The RETRORONTO Report #12
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Monday, October 6, 2025
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☀️
Sunny 21C
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📅 Monday, October 6, 2025 | ☀️ Sunny 21C |
Wishlists:
📈 +11
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Itch.io Views:
👁️ +57
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Followers:
🙌 +3
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Wishlists: 📈 +11 | Itch.io Views: 👁️ +57 | Followers: 🙌 +3 |
This is The RETRORONTO Report, your go-to source for all the latest happenings and updates in the evolving city of Retroronto!
Looking Ahead to SuperFEST
Hand Eye Society’s Super FESTival, happening on November 1-7 both online and in the city
While many local indie studios will be showing their latest projects at VGLX in Mississauga this fall, Retroronto will be sitting this one out. The team is taking a step back to regroup, focusing on business needs, ongoing development, and tackling a backlog of bugs and player feedback collected from past events. With the costs and logistics of attending public showcases on a limited indie budget, careful planning has become just as important as what’s on the game itself.
Reflecting on past events has provided invaluable lessons. From Toronto Games Week to GOML and CNE, each showcase offered a different perspective with industry insiders, hardcore gamers, and casual visitors, shaping not only the game but the way it’s presented. This pause allows the team to analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how to prioritize development, marketing, and community engagement moving forward.
Looking ahead, Retroronto will be part of SuperFEST, Hand Eye Society’s annual game showcase on November 1st. While the details are still being finalized, it promises a smaller, more focused environment where fans can engage directly with the game. After months of juggling development, business, and event planning, the team is eager to reconnect with the community one final time this year, and show the progress made after a year since the demo has launched last November.
-Kurtis Everett, Reporter
City Creator Q&A
At recent community events, Retroronto’s developer has fielded plenty of questions from curious players. To clear the air, here are a few highlights:
How will the game end?
”Retroronto isn’t aiming for a tidy ending. Instead, the city itself is the story, unfolding through changing environments, shifting politics, and snippets of NPC dialogue. The goal is to capture the growing pains of mid-2000s Toronto, rather than tell a single linear narrative.”
Will crime play a role in the game?
“Crime does exist in Retroronto, but not in the way many life simulators have embraced. The focus isn’t on becoming a criminal but on navigating the difficulties of living as a law-abiding citizen in a city where systems don’t always make things easy. With GTA6 looming on the horizon, it wouldn’t be advisable to create an open-world crime simulator anyway.”
Could other cities be added in the future?
“For now, Retroronto is staying true to its namesake. Expansions into surrounding GTA communities may be considered down the line, but the core focus remains on Toronto. We’ve been asked to do Montreal, Vancouver, and even other cities across the world, and while it’d be great to expand on this idea, Toronto alone has been a big enough city to spend the past few years building.”
Will Retroronto be moddable?
“Probably not. We’ve asked our community what mods could look like for Retroronto, but unless the game gets some serious traction and some savvy fans who’d like to expand on the game themselves, we’re currently not building in any modding support during the demo’s development. Perhaps on post-release!”
The answers reflect a vision that’s more about world-building and social commentary than about chasing trends, leaving fans curious about what’s next for the evolving virtual city.
-Solomon Mcintyre, Lead Journalist
Face-to-Face Customization
Retroronto citizens are getting new Player Identification cards, thanks to a revamp of the city’s character customization systems. Residents can now adjust their faces, add facial hair, and input their own names through a new interface.
However, the means to adjust a resident’s clothing is no longer available, due to wait times at service centres for photos to be taken, and to make way for the other stated options.
The update comes directly from community feedback, addressing requests for more personality and distinctiveness across both player avatars and the city’s bustling NPC population. While the wardrobe may be streamlined, this change emphasizes character expressions, giving life to citizens and making each trip through the city feel a little more personal.
-Jack Lam, Editor
Fashion Feature Debut
A brand-new storefront by the name of “CITY FITS” has opened its doors downtown, bringing shopping bags and style into Retroronto. The clothing shop allows players to purchase new outfits and hats, letting them change up their look long after their initial customization. NPCs, too, have joined the fashion wave, with stylish hats popping up across the city streets.
Though the shelves start modest, the arrival of a dedicated store marks a shift in Retroronto’s economy and culture, turning fashion into a growing part of the city’s identity. Like its real-world counterparts along Yonge Street, it’s a place where Torontonians can pause, browse, and reinvent themselves.
-Beau Shaw, Writer
Where citizens say what’s on their mind, and we print it anyway.
Coyotes of the City
By Maria V., 42
I’ve been seeing more coyotes roaming around lately, especially late at night. It makes me nervous when I let my dog out… feels like the city should be doing more to keep pets safe.
Time to Trash Talk
By Dev S., 29
Some of the public garbage bins are always overflowing, and when they aren’t, the lids are broken. I just wish the city would put more effort into basic upkeep, it looks messy.
Endless Waiting
By James P., 55
I went to the ER last week and waited almost nine hours before being seen. It’s frustrating and exhausting — how are people supposed to get care when it takes an entire day?
Classifieds
FOR SALE: OLD BUS TOKENS
Selling old TTC tokens, assorted years, $2 each or bundle deal. Won’t work as actual tokens. Call Ron or Greg for more information.
HELP WANTED: BARISTAS
Local café hiring part-time barista, evenings and weekends. Experience preferred but not required. Apply in person!
GUITAR LESSONS
Guitar lessons offered, all skill levels. Acoustic or electric, $25 per hour. Must have your own instrument. Contact Maria by phone or email.
LOST & FOUND: GOLD BRACELET
Lost gold bracelet with small maple leaf charm found near Christie Pits Park. Deep sentimental value, please call if found.
