The RETRORONTO Report #15
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Monday, February 2, 2026
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☀️
Sunny -6C
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📅 Monday, February 2, 2026 | ☀️ Sunny -6C |
Wishlists:
📈 683
|
Itch.io Views:
👁️ 4033
|
Discord:
🙌 58
|
Instagram:
📷 69
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Wishlists: 📈 683 | Itch.io Views: 👁️ 4033 | Discord: 🙌 58 | Instagram: 📷 69 |
This is The RETRORONTO Report, your go-to source for all the latest happenings and updates in the evolving city of Retroronto!
The Toronto Star Power
Retroronto appeared in The Toronto Star this month, marking a rare moment of national attention for a city more accustomed to being passed through than written about. The article, printed December 22 and published online on January 7, positioned the game alongside other Canadian releases and highlighted its focus on Toronto as a lived-in place, rather than a generic backdrop.
The piece was written by Star reporter Raju Mudhar, whose familiarity with games and the city itself helped shape a thoughtful feature that felt informed rather than explanatory. The article also drew a direct line between Retroronto and earlier Toronto-inspired games, including the Scott Pilgrim series, acknowledging a shared lineage of local influence and creative ambition.
The response was immediate. The article circulated widely online, driving a noticeable spike in views and plays, and sparking discussion across social platforms. For a brief window, Retroronto found itself part of a larger conversation about Toronto-made games and the value of representing the city through interactive spaces.
Coverage like this carries weight. Beyond the numbers, the feature serves as a form of civic validation and recognition that this version of the city, in all its small routines and quiet corners, is worth documenting. The city extends its thanks to Raju Mudhar and The Toronto Star for the care taken in telling that story.
- Trey Molina, Journalist
Retroronto Seen by CBC
Following recent print coverage, Retroronto reached the airwaves this month with an appearance on CBC’s Metro Morning. The interview took place January 12 at CBC’s downtown studio, where the city was introduced to early-morning listeners through a brief but focused conversation about place, play, and what it means to turn everyday Toronto into an interactive space.
Later that day, the conversation found a second life online. A short video shared by CBC Toronto on TikTok paired interview audio with behind-the-scenes footage from the studio, extending the reach well beyond the broadcast. The clip drew tens of thousands of views and a lively comment section, reflecting a broad range of reactions: curiosity, critique, and the familiar civic habit of debating the city itself.
The response helped sustain momentum from earlier coverage, driving renewed interest and engagement. Notably, this showcase translated into increased wishlists, suggesting the message resonated strongly with a different, younger audience. The city extends its thanks to Elise Kieffer, David Common, and the CBC team for bringing Retroronto into a national conversation and helping it reach listeners and viewers across the country.
- Milly Pollard, Reporter
Monthly Roadmap Recap
As we head into February, here’s a quick check-in on where things are at.
March’s update is still on track, with recent work focused on a new nightlife location. What started as a single “club” has slowly evolved into two distinct place types: clubs and bars. We’ve gone back and forth on whether to include these at all… as alcohol in games often comes with tone and age-rating considerations. But after feedback and reflection, it felt hard to represent city life without them. Bars, in particular, play a big role in how people connect, unwind, and pass time in cities. A bar environment is now built, though it still needs feature work, while club spaces are actively in development.
The News & Events system is still underway as well, though it’s taken a bit of a back seat while nightlife locations came together. Some mockups and layout ideas are already in place to help organize daily events in a clear, readable way. Expect more concrete progress on this as we move toward March.
On the showcase front, exhibitor passes are officially secured for Toronto Game Expo, running March 28–29. This will be Retroronto’s second time at TGE, the same event where the game first debuted publicly and unexpectedly went viral on TikTok. With a larger, more polished build this year, we’re hoping for an equally strong showing.
Lastly, a quick note on updates and communication. While the longer-term plan is still larger feature updates every couple of months, recent media attention has encouraged a small shift. Going forward, there will be light hotfixes between major updates, focused purely on bug fixes and balance tweaks. This keeps the game healthier and avoids long gaps between builds. It does mean fewer “big announcement” moments on social media, so I’ll be rethinking how Retroronto is shared online, aiming for something less formulaic and more genuine for both longtime followers and new eyes.
Where citizens say what’s on their mind, and we print it anyway.
Bus Stops Need Better Seating
By Andrew L., 38
I don’t expect luxury, but some kind of seating would be nice while waiting in the cold. Leaning against a pole or pretending the curb is comfortable gets old fast. If transit wants people to use it more, maybe don’t make waiting feel like a test of endurance.
Everything is Subscription-Based
By Priya S., 29
It feels like every service, app, or convenience now wants a monthly fee attached to it. I miss paying once and being done with it instead of tracking ten tiny charges that quietly add up. At this point, my budget has more line items than my grocery list.
People Don’t Know How to Queue
By Thomas., 46
Lines used to be simple: one end, one direction, minimal chaos. Now people hover, drift, and cut in by accident (or so they claim). It’s not the worst problem in the world, but it somehow manages to be frustrating every single time.
