, individual details may change before release.

We will share more insights into upcoming content and ongoing work on The Bus in the coming weeks.

Following the great success of the popular DLC The Bus – Hamburg City, the time has now come to officially announce the next major project for The Bus.

On Friday, May 15, 2026, the moment has arrived: we will reveal the next map for the bus simulator. Until then, however, we would like to build up the excitement a little more.

Starting today, we will be showing a famous landmark from the city on our Facebook channel in which the upcoming map is set. It will always be the same image motif, but at first it will appear heavily distorted and almost impossible to recognize.

With each passing day, the image will become clearer and more detailed, gradually revealing more clues about the city in question.

Those who pay close attention may be able to guess early on where the next journey will take us.

One thing we can already reveal: the new map will once again be set in Germany and will feature a well-known city with iconic landmarks and an interesting bus network.

Perhaps you will already recognize the city from the first images. And if you are especially good at solving the mystery, you can move straight on to the next challenge: which bus routes could we include when the new map launches?

Of course, the new project does not mean that the Hamburg DLC will be forgotten. Quite the opposite: Hamburg City will continue to be maintained, expanded, and supplied with new content. However, part of our team is now focusing on the development of the new map, which will become another important part of The Bus in the future.

In addition, we have even more content planned for The Bus. Alongside new routes, we are also working on additional vehicle DLCs, about which we will share more details at a later date.

So in the coming days, it will definitely be worth keeping a close eye on our channels. Maybe you will even manage to identify the new city before the official reveal.

If you do not want to miss any news, simply follow our Facebook page, visit our website regularly, or subscribe to our Telegram channel to receive all updates directly on your smartphone.

Hello everyone,

with the upcoming Economy Mode Update for The Bus, we want to give you new ways to customize your fleet more individually.

One of the planned features is the new shop for liveries and components. This shop is planned to be accessible through the PC in the office. From there, you can select the shop and then choose one of your existing buses from a list to customize it.

In the shop itself, you can then select different liveries and components. The changes are displayed directly on the screen, so you can immediately see how your bus changes.

The two screenshots give you a first look at the selection in the office as well as the planned shop.

More insights into the Economy Mode Update will follow in the next few days. Feel free to let us know which areas you would like to see next.

Of course, we are also continuing to work on bug & level art fixes as well as performance optimizations.

In the third work-in-progress video for Line 218, we’re showcasing the final section of this new route. The area shown runs from Steilshooper Allee to the terminus at Heukoppel in the Bramfeld district.

The Bus DLC Hamburg City Videotrailer Linie 218 Teil 3

There, you’ll find a layover and turning area, from which the approximately 6-kilometer journey to and from the Rübenkamp S-Bahn station begins and ends.

Initially, Line 218 follows Steilshooper Allee along the same route as Line 17. However, at the large intersection with Bramfelder Chaussee, the lines split: While Line 17 turns off, Line 218 continues straight eastbound.

A notable feature of this section is the presence of large, open undeveloped areas along the route. This has a real-world background, as a high-voltage power line runs through this part of the city. The pylons, reaching heights of up to 35 meters, are a defining element of Steilshoop and accompany the route across several segments.

At Ellernreihe, the bus eventually turns left. In this area, several key points can be found, including the sports ground of Bramfelder SV with its clubhouse, a police station, and a material storage site connected to the nearby construction of the future U5 subway station at Bramfelder Dorfplatz.

As the route continues, the bus passes a roundabout and then turns into Heukoppel. From here, you get a view of the rear side of the Marktplatz Galerie, while Bramfelder Dorfplatz—with the current terminus of Line 17—is only a few hundred meters away.

This section is also characterized by extensive construction work, which has been implemented in the DLC. Two larger construction sites add extra detail to the streetscape, with appropriate signage already indicating upcoming traffic disruptions.

Shortly after the roundabout, you’ll reach the turning and layover area of Line 218, which is shown in detail in the video.

As always, all content shown is work-in-progress material from the current stage of development and may change before final release. You can find the video via the link to our YouTube channel at the end of this news post. Additionally, several current screenshots from this section of the route are available there.

We hope you enjoy the new video and this further insight into the development of Line 218.

If you don’t want to miss any news about The Bus, feel free to follow our Facebook page, visit our website regularly, or subscribe to our Telegram channel to receive all updates conveniently via push notification on your smartphone.

Until May 10, 2026, the Hamburg DLC is also available on Steam with a 20% discount – a great opportunity to expand your wishlist.

Hello everyone,

today we would like to briefly talk about the integrated Report Tool in The Bus.

Reporting Bugs Directly In-Game

Press F1 to open the Report Tool directly in the game and send us bugs or issues. This includes, for example:

• Map issues

• Bus-related problems

• Stutters

• Visual issues

• Anything else you notice while driving

The Report Tool helps us classify and review issues more effectively. When a report is submitted, we can directly access important technical data, such as the hardware being used and further details about the game.

Reports submitted through the Report Tool remain anonymous. This means we cannot identify any personal data through them.

Savegames and Helpful Details

In the Report Tool, you also have the option to attach a savegame to your report. Please leave the corresponding checkbox enabled whenever possible. Please note: A savegame can only be attached if you have manually saved it at least once beforehand.

The savegame helps us reproduce, narrow down, and resolve issues more effectively.

Please describe as precisely as possible what happened, where it happened, and which line, bus, or situation was affected.

Our developers review reports submitted through the Report Tool every day. We cannot always fix reported issues with the next update, but we do our best to ensure this in most cases.

When to Contact Support

Please note: The Report Tool is intended exclusively for reporting in-game issues. Direct support cannot be provided through it.

For general requests, questions, technical issues, crashes, or individual support, please contact our support team: https://support.tml-studios.de

This allows us to collect and review in-game issues through the Report Tool, while our support team can help you directly with specific requests.

Thank you for your reports and your support.