The Bus (video game)
A 1:1 scale bus simulation set in Berlin.
The Bus is a bus simulation video game developed by TML-Studios and published by Aerosoft. It features a 1:1 scale recreation of Berlin, Germany, and is marketed as "the next generation of city bus driving simulation." The game launched in early access on Steam for Microsoft Windows on 25 March 2021, and the full version was released on 26 March 2026 for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Gameplay shares similarities with *Bus Simulator 21*. Players drive buses from manufacturers including Scania, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, VDL, and Solaris. The base game includes routes such as the TXL line, along with lines 200, 100, 300, 245, 123, and 147. Features include passenger boarding and alighting, ticket sales, weather and seasons, a route and line editor, and modding support. Multiplayer was introduced in a beta phase, with an economy mode planned that allows players to create their own bus company, buy and sell vehicles, and hire staff. AI buses and trams are also planned.
The game was initially developed on Unreal Engine 4 and upgraded to Unreal Engine 5 on 14 December 2022. Development has progressed through three major phases. Phase 1 (ending December 2022) included the TXL line and basic features. Phase 2 added five new lines and three bus models, along with modding and performance optimizations. Phase 3 introduced the Solaris Urbino electric bus, Line 147, and beta multiplayer.
A downloadable content expansion, *The Bus – Hamburg City*, was released on 31 July 2025. Developed by Halycon Media and published by Aerosoft, it requires the base game and adds routes in Hamburg, including Lines 6, 7, 17, and 277.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Bus
- Developer
- TML-Studios
- Publisher
- Aerosoft
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 · Windows · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- WW · 26 March 2026
- Genre
- Vehicle simulation
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Bus was developed by TML-Studios, known for Tourist Bus Simulator, Fernbus Simulator, and the World of Subways series. It was initially released in early access on 25 March 2021 for Windows via Steam, built on Unreal Engine 4. On 14 December 2022, the game was upgraded to Unreal Engine 5. The early access period was divided into phases, with Phase 1 ending on 14 December 2022. Phase 2 introduced five new lines and three new bus models, along with modding support and conversion to Unreal Engine's World Partition system. As of June 2025, the game was in Phase 3, which added variants of the Solaris Urbino electric bus, Line 147, and beta multiplayer. An economy mode—allowing players to create their own bus company, buy and sell vehicles, and hire staff—was planned but not yet released. AI buses and AI trams were also expected in Phase 3.
Reader's Guide
The Bus is notable for its ambitious 1:1 recreation of Berlin, offering a level of geographic fidelity uncommon in bus simulation games. Its development cycle spanned over five years in early access, with regular updates that expanded routes, vehicles, and features. The game's upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 in late 2022 marked a technical milestone, improving performance and visual capabilities. The Hamburg City DLC, released on 31 July 2025 and developed by Halycon Media, extended the game to a second German city with multiple bus lines. The game's significance lies in its role as a successor to earlier TML-Studios simulators, aiming to provide a more detailed and modern bus driving experience. Its eventual full release on consoles in 2026 broadened its audience beyond PC players.
Did You Know?
- The early access version was released on 25 March 2021, and the full version on 26 March 2026.
- The game was upgraded from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 on 14 December 2022.
- The Hamburg City DLC, released on 31 July 2025, includes lines 6, 17, 7, and 277.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Bus (video game)?
The Bus is a city bus driving simulation developed by TML-Studios and published by Aerosoft. It places players behind the wheel of urban transit vehicles in a full-scale, 1:1 recreation of Berlin, Germany.
When did The Bus launch and on which platforms is it available?
The title entered Steam early access for Windows on 25 March 2021. Its full release arrived on 26 March 2026, expanding availability to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S alongside PC.
Which bus manufacturers are represented in The Bus?
Players can operate vehicles from five real-world makers: Scania, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, VDL, and Solaris. These span both diesel and electric drivetrains found on Berlin's actual routes.
How does The Bus compare to Bus Simulator 21?
The two titles share a similar core loop of shuttling passengers along scheduled city routes, but The Bus positions itself as a next-generation successor with a dedicated 1:1 Berlin map and updated hardware support. It effectively serves as the spiritual follow-up within the same genre niche.
Why do fans consider The Bus a milestone for 2020s simulation games?
It delivers a complete, street-level replica of a major European capital at true scale, which few bus sims have attempted. Combined with its long early-access window and eventual multi-platform launch, it set a new benchmark for realism in the city-transit subgenre.
More in Simulation Games of the 2020s, Part 2 1-17
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