The Bus News

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Welcome to DevLog 3 for The Bus.[/p][p]In the next beta update, we’re working on multiple areas at the same time. Alongside new lighting, new weather, and further fixes, we’re also expanding the winter-related effects and revisiting our snow visuals.[/p][p][/p][h2]New snow details at a glance[/h2][p]Snow now builds up as drifts and piles along the edges of the road, which you can clearly see in the screenshot. This makes winter scenes feel more natural and less like an even “layer,” since snow collects where it realistically would.[/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p]Parked vehicles and objects can now be covered in snow. In the screenshot, you can see how the snow layer settles on surfaces, helping the environment look like it has truly been exposed to winter conditions for a while.[/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p]Black ice, as shown in this image, makes the roads noticeably more slippery. This has a direct impact on handling in certain sections, with more sensitive traction and braking, especially if you’re driving too fast or making sudden inputs.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]On top of that, a subtle screen-edge effect enhances the winter atmosphere depending on the conditions, without heavily affecting visibility during normal driving.[/p][p][/p][p]What do you think about these changes? Feel free to share your feedback in the comments.[/p]

[h3]With the new version of the Hamburg City DLC for The Bus, new highly realistic bus repaints have been added.[/h3][p][/p][p][/p][p]These feature current promotional designs from Hamburger Hochbahn, specifically highlighting the use of electric buses. The corresponding liveries are applied to the buses included in the DLC, creating an even more authentic cityscape.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]The new version will be released ahead of the new Line 277, which will launch as a free update for all owners of the Hamburg map.[/p][p]E-Buses in Hamburg’s Public Transport – Background[/p][p]Hamburger Hochbahn has been consistently expanding its emission-free bus fleet for several years. The first series-production electric buses entered regular service in 2019, and since 2020 only zero-emission buses have been newly procured. The goal is to gradually convert Hamburg’s bus services entirely to alternative propulsion systems.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]To make this endeavor more visible and raise public awareness, selected vehicles are decorated with eye-catching promotional designs. These pick up on themes unique to Hamburg and play deliberately with language and familiar local motifs.[/p][p]Among the slogans used are: “Ehrbus für Hamburg”, “Unsere E-Philharmonie”, and “Hamburgs neues Chancenviertel”. Some images can be seen in this news update.[/p][p]These distinctive designs have since become a familiar part of Hamburg’s streetscape and underline the city’s shift toward a more climate-friendly public transport system.[/p][p]Authentic Implementation In-Game[/p][p]These real-world vehicle designs have now been recreated in the The Bus DLC – Hamburg City. The aim is to represent the current developments within Hamburg’s bus network as quickly and accurately as possible in the game.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]The new version also includes several minor improvements and adjustments that enhance gameplay and visual quality. For example, transparency on the roof structures at the Central Station and Barmbek Station has been optimized, and several curbs at roundabouts have been lowered slightly, allowing AI buses – especially articulated buses – to follow the route more reliably.[/p][p]Work on the new Line 277 is currently ongoing. More details on this route update will follow shortly.[/p][p][/p][p]Don’t Miss Any Updates[/p][p]To stay informed about future updates, new routes, and additional content, we recommend subscribing to our Facebook page or joining our Telegram channel.[/p]

[p]DevLog 2 is here.[/p][p]This time, we’re covering three smaller but important fixes based on your feedback and specific reports. Please note: none of the changes in this DevLog are live yet, they will be released with the next update.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Interior displays[/h2][p]On some buses, the interior displays could not be swapped. This has now been fixed, and swapping works as intended again.[/p][p][/p][h2]Vegetation[/h2][p]We’ve adjusted the tree LOD balance to reduce noticeable pop-in. In addition, we fixed a visual issue where trees could appear with a full crown in winter and then suddenly lose it when getting closer.[/p][p][/p][h2]Announcements in the rear passenger area[/h2][p]This issue specifically affected the Scania Citywide LF 18M 3D and could be reproduced there. Previously, the announcements were not audible in the rear section. It’s possible similar behavior also occurred on other buses. This has been fixed, and announcements should now be clearly audible in the rear area again.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]As always, thank you for reporting these issues. Your feedback helps us keep improving the day-to-day experience.[/p]

[p]Welcome to the next Spotlight for The Bus.[/p][p]With Spotlight, we want to regularly bring you interesting details from the game. Each edition stands on its own, comes with a clear title, and highlights an area that shapes the driving experience in Berlin.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Spotlight: U Unter den Linden[/h2][p]This time, Spotlight takes us to the heart of the capital, to the U Unter den Linden stop and one of Berlin’s most famous boulevards.[/p][p]Unter den Linden is a central part of Berlin’s urban history and remains a distinctive landmark in the government and cultural district to this day. The boulevard connects some of the city’s most iconic locations and is one of the defining axes in Berlin-Mitte.[/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p]Right at the intersection with Friedrichstraße lies the Unter den Linden U-Bahn station, a modern interchange for the U5 and U6 lines that opened in 2020. This makes the area not only historically and architecturally significant, but also an especially important transport hub in the city center.[/p][p][/p][h2]Why this location stands out in The Bus[/h2][p]You can also feel the character of the city here in The Bus. The surroundings feel representative, the street layout is clear, and the stop works well as a point of orientation in everyday line operations. Especially in a city like Berlin, recognizable anchors like this give routes their own distinct identity.[/p][p][/p][h2]What’s next[/h2][p]In the upcoming Spotlights, we will highlight more areas of the Berlin map and the current in-game experience. Sometimes a location will take center stage, sometimes a line or a vehicle.[/p][p]If you have suggestions for future topics, feel free to share them in the comments. Which parts of The Bus should we put in the Spotlight next?[/p]

[p][/p][p]A few days ago, we presented the first images of the new bus line 277, which will be released as a free update for the Hamburg City DLC of The Bus at the beginning of the year.[/p][p][/p][p]Now the first video follows, offering moving impressions of the new section of the route:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]A short compilation can be seen on the Halycon YouTube channel, providing an initial impression of the route layout and its surroundings.[/p][p][/p][p]The video clearly shows the characteristic contrasts of line 277 in the final section of the route from Alfred-Mahlau-Weg: commercial and residential areas alternate within a very small space.
Office buildings, warehouses, and production facilities shape the area just as much as high-rise buildings as well as single- and multi-family houses.[/p][p][/p][p]A particular highlight is the large Famila supermarket on Eichenlohweg.
It has been recreated with great attention to detail. In addition to the spacious parking lot, numerous fitting 3D objects can be found, making the surroundings feel authentic and lively.[/p][p][/p][p]Another special feature of this section is the drivable Steilshooper Allee.
Although line 277 does not use it in real-life operations, we deliberately wanted to give players the opportunity to explore this area on their own and discover new perspectives of the map.[/p][p][/p][p]Line 277 will also be available to all owners of the Hamburg City DLC as a free update. The release is planned for the beginning of the year.[/p][p][/p][p]We hope you enjoy watching the video.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]For everyone who does not yet have the Hamburg City DLC or The Bus in their library: both titles are currently available with a 30% discount during the Steam Winter Sale.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]
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