The RETRORONTO Report #14
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Monday, January 5, 2026
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☁️
Snowy 2C
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📅 Monday, January 5, 2026 | ☁️ Snowy 2C |
Wishlists:
📈 444
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Itch.io Views:
👁️ 2,838
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Discord:
🙌 47
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Instagram:
📷 61
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Wishlists: 📈 444 | Itch.io Views: 👁️ 2,838 | Discord: 🙌 47 | Instagram: 📷 61 |
This is The RETRORONTO Report, your go-to source for all the latest happenings and updates in the evolving city of Retroronto!
Record Snowfall Blankets Streets Overnight
Residents across the city woke Tuesday morning to sidewalks buried, streetcars slowed, and the familiar crunch of boots on snow returning weeks earlier than expected, following what Environment Canada is calling one of the heaviest single-day snowfalls in recent years.
Snow began falling late Monday evening and continued through the night, accumulating faster than plows could reasonably respond. By morning, several major routes were reduced to single lanes, while smaller residential streets remained largely untouched.
“I mean, I knew it was coming,” said one commuter waiting for a delayed streetcar near Dundas. “But not like this. This feels… aggressive.”
City officials urged patience as crews worked to clear priority routes, noting that wind chill values made overnight conditions particularly challenging. “The snow didn’t just fall,” said a City spokesperson. “It moved.”
Transit services experienced widespread delays, with some vehicles rerouted or halted entirely due to track conditions. Riders were advised to dress warmly and expect longer travel times.
Not everyone was caught off guard.
“This is just winter,” said a man seen shovelling his storefront for the third time that morning. “People forget every year.”
Heavy snowfall at City Hall
Others expressed concern about the longer-term trend. While most brushed it off as an unusually rough season, a few residents pointed to recent years as evidence that winters are becoming harder to predict. “I read something about climate patterns changing,” said a passerby, before shrugging. “But I don’t know. It’s Canada.”
As of press time, snowplows continued operating citywide, with officials confirming that all major routes would be cleared “as conditions allow.”
Residents are encouraged to check transit updates, bundle up, and avoid unnecessary travel, advice many admitted they were unlikely to follow.
- Solomon Boone, Lead Reporter
Mapping A More Deliberate Year Ahead
Loose roadmap for a Demo-complete Retroronto
A new development roadmap released this month outlines how Retroronto will be shaped throughout 2026, which is currently planned as the final year of active demo development. After a year of monthly updates, the project is shifting to two-to-three months per update. Not to make updates larger, but to make development more sustainable. Working full-time as a solo developer has increasingly tied progress to funding pressure, contributing to burnout late last year. The new pace allows time for outside work and collaboration on other projects, returning development closer to how the game was originally built.
The roadmap is not being treated as a strict schedule. With development continuing as a solo effort, flexibility has been built into the year to allow time for polish, maintenance, or stability work if plans change. Indie games often take years to complete even with teams in place, and this project remains focused on delivering a strong, self-contained demo rather than rushing toward an unsustainable finish line.
Looking ahead, there is growing interest in making Retroronto more community-adjacent. This could include polls, development discussions, or occasional streams, alongside exploring small-scale funding options such as Patreon to support outreach and marketing. Feedback has already played a meaningful role in shaping the game, and future input may help guide priorities without turning development into a popularity contest.
Readers and players are invited to weigh in. What do you think of the roadmap and the features planned so far? Are there areas you would rather see explored, refined, or revisited? Community polling may be taken into consideration this year to put forth such questions. As the year progresses, momentum will be measured through community growth, wishlists, and playership, helping determine how far the project can realistically go. Those with a connection to Toronto, or hopes of visiting someday, are especially encouraged to share the game with others.
- Rashid Shila, Reporter
Weather Or Not, Here Snow Comes
Residents may want to start checking the sky more often, as changing weather conditions have begun sweeping through the city with little warning.
Alongside recent adjustments to the city’s layout, officials confirm that snowfall is no longer guaranteed, or consistent. Snow may now fall lightly or heavily depending on conditions, with accumulation varying throughout the day. Rain has also been observed during warmer periods, though city sources confirm that precipitation will remain snow during the current winter season.
“For now, it’s winter,” said one city worker. “When it snows, it snows.”
While conditions remain seasonal for the time being, planners suggest this system lays the groundwork for a wider range of atmospheric changes in the future, including strong winds, fog, and more severe storms. Residents are advised to dress accordingly and expect the unexpected.
- Eliza O’Brien, Reporter
Getting Down With the Sickness
Health officials are reminding residents to take precautions this winter, as cases of seasonal illness have become increasingly visible across the city.
Several residents have reported feeling unwell after prolonged contact with others, with symptoms ranging from fevers and coughs to skin rashes. Those affected are encouraged to visit local clinics, where doctors can provide diagnoses and recommend appropriate treatment.
Patients who delay treatment may find themselves spreading illness unintentionally, as close conversations appear to increase the risk of transmission. Clinics, previously quiet facilities, have seen a steady uptick in visitors as residents seek relief.
City officials emphasize that while illness is an inconvenience, treatment remains straightforward. “You get checked, you get medicine, and you move on,” said one doctor. “That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
- Robert Sawyer, Editor
Where citizens say what’s on their mind, and we print it anyway.
Escalator Etiquette Is a Myth
By Daniel R., 34
I don’t know when we collectively decided that escalators were a free-for-all, but it feels like basic courtesy has completely evaporated. Some people stand sideways, some block both lanes, and others stop dead at the top like they’ve reached a scenic lookout. It’s wild how bad we’ve gotten at this…
More Condos, Less Character
By Melissa T., 41
Every time I look up, there’s another glass building going up that looks exactly like the last one. I get that cities need housing, but it feels like we’re trading personality for efficiency at an alarming rate. I miss when neighborhoods felt distinct instead of copy-pasted with different views.
Construction Noise Never Ends
By Omar K., 27
It feels like the city is permanently under construction, and honestly, I don’t remember the last quiet morning I had. Jackhammers start early, trucks idle forever, and detours change weekly. Progress is important, but it’d be nice if it didn’t feel like we were living inside a work zone all the time!
Classifieds
ROOMMATE WANTED (TEMPORARY)
Spare room available in a well-lived-in apartment. Quiet during the week, mysterious noises at night. Rent is reasonable, patience required. Please be okay with shared fridge politics.
BIKE REPAIR - NO APPOINTMENT!
Quick fixes while you wait. Brakes, chains, gears, and judgement-free advice included. Cash preferred. If your bike “just started doing that,” I’ve heard it before.
NEED HELP DIGITIZING PHOTOS
Old family photos, old formats, old tech. I’ll scan and organize your memories before time does something worse to them. Flexible hours, friendly rates, existential conversations optional.
Obituaries
MARTIN KIPLING
(1958-2026)
Martin was a familiar face on his block, known for early morning walks and nodding hello without stopping. He worked various jobs over the years and never talked much about them. He is remembered for keeping to himself and always returning borrowed tools.
He preferred routine and rarely deviated from it, shopping at the same places and sitting in the same spots. Though quiet, his absence has been noticed by neighbors who had grown used to seeing him pass by each day.
ELAINE PENDERS
(1947-2026)
Elaine spent most of her days reading, people-watching, and quietly judging coffee prices. She believed most things were better ten years ago and said so often. She will be missed by those who recognized her, even if they never spoke.
She favored long pauses in conversation and had strong opinions about public seating. Elaine leaves behind a small collection of paperbacks and a chair by the window that remains unused.
Events
WINTER RESET WORKSHOP
Feeling behind already? You’re not alone. This casual afternoon workshop invites attendees to talk through goals, habits, and expectations for the year ahead, with plenty of reassurance that perfection is not required. Free coffee provided, optimism optional.
INDOOR WALKERS MEETUP
Too cold to wander aimlessly outside? This weekly meetup offers a warm, well-lit space for laps, conversation, and killing time without buying anything. All paces welcome, whether you’re there for exercise, people-watching, or just something to do before heading home.
COMMUNITY SKILL SWAP NIGHT
Locals gather to trade small skills and knowledge, from basic repairs to cooking tips and computer help. No money changes hands, just favors, notes, and vague promises to “return the help sometime.” A good reminder that winter doesn’t have to be isolating.
Changelog
Changes/Fixes:
Adjusted skydome landmark to be more open during spring/summer, and fully closed during winter
Players will now only regain their max energy when sleeping, and not their energyCount
Players now don't slow down if they're hungry, only if they're tired
Fixed NPCs in the Clinic facing the wrong way in their chairs
Fixed Hands in interior environments being pitch black when it's night time
Parks have been winterized, with existing fountain particle systems turned off
Refactored store shelves to handle colours and orientations better
Moved Coffee Place closer to financial district
Fixed bug where store registers would keep bigger arrows after buying items, now wont show any arrows until an item is picked up to be bought
Fixed a bug where the player would face away from NPCs when talking to them
Additions:
Added a winterized version of the world, removing leaves off trees and changing grassy areas to snowy ones
Added raining/snowing weather effects, with a random rate of emission
Added a spriteMask to all interiors except parks to hide weather within environments
Added Illnesses to the game, gained by talking to sick (green) npcs. Players can get get a Fever which increases energy loss overtime, a Cough which reduces energy each time it happens, and a Rash which can momentarily slow player movement
Revamped the Clinic, slight change to it's size, now includes a Receptionist and a Doctor NPC who can diagnose and cure the player's illness for a fee
Added ‘Buyers’, a new store place that will sell medicine as well as other items
Got feedback, questions, or concerns about the development of Retroronto? Join our discord server below!
EDITOR’S NOTES
Happy 2026, everyone!
Two years ago this month, I was let go from my full-time animation role of five years. At the same time, Retroronto was given a chance to grow beyond a hobby thanks to the support of Hand Eye Society and Ontario Creates. With a mix of severance, EI, and small contracts, I’ve been able to pour myself into this project in a way I never could before. That freedom led to two years of steady progress, public showcases, and a demo that now feels worlds away from where it started. It also led, quite honestly, to burnout by the end of last year. Making a game solo means wearing every hat, and not all of them leave room for creativity.
As 2026 begins, I need to make some practical changes to stay grounded and sustainable. This year means refocusing some of my time toward finding paid work again, and possibly exploring further education, even though it’s been nearly a decade since I was last in college and the path forward isn’t entirely clear. The job market has rarely felt straightforward for me, and that uncertainty is part of what led me to make Retroronto in the first place. This project has always been about the realities of city life, and it would be disingenuous to ignore my own. Balancing portfolios, paid work, and the business side of games isn’t glamorous, but it’s necessary.
What keeps me going through all of this is the small but thoughtful community that’s formed around the game. Knowing people are reading these devblogs, playing the demo, and taking the time to share feedback and offer help genuinely matters. I plan to stay engaged here, talk openly about the game’s direction, and keep nurturing Retroronto at a pace that’s healthy for both the project and myself. The city has somewhat found its footing now. The question this year is how far it can go, and whether a finish line can come into view. I hope you’ll stick around to find out!
Cheers,
Sean “Shramper” 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!