The RETRORONTO Report #16
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Monday, March 2, 2026
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☀️
Sunny -3C
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📅 Monday, March 2, 2026 | ☀️ Sunny -3C |
Wishlists:
📈 732
|
Itch.io Views:
👁️ 4,207
|
Discord:
🙌 59
|
Instagram:
📷 74
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Wishlists: 📈 732 | Itch.io Views: 👁️ 4,207 | Discord: 🙌 59 | Instagram: 📷 74 |
This is The RETRORONTO Report, your go-to source for all the latest happenings and updates in the evolving city of Retroronto!
MobileSyrup Sweetness
Retroronto’s recent wave of media coverage continued into February with a feature published by MobileSyrup on February 9, highlighting the project’s ongoing development and its connection to Toronto’s culture and everyday city life. The article, written by technology reporter Bradly Shankar, explored the game’s inspirations, ambitions, and the growing interest surrounding locally made games that reflect Canadian experiences.
City officials note that the continued attention has helped introduce Retroronto to new audiences beyond traditional game spaces, reaching readers interested in technology, digital culture, and homegrown creative projects. The feature arrives shortly after January’s press coverage, reinforcing a steady momentum as the project gains visibility both locally and nationally.
The Retroronto team extends sincere thanks to Bradly Shankar and the MobileSyrup staff for their thoughtful coverage and support. As more stories spotlight games created in and inspired by Canada, Retroronto is proud to stand among projects helping showcase the country’s cities, voices, and creative communities.
- Trey Molina, Journalist
City Channel Surfing
Residents settling into their living rooms may notice something new flickering across their television screens, as working TVs have officially begun broadcasting throughout Retroronto. The primary channel, CT24, now delivers daily news updates covering city events alongside forecasts for both today and tomorrow’s weather, offering citizens a reliable way to stay informed without stepping outside.
Each broadcast introduces a new story unfolding across the city, with six unique in-game days currently available as part of the demo’s Spring period. Reports have already touched on topics ranging from road construction and property development to climate concerns, holiday celebrations, and renewed tourism initiatives. City planners confirm these broadcasts represent the early framework of a much larger system designed to support a full in-game calendar in the future.
Officials say CT24 will become the central hub for communicating ongoing developments, encouraging residents to check televisions found in apartments, businesses, and other interior locations. While programming remains limited for now, the station signals a growing sense that the city itself is beginning to tell its own story, one headline at a time.
- Eliza O’Brien, Reporter
Raising the Bars
Nightlife has officially arrived, as several bars across the city have opened their doors to residents looking to unwind after hours. Operating exclusively after 6PM (once most daytime businesses have closed), these new social spaces offer a place for citizens from all walks of life to gather, relax, and share conversation at the end of the day.
Patrons can now purchase alcoholic drinks that temporarily boost charm and confidence, though health officials warn the benefits come with noticeable side effects, including impaired coordination and a distinctly unsteady perspective. Overindulgence may leave visitors feeling nauseous for the remainder of the evening, prompting reminders that moderation remains key to an enjoyable night out. So have fun, and drink responsibly!
Beyond drinks, several venues feature expanded interiors and side rooms hinting at future activities still under development. One establishment has already introduced an arcade cabinet titled Tram-Panic, allowing players to compete for high scores on a public leaderboard. With three locally inspired bars now operating, city insiders suggest this marks only the beginning of Retroronto’s evolving nightlife, where entertainment and unexpected connections may soon go hand in hand.
- Robert Sawyer, Editor
Monthly Roadmap Recap
As we move into March, Retroronto has prepared what is shaping up to be the largest update yet. This release introduces several major systems that begin establishing the city’s broader lore and recurring events. For the demo, players will experience a small slice of these systems through a six-day Spring period, offering an early look at how daily happenings and seasonal structure will function. While only a portion of the calendar is currently playable, the groundwork is now in place for a full in-game year planned for the eventual full release.
Development also saw a notable shift in nightlife design. What originally began as plans for traditional clubs has evolved into pubs and bar environments instead. The addition of bars, alcoholic items, and even a new illness tied to social spaces required careful consideration, particularly given the wide age range of players who have tried the demo over the past year. Ultimately, representing city life authentically meant embracing these spaces more directly rather than relying on playful stand-ins. The goal is to reflect how people actually meet, unwind, and connect in urban environments, helping set a more grounded tone for Retroronto moving forward.
