Compared to the bustling train and tram sim sectors, the bus sim scene has felt pretty stagnant of late. Besides a couple of strong OMSI 2 add-ons, omnibus enthusiasts have had little to get excited about this year. Assuming SimBus remains chimeric, Early Access The Bus stays in low gear, Euro Truck Simulator 2’s people porters aren’t imminent, and Astragon don’t spring any surprises in Q3 and 4, the highlight of 2025 for PC-owning PCV lovers could well turn out to be next week’s release of City Transport Simulator: Bus.
Somewhat confusingly, instead of releasing a cheap or free base game then making moolah through vehicular and geographic DLC, ViewApp has decided to release two standalone versions of City Transport Simulator, and sell add-ons for each.
By the sound of it, buyers of City Transport Simulator: Bus (ETA June 11) that already own City Transport Simulator: Tram (pictured above) won’t need to download anything extra in order to play their new purchase. They’ll be able to access their officially licensed MAN Lion’s City A21s & A23s, and Gräf & Stift NL205s & NG235s through their CTS:T install.
Personally, I don’t like it when devs force me to download DLC I may never purchase/access, but as CTS: Tram users will get to share thoroughfares with AI-controlled buses even if they haven’t bought CTS: Bus, and CTS: Bus users will get to rub shoulders with AI-controlled trams even if they haven’t purchased CTS: Tram, maybe the approach isn’t so objectionable.
What is slightly disappointing is that ViewApp is forging ahead with buses before fixing the minor collision and AI issues that, four months on, still pimple tram runs. Sadly, many of the passenger- and traffic-related complaints in my largely enthusiastic February review, are still valid today. Hopefully, the “major” CTS: Tram update set to accompany the new release will mean I can finally sit down for an evening of atmospheric tram driving confident I won’t see one of these before bedtime:
The European Tramdriver Championship is still going strong, and this year is set to be the first World Championship
https://www.tramem.eu/
It would be groovy if the sims were moddable to allow a facsimile of the events, eg. Skittles!
Conversely the Bus EuroMeistershaft equivalent seems to have conked in and out of existence in 2018.
And the news that busses are coming to Euro Truck Simulator 2.
Not a true bus sim, but a chance to treat passengers like the cattle we are on intercity trips.
I think that warrants an intro tweak. Thanks.