Classifieds
WINDOW REPAIR & WEATHER SEALING
Drafty windows stealing your heat and your sanity? I reseal, recaulk, and make old frames behave through winter. No miracles, just fewer regrets when the heating bill arrives.
LOOKING FOR BANDMATES (CASUAL)
Bass, drums, keys. Genre flexible, commitment low. Practice once a week, play once a month, quit dramatically if needed. Originals encouraged, egos discouraged.
LOST CAT - ANSWERS TO “PIXEY”
Grey tabby, green eyes, very confident for someone this small. Last seen near a laundromat, probably judging strangers. Reward offered, questions will be asked.
EVENT FLYER DESIGN - SHORT NOTICE OK
Need something readable by tonight? Posters, handbills, simple layouts that don’t scream “last minute.” Digital or print-ready. Yes, Comic Sans is negotiable, but only barely.
Obituaries
FRANK DELUCA
(1962-2026)
Frank was a regular presence at the same diner booth most mornings, ordering coffee and whatever was cheapest that day. He worked steady hours, left on time, and never stayed late unless asked twice. He was known for fixing things quietly and returning them cleaner than he found them.
He disliked small talk but tolerated it, especially when the weather was involved. Frank is remembered for his reliability, his worn jacket, and the way he always paid in exact change. His seat at the counter remains empty.
ROSEMARY CHEN
(1939-2026)
Rosemary spent years tending to a small balcony garden that overlooked the street. She waved at buses, trimmed plants meticulously, and listened to the radio at a volume only she seemed to notice. Neighbors recall her as observant and polite, though rarely hurried.
She favored handwritten notes and kept receipts longer than necessary. Rosemary leaves behind several potted plants, neatly labeled, and a view of the city that continues on without her.
Events
VALENTINE’S DAY: LOW EXPECTATIONS SOCIAL
An evening for people who forgot to plan, chose not to, or don’t want to explain themselves. Music is quiet, lighting is forgiving, and no one will ask who you’re here with. Come alone, come late, leave early. Romance not guaranteed. Candy hearts will be present but not required.
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD OPEN HOUR
Drop in to post flyers, remove outdated ones, or just read what everyone else has been quietly asking for. Volunteers will help you reword things to sound less desperate. Tape and pushpins provided, optimism remains optional. Some notices have been up longer than anyone remembers.
EVENING TRANSIT HISTORY TALK
A short, informal presentation on how the city used to move people around, followed by discussion, questions, and personal anecdotes that may or may not be relevant. Chairs are mismatched, slides are minimal, and no one will test you afterward. The talk may run long if memories start surfacing.
Changelog
Changes/Fixes:
- Refactored Items a bit, price of items are the amount of energy they restore (aside from coffee)
- BUYERS no longer sell food items, only medicine and necessities
- Changed some prices in the food stores to match the energy to give the player
- Adjusted energy loss rate to be slower across the day, started player off with half energy at noon
- Player now gets hungry at half baseMaxEnergy, if they're tired (less than 10 max energy), their fatigue loss is minimal
- Fixed a bug where the player would stay tired even after sleeping
- Factored music a bit for future features involving new music
- Fixed a bug where the player can interact with outside NPCs while inside
- Fixed facing directions of NPCs in Commerce Court
- Fixed clothing store shelves changing their colours on highlighting as well as staying highlighted after leaving them
- Toilets at home should now work, and only once until you leave and re-enter
- Fixed Fridges at home not storing carried items
Additions:
‘Coming Soon’ location at Spadina and Queen (can’t enter just yet, wait till next update!)
Got feedback, questions, or concerns about the development of Retroronto? Join our discord server below!
EDITOR’S NOTES
Hi there!
What a wild month this turned out to be. I’d always hoped Retroronto might get some media coverage eventually, and honestly, I assumed BlogTO would be the ceiling. Having The Toronto Star and then CBC cover the game back-to-back was a genuine surprise. Huge thanks to my Discord community for kicking this off, especially the brave soul who shared the game on r/Toronto and somehow avoided the self-promo guillotine. From there, things snowballed in the best way, and I now have a few more interviews and podcast chats potentially on the horizon.
Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how Retroronto continues from here. I want to be more open to collaboration and outside help, even though that’s hard after years of owning every part of the project myself. Bringing others in can be just as challenging as solo development (sometimes more so), but game-making has always been a team effort at its core, and I want to move in that direction. On top of that, I’m planning to experiment more with how I share the game online. I’ve neglected platforms like YouTube Shorts for far too long, so February will likely involve some trial and error to see what resonates, while keeping the devblogs and updates consistent.
Also… I may be going to GDC! It feels like a bit of a rite of passage for aspiring game devs, and it’s been a long-time goal of mine to attend. With the current political climate, I know many folks are understandably opting out this year, and I share some of those concerns myself. Still, opportunities like this don’t come around often for me, so I’m taking the leap in hopes of making meaningful connections, learning from people who’ve been in the industry far longer than I have, and sharing Retroronto with a few industry heavy hitters along the way.
To both longtime supporters and new faces: thank you for being here, and for sticking with this strange little city. I’ll see you all next month!
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!