Obituaries
“SMOKEY”
(2006–2025)
Smokey, a well-known alley cat who made his home behind the diners and bakeries along Bloor Street, passed away quietly this week. With his tipped ear and steady, watchful eyes, Smokey had become a small but comforting fixture of the neighborhood. Staff would often leave out scraps for him, and late-night regulars joked that he knew the streets better than anyone. His absence will be felt by those who came to see him as part of the city’s character, a reminder of the little lives that make Retroronto feel like home.
IN MEMORY OF DANIEL HOLMES
(1968–2025)
Tragedy struck on the Gardiner Expressway when Daniel Holmes, 34, lost his life in a sudden collision late Sunday evening. Known by friends and family as someone who always had time to help others, Daniel carried a laugh that could brighten even the most difficult of days. His sudden passing has left a deep mark on those who knew him, with loved ones describing him as kind-hearted, patient, and endlessly supportive. The community extends its condolences to his family, honoring a life taken far too soon on roads all too familiar with loss.
Events
COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
Readers of all ages are invited to the Bloor Street Library this Thursday at 7 p.m. to discuss this month’s novel, a contemporary tale about friendship and resilience. Anyone’s welcome to join the conversation and meet others who love to read. Light refreshments will be provided, and the group always welcomes new members.
COLLEGE STREET FILM NIGHT
The College Street Community Centre is hosting a free screening of a locally made comedy-drama this Saturday at 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs for a cozy setup, while popcorn and drinks will be available on site.
HARVEST MARKET FAIR
Celebrate the fall season at the annual Harvest Market happening this Sunday in Trinity Bellwoods park. Local vendors will showcase crafts, baked goods, and seasonal produce, with live music adding to the festive atmosphere. Families are encouraged to stop by for activities and games, making it a community event for all ages to enjoy.
Changelog
Changes/Fixes:
- Adjusted text under place banners to list an address instead of input
- Fixed a visual bug where overworld NPC icons/arrows would sort under cars
- Adjusted Toilet collisions for better highlighting
- Adjusted map places to reset their highlights when exiting
- Adjusted NPCs in dialogue camera to not show arrows and icons
- Fixed a bad bug where dispensers in minigames wouldn't highlight when interacting
- Adjusted the collisions on the College Park bank place
- Adjusted colliders with store freezers so players can walk behind them when approaching them
- Adjusted collisions for library printer and computer so players can no longer fit inbetween them and block the fill meter
- Pigeons no longer spawn at night
- Fixed a bug where hotel beds would stay highlighted after using them
- Fixed a bug where players in the overworld could still move during the transition to an interior space
- Adjusted colliders and sorting orders for counters in the Clinic
- Adjusted bed collisions so players can use them even when under the covers
- Fixed a bug where players would have to buy another hotel room if they left without sleeping
- Fixed a bug where players would walk indefinitely during Help Station tutorials
- Adjusted Fridge controls so players can set and get items with Space/A, and leave with ESC/B
- Adjusted some door colliders so players wouldnt get stuck ontop or under them between walls
- Fixed a bug where players would walk indefinitely when riding elevators
- Fixed a bug where player hands when carrying an item wouldn't match scene lighting
- Adjusted sorting layers for the weight benches in the Gym
- Adjusted sorting layers of store arrows so players and NPCs wouldnt walk over them
- Updated Unity version due to recent security issues
Additions:
- Added a HoldFill mechanic to toilets so the player has to finish using it for energy gain
- Added a new control UI in bottom right of screen to show the action and which key/button to use
- Time now pauses when using the phone, stopping traffic and movement
- Revamped Character Customization screen to now customize the player's hair, eyes, mouth, facial hair, and hair colour
- Added a naming segment as an option in character customization that can be used for keyboard and mouse
- Dogs periodically poop in the park now
- Added a Clothing Store called "CITY FITS" that allows the player to buy and use clothing items to change into them
- Added Hats, that can spawn on NPCs and at the clothing store
- Added a map shortcut with "TAB" so players wont have to open and close their phone each time
Removals:
- Removed a unique "Patient" NPC from the Clinic
- Removed Top and Leg customization in Character Customization screen
- Removed 'InputField' for naming, players currently cant type their name out in character customization
Got feedback, questions, or concerns about the development of Retroronto? Join our discord server below!
EDITOR’S NOTES
Salutations!
So there goes September. Time to wake up Billie Joe Armstrong (and all you readers) with a quick update on what’s been happening this past month.
After a lot of careful consideration and some soul-searching about where Retroronto’s development currently stands, I decided not to apply for the Ontario Creates IP Fund after all. It was a tough but necessary choice, as the project needs a little more time to bake, and additional efforts in marketing and networking are required to meet some of the grant’s requirements. Grant writing is nerve-wracking, arguably the exact opposite of game development, but there’s still hope that Retroronto will be the kind of project these programs want. For now, it’s back to building, refining, and proving it.
With that decision made, September also included catching up on some contract work, favours, and pushing out a modest update with some new features and bug fixes, more than I had anticipated last month. November will mark a full year since the game’s demo launched on itch.io, but it’s development will likely pause for a much-needed vacation as I’ll be out of the country for the majority of the month. Hopefully, the time away will refresh the brain and get me ready to dive back in come December for perhaps one last update of 2025.
As always, thank you for reading! Be sure to blink, hydrate, and look both ways before crossing Retroronto’s streets!
Cheers,
- Sean Browning
Disclaimer:
The names, classifieds, obituaries, and events featured in this publication are entirely fictional and not associated with any real people or entities. While the content is loosely inspired by the development of Retroronto, it is largely embellished for the sake of engagement and fun. The goal is to present the city and its progress as closely to a newspaper as possible. Please don’t take it all too seriously!