The Bus News

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Since the end of July, the popular Hamburg map for The Bus has been available, and work on it is continuing at full speed.[/p][p]We have carefully evaluated the feedback from Steam comments, YouTube videos, and directly through the TML reporting system.[/p][p][/p][p]At this point, we would like to sincerely thank you for your numerous ideas, suggestions, remarks, as well as for your praise and constructive criticism.[/p][p][/p][h3]More Variety in Street Lamps[/h3][p]One point of criticism concerned the street lighting.[/p][p]For Hamburg, we had already implemented special details, such as the lamps hanging on cables in Steinstraße and at Steintorbrücke, or the spotlights on the warehouse buildings.
However, in reality, Hamburg’s street lamp landscape is even more diverse.[/p][p][/p][p]That’s why, since release, we have created over ten additional models and variants, which will gradually replace the previous lamps.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]For example, at Sandtorkai you will now find the typical whip-shaped double lamps, and at major intersections, new tall lanterns will be used in the future.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]All lamps have also been optimized in terms of their light cones to create a coherent night-time appearance.
The wide variety of different heights and light fixtures will also be visible on the upcoming section of Line 7.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Progress on the AI Buses[/h3][p]Progress is also being made with the AI buses.[/p][p]The implementation is technically complex, since the tests cannot be carried out directly in the editor, but instead in a special internal game version that has to be generated anew each time.[/p][p]As the AI buses are still in the beta phase in the main game, patience is required – but we want to make this feature available for Hamburg as soon as possible.[/p][p][/p][h3]Outlook[/h3][p]The next update for The Bus DLC – Hamburg City is scheduled for August 2025.
As soon as it becomes available, we will publish a news post with the full changelog.
You can already find the first images at the end of this announcement.[/p][p][/p][h3]Stay Up to Date[/h3][p]Follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our newsletter to never miss any news.[/p][p]For even quicker updates, join our Telegram channel – there you will receive all information directly as push notifications on your smartphone.[/p][p][/p][p]We wish you continued fun in virtual Hamburg![/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]From August 20 to 24, 2025, you can experience The Bus live at the Aerosoft booth in Hall 9, Stand B43. Sell tickets, pick up passengers, and drive across Berlin or Hamburg – recreated on a realistic 1:1 scale.[/p][p][/p][p]When: August 20–24, 2025
Where: Hall 9, Stand B43[/p][p][/p][p]With various buses, realistic routes, and detailed city views, The Bus offers the next generation of city bus simulation. Stop by and try it live![/p]

[p]Anyone who has closely followed our recent announcement about the future of The Bus DLC – Hamburg City might have already spotted a small hint in the news image about what’s to come:[/p][p]In The Bus DLC – Hamburg City, Line 7 heads north![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The map is being expanded, and work on it is already in full swing.[/p][p]The new route will run from the Barmbek U- and S-Bahn station further north.
The roundabout there could already be seen in the announcement image.
North of the roundabout, several lines run further into the north, and one of them – Line 7 – is now being built.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]Line 7 will end in Steilshoop. This district, part of the Wandsbek borough, has many faces.
On one hand, from the late 1960s onwards, high-rise housing was built here for more than 20,000 people; on the other, it is also a green oasis with parks, abundant trees, sports facilities, and allotment gardens.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]Here, too, Hamburg lives up to its reputation as a very green city.[/p][p]The journey on Line 7 takes you through the more urban Barmbek area, past shops, restaurants, residential areas, and commercial zones, towards Steilshooper Allee.
After a short stretch there, the bus turns east into Gustav-Seitz-Weg.
It then passes through a roundabout from which parts of the Steilshoop shopping center can be seen, and continues into Gründgensstraße, named after German actor Gustav Gründgens.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]Shortly before Borchertring, the bus reaches its terminus, also called Borchertring.
There, the bus has its own loop with a layover area, providing enough space to turn around before starting the return trip to Barmbek.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p][/p]

[p]We are continuously working on our popular Hamburg City DLC for The Bus.[/p][p][/p][p]Since it’s an add-on, some features depend on expansions to the main game – and one particularly exciting topic is the AI buses you will encounter along your routes.[/p][p]In the current beta version of The Bus, AI buses are now available for all Public Beta players in Berlin to test.
At the moment, however, this only applies to the main game with the Berlin bus lines – the Hamburg area has not yet been integrated.[/p][p][/p][p]Why AI buses in Hamburg still need to wait[/p][p]Currently, using AI buses on Hamburg lines leads to numerous issues:[/p]

• [p]AI bus drivers get stuck at objects they could otherwise avoid[/p]
• [p]Some turn incorrectly or take curves unnaturally[/p]
• [p]Certain paths are not used as expected[/p]

[p]Behind the scenes, adapting the AI buses requires extensive work: roadside objects, other AI vehicles, and special driving paths all need to be checked, changed, and optimised – and this for each bus individually.[/p][p]We are also currently working with a different editor version than in Berlin, which requires additional adjustments and unfortunately takes time.[/p][p][/p][p]Important note for the Public Beta[/p][p]In the current beta version of the main game, there are some route errors on the Hamburg map, such as missing road sections, absent curbs, and gaps or incorrect areas on pavements.
These problems are caused by the different versions of the main game and the add-on.[/p][p]Our recommendation: Do not play Hamburg City in the Public Beta at the moment to avoid these issues.[/p][p]Looking ahead[/p][p]Once the adjustments are complete, your virtual colleagues will automatically be running on Hamburg’s lines 6 and 17.
Intersecting lines will not be possible at first, but they are planned for a later main game update – and will then also be implemented in Hamburg.[/p][p][/p][p]Further information on the work on the virtual Hamburg map will follow soon.
Stay tuned – and until then, we hope you continue to enjoy your time in the northern German metropolis with The Bus![/p]

[p]The Bus DLC – Hamburg City: New version now available on Steam[/p][p]A new version of our popular Hamburg City DLC for The Bus is now available for download on Steam.
This update brings initial optimisations and adjustments to the Hamburg map.
Existing installations can easily be updated via Steam.[/p][p][/p][p]In addition to the ongoing improvement of the map and testing of new main game features such as AI buses, we are already working intensively on upcoming expansions.
More on this very soon.
One current focus is the different lamp types that have been individually modelled for Hamburg – these will be added to the game shortly.[/p][p]Changelog of the current version:[/p]

• [p]Revised parking at Goldbekplatz[/p]
• [p]Added lighting to underground entrances at Steinstraße and Hauptbahnhof[/p]
• [p]Adjusted road traffic between Zimmerstraße and Averhoffstraße[/p]
• [p]Added footprints for AI pedestrians in certain areas[/p]
• [p]Various smaller optimisations[/p]
• [p]Additional bus stop positions for creating your own routes:[/p]
  • [p]Hauptbahnhof/ZOB[/p]
  • [p]Kurt-Schumacher-Allee (towards Hauptbahnhof)[/p]
  • [p]Arrival stop Brandstwiete[/p]

[p]Installation note
If the update does not start automatically:
Simply go to your Steam library, click on Downloads, and then press the download button next to The Bus.[/p][p]Important note: The Hamburg City DLC can only be displayed correctly with the retail version of The Bus.
You should by no means play the DLC with The Bus Beta 3.2, as this will inevitably cause errors.[/p]