The RETRORONTO Report #21
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Wednesday, August 5, 2026
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⛅
Mostly Sunny 26C
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📃
Vers. 0.5
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📅 Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | ⛅ Mostly Sunny 26C | 📃 Vers. 0.5 |
Wishlists:
📈 1,144
|
Itch.io Views:
👁️ 6,224
|
Discord:
🙌 76
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Instagram:
📷 260
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Wishlists: 📈 1,144 | Itch.io Views: 👁️ 6,224 | Discord: 🙌 76 | Instagram: 📷 260 |
This is The RETRORONTO Report, your go-to source for all the latest happenings and updates in the evolving city of Retroronto!
A City Remembered
City planners have quietly begun one of Retroronto's most ambitious redevelopment efforts yet, though this time the goal isn't expansion, but preservation. Much of the overworld has been revisited to better reflect Toronto as it appeared during the mid-2000s, a period developers now consider the defining era for the game's setting. While Retroronto's streets have always drawn inspiration from the city's real layout, early versions of the map were largely based on contemporary satellite imagery. As development continued, however, it became increasingly apparent that the city's story could only be told properly by looking backward rather than forward.
The decision places Retroronto during a particularly transformative chapter in Toronto's history. Dundas Square had recently emerged as the city's answer to Times Square, smartphones had yet to become everyday companions, and neighborhoods that now stand beneath forests of condominium towers still contained surface parking lots, aging storefronts, and familiar local landmarks. It was a city caught between eras, modern enough to feel recognizable, yet old enough that many beloved institutions, from independent businesses to iconic retail destinations, had not yet disappeared beneath redevelopment. Developers say anchoring the game within this period allows Retroronto to become more than simply a city-life simulator, instead serving as a digital snapshot of a Toronto many residents still remember fondly.
Dundas & Church St. between 2007, and 2024
To accomplish the overhaul, historical satellite imagery from Google Earth Pro was used extensively, with 2007 chosen as the project's primary reference year. That decision has led to changes both large and small, from restoring parking lots and adjusting neighborhood layouts to replacing vehicles with period-appropriate counterparts, including Toronto's iconic CLRV streetcars in place of the newer Flexity fleet. Even parks have required reconsideration, as several of today's most recognizable public spaces had yet to receive the renovations that define them today.
The work has proven considerably more involved than simply moving roads and buildings. Every adjustment must also account for seasonal maps, lighting systems, shaders, and gameplay interactions already woven throughout the city. Yet despite the additional effort, developers believe the result better captures the spirit behind Retroronto's name. Rather than simply adopting a retro visual style, the project now embraces a distinctly retro Toronto, preserving a version of the city that steadily disappears a little more with each passing year.
- Eliza O’Brien, Staff Reporter
Make Yourself At Home
Retroronto's apartments have received a substantial overhaul this month, with procedurally generated interiors now featuring varied wall colours, flooring styles, floor colours, and even differently coloured beds. While the changes are largely cosmetic, they help each apartment feel more distinct and lived in, encouraging residents to think of their homes as more than simply a place to sleep between shifts.
The update also lays important groundwork for future customization. Developers hope that giving players greater ownership over their living spaces will make upcoming features, including chores, cooking, and home improvements, feel like natural extensions of everyday city life rather than isolated mechanics.
- Patricia Greene, Staff Reporter
A Trip To Wheelhouse
A new retailer has quietly opened its doors, offering residents a one-stop destination for bicycles, home improvement supplies, and practical essentials. Wheelhouse takes inspiration from the large hardware stores familiar to many Canadians, giving players the opportunity to preview new flooring and wall colours before bringing them home.
The store also marks the beginning of a broader overhaul to cycling. Bicycles now appear in a variety of colours, making them feel more personal than ever before, while new bike locks and keys offer protection against one of urban life's oldest traditions: worrying whether your bicycle will still be where you left it.
- Robert Sawyer, Editor
Monthly Roadmap Recap
With June's convention season now behind us, July provided a welcome opportunity to settle back into development. Much of the month's work focused on Retroronto's upcoming home systems, beginning with a complete revisit of apartment generation. Homes can now vary in their wall colours, flooring, and furnishings, making each space feel more distinct while laying the foundation for September's planned chores, cooking, and home improvement features. Developers say the goal is not to compete with dedicated life simulators built entirely around decorating, but rather to give players meaningful ownership over the places they call home. The new procedural interiors also open the door for more varied buildings and apartments throughout the city in future updates.
That work naturally led to another question: if every apartment is different, why shouldn't players be able to personalize them? The answer became Wheelhouse, a new hardware retailer inspired by familiar Canadian department stores. Alongside home improvement supplies, the shop introduces bicycles in a variety of colours, bike locks and keys, and several new tool items that will play an important role in next month's chore systems. Just as importantly, Wheelhouse's larger multi-room layout serves as a prototype for future department stores and other large interior spaces planned for the city.
Beyond the immediate features, this month's work also helped strengthen some of Retroronto's broader item and interaction systems. The introduction of customizable bicycles, transformable items such as locks and keys, and new tool categories creates more flexibility for future gameplay mechanics. Rather than adding isolated features, the goal is to continue building systems that can interact with one another, whether that means maintaining a home, completing tasks around the city, or discovering new ways to engage with everyday objects. Developers note that this kind of groundwork may not always be as immediately visible as a new location or activity, but it remains an important part of making the city feel more reactive and connected over time.
Looking ahead, Retroronto is scheduled to appear at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) later this month, where developers hope to gather another round of public feedback ahead of September's major update. Outside the game itself, development may also begin shifting toward a new marketing strategy, with fewer but more substantial updates and a greater focus on showcasing the project across social media. While the monthly cadence has helped establish a steady rhythm, developers believe the city may benefit from taking a little more time between announcements if it means each one has a stronger story to tell.
Where citizens say what’s on their mind, and we print it anyway.
CNE Traffic Season
By Melissa R., 29
Every August the city remembers that thousands of people can fit into one location, and suddenly every road nearby becomes a parking lot. Buses slow down, sidewalks get crowded, and everyone has a story about being stuck behind someone looking for parking. Still, it’s hard to complain when the city actually feels busy again.
No-Sleep Construction
By Harold B., 52
I’m convinced construction crews have a secret calendar where they mark every street they haven’t blocked off yet. Just when you learn one detour, another fence appears overnight and changes your entire route. At this point I’m less annoyed and more impressed by how quickly the orange cones multiply.
Summer Is Almost Over?
By Priya S., 26
Every August someone starts saying summer is almost finished, and suddenly everyone is rushing to fit in another barbecue, beach day, or patio visit. We spend months waiting for warm weather, then panic when September appears on the calendar. Maybe we should just enjoy the sunshine while it’s here.
Classifieds
CAMPING GEAR RENTALS
Planning a weekend escape without wanting to buy equipment you’ll only use once? Offering tents, sleeping bags, coolers, and basic camping supplies for short-term rentals. Clean, reliable gear available before your next trip outside the city.
BACK TO SCHOOL TUTORING
Helping students prepare for the upcoming school year