On the events front, March will be a busy month beyond development itself. Developers of Retroronto will be attending GDC Festival of Gaming from March 9-13, to meet some industry folks, and represent Starspray Studios Ltd. in the professional videogame industry (however we won’t be showcasing the game there). Retroronto will also return to Toronto Game Expo on March 28–29, marking its second appearance at the show where the game first debuted publicly last year. Lastly, tickets have been secured for XP Summit this May, with hopes of exhibiting at the Indie Booths or connecting with publishers and collaborators through MeetToMatch sessions.
Looking ahead, April is currently planned as a lighter maintenance month following this major release, focusing on hotfixes and balance adjustments as player feedback rolls in. Whether development briefly shifts into stabilization or continues directly toward May’s next feature update will depend on how this build performs in the wild. Either way, the city keeps moving, and there’s plenty more ahead.
Where citizens say what’s on their mind, and we print it anyway.
Puddles Are Our Enemies
By Carla M., 33
Every sidewalk right now feels like a guessing game between solid ground and ankle-deep slush. You think you’ve found a safe path, then suddenly your shoe disappears into icy water like the city itself set a trap. Spring is supposed to mean renewal, not soggy socks before 9 a.m.
Everyone Forgot How to Drive
By Daniel H., 52
The snow is melting, lanes are reappearing, and somehow traffic feels more chaotic than mid-winter. Drivers swing around potholes like obstacle courses while pedestrians assume cars can stop instantly on wet pavement. It’s the same confusion every year, yet we all act surprised by it.
Early Seasonal Optimism
By Renee P., 26
The moment temperatures rise above freezing, patios start appearing and people walk around like winter is officially over. I respect the optimism, but we all know there’s at least one more snowstorm waiting. Still, seeing people outside again almost makes the cold worth it.
Classifieds
MOVING HELP (SMALL JOBS ONLY)
Got a couch that won’t fit through a doorway? Boxes you regret packing yourself? I help with short moves, heavy lifting, and realistic expectations. Evenings and weekends available. Pizza accepted as partial payment.
PLANT CARE WHILE YOU TRAVEL
Going away but worried your plants won’t survive your optimism? I water, rotate, and provide encouraging words as needed. Experienced with dramatic houseplants and unclear instructions.
SEWING & CLOTHING REPAIRS
Loose buttons, torn seams, winter coats that didn’t survive the season. Quick repairs to help your wardrobe last a little longer before spring shopping begins. Reasonable rates, honest opinions included.
Obituaries
HAROLD BENNETT
(1942-2026)
Harold Bennett was the longtime owner of a small neighborhood watch repair shop, where he spent more than forty years restoring timepieces brought in by generations of residents. Known for his steady hands and quiet demeanor, he approached every repair with patience, often insisting that “nothing truly stops working, it just needs care.”
Outside of work, Harold kept a consistent routine, walking the same streets each morning and greeting familiar faces with a polite nod. He preferred simple pleasures: strong coffee, local newspapers, and benches positioned where he could observe the rhythm of daily life. Even after retirement, neighbors regularly saw him pausing to check public clocks, as though ensuring the city itself remained on schedule.
He is remembered for his patience, his precision, and the quiet reassurance that some parts of city life moved at a slower, steadier pace. The shop has since closed, but many residents still glance toward its windows when passing by, half-expecting to hear the faint ticking that once filled the space.
Events
SPRING CLEAN SWAP DAY
Closets getting crowded? Bring gently used clothes, books, or small household items and trade with neighbors looking for something new-to-them. Nothing needs to be perfect, just usable.
OPEN MIC: FIRST THAW EDITION
Musicians, poets, comedians, and brave first-timers welcome to test material as the city slowly wakes up again. Sign-ups start early, nerves are expected, encouragement guaranteed. Stay for one act or the whole night!
AFTERNOON BOARD GAMES & COFFEE
A relaxed weekly meetup built around shared tables, simple games, and unhurried conversation. Drop in solo or bring friends; someone will explain the rules if needed. Competitive spirits welcome, but good sportsmanship strongly encouraged.
