The Bus News

[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]

[p]Update 3.2 of the Early Access version of The Bus is now available as a BETA for testing.[/p][p][/p][p]Join us live on Twitch now for a first look at the Beta UPDATE![/p][p][/p][p]This beta introduces AI buses to The Bus.[/p][p]You’ll find the full list of changes in the changelog below.[/p][hr][/hr][p]⚠️ Please create backups of your savegames before switching to the EA BETA update.
Savegames may not be compatible with the new version.[/p][hr][/hr][p]⚠️ IMPORTANT: This is a BETA update. Technical issues, game instability, or gameplay bugs may occur.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]How to install the beta version of the update?[/h3][p]It's simple:[/p]

1. [p]In your Steam library, right-click on The Bus[/p]
2. [p]Select "Properties" from the menu[/p]
3. [p]In the The Bus - Properties window, go to the "BETAS" tab[/p]
4. [p]Under "Select the beta you would like to opt into:", choose "beta-beta"[/p]
5. [p]Close the window – the beta update should begin downloading automatically[/p]
6. [p]Once the update is installed, click "PLAY" to start The Bus[/p]
7. [p]The new beta version number should now be displayed in the main menu, and you can begin testing[/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]Changelog 0.24.86426 EA[/h3]

• [p]Added AI buses[/p]
• [p]Added standing passengers[/p]
• [p]Added articulation damping[/p]
• [p]Speed-dependent steering is now automatically disabled for steering wheels[/p]
• [p]Road elements now generate force feedback[/p]
• [p]Passengers no longer get stuck in doors[/p]
• [p]Passengers no longer enter through closed doors[/p]
• [p]Fixed rain in articulated buses[/p]
• [p]Servers can now require specific DLCs to join[/p]
• [p]Occupied seats are now synced in multiplayer[/p]
• [p]Passengers can switch to external camera by jumping[/p]
• [p]Admins and moderators now appear colored in chat[/p]
• [p]Temporary bans added[/p]
• [p]Servers can now be started with current time[/p]
• [p]Various level art fixes[/p]
• [p]Performance improvements[/p][p][/p]

[h3]Changelog 0.24.86481 EA[/h3]

• [p]Fixed AI Busses spawning with wrong text on line display[/p]
• [p]Fixed AI Busses deactivating collision of ground[/p]
• [p]Fixed several crashes[/p][p][/p]

[p]This only applies within the BETA test of this update.[/p][p]⚠️ Please note: The effects of performance improvements may vary depending on your system, hardware configuration, installed software, and other background processes.[/p]