Changelog
Changes/Fixes:
Reworked Tourist NPC to spawn randomly in city, and give a Landmark task for one random landmark in the city, which grants 1 Smart stat when completed
Slight fixes to the spring/winter base maps of the city
Fixed a bug where opening the map with Tab while inside interiors, then exiting the map would leave the interior invisible
Adjusted energy loss rates when riding bikes and colliding with vehicles
Fixed a bug where the energy loss rate of riding bikes would be retained when entering interiors
Adjusted some landmark dialogue files so text wouldn't overlap dialogue boxes
Players now have a 50% chance to heal sickness when sleeping
Players now wake up with 0 energy but full maxEnergy, as they need to eat breakfast to regain it
Fixed interior NPC's heads being infront of body when facing away from camera
Fixed a bug where all interior NPCs would only have dark blue hair
Fixed missing sounds from Trash Bins in Work places
Fixed a bug where while in interiors, cars would be seen out of world bounds when spawning and exiting
Fixed a bug where Tourists would be shown on the map akin to Places
Refactored Audio so most of everything has an AudioSource instead of one shared AudioSource attached to SoundManager
Fixed a bug where players could consume any medicine item to cure any illness
Additions:
Added 3 Bar places that serve alcoholic items, The Neigh Bar, Empirical Pub, and Scotsfield
Added alcoholic items, that will apply a drunk status effect delaying movement, wobble the camera, adding a temporary charm score, and giving the player nausea if too much is drunk
Added 'Nausea' sickness as a random sickness from NPCs and from drinking too much alcohol. Players will now 'puke' after a period of time, which reduces energy when collided with, and slow them down until they sleep
Added an Arcade Station in Neigh Bar, featuring tribute arcade game 'Tram Panic', with leaderboard scoring
Added TVs with a news channel (CT24), Sports and Random choices are currently WIP/Future content
Added working TVs to Homes, Clinic, Hotel Rooms, Convenience Stores, and Bars
Added Construction Lanes around the city, that slow down player and traffic when riding vehicles over them. Construction Lanes randomize where they are each day
Added a WorldStateController, that controls specific events and actions each day for 6 days
Added 'Second Winter' Event on Day 2, to keep winterized version of map available in demo
Added 'Transit City' Event on Day 3, activating construct lanes in the city
Added 'Victoria Day' Event on Day 5, with added fireworks at night at New City Hall
Added 'Doors Open Retroronto' Event on Day 6, refactoring prior Tourist Task as an event, can be activated as a task through CT24
Removals:
Removed a building at Bay & Adelaide, replaced with construction yard (future content)
Removed sleeping objective in the demo task
Got feedback, questions, or concerns about the development of Retroronto? Join our discord server below!
EDITOR’S NOTES
Hey again!
Allowing myself an extra month between major updates is quickly becoming the new normal, because this may be the biggest addition to Retroronto since NPCs and dialogue first arrived in the game. This update let me recreate some deeply influential pieces of Toronto culture, from a city news channel inspired by CP24, to three iconic bars (including one that sadly closed this past November), and even a playable version of Tram-Panic, the arcade concept that arguably started this entire project in the first place. It’s a huge amount of new content, and I’m genuinely excited to finally share it. I hope you enjoy exploring it as much as I enjoyed building it.
I’ll also be attending GDC for the first time ever. For years it felt like a distant milestone, something I dreamed about back when I considered applying as a GDC scholar in college. While many say the event isn’t quite what it once was, developers I trust still call it a must-experience gathering. It’s bittersweet seeing some peers opt out this year due to the political climate in the U.S., but I’ve decided to take the plunge anyway: meet fellow developers, learn what I can, and spend a little time exploring San Francisco while I’m there. I’ll be sure to report back on how it all goes.
On the home front, I’ve also adjusted how I’m sharing updates online. Retroronto now has a presence on YouTube Shorts, following the advice of many developers who recommend short-form video as a way to reach new audiences. It’s a crowded space, game dev content is everywhere… but I’m experimenting with ideas beyond simple update posts and figuring out what feels right moving forward. Like everything else with this project, it’s another balancing act, and another skill to slowly improve over time.
As always, thank you for being here. Whether you’ve played the game, shared it, written about it, or simply taken the time to read these devblogs, your support has directly shaped the opportunities and momentum Retroronto continues to receive. The best way I know how to return that support is to keep building, keep improving, and keep showing up for the project. I’m incredibly grateful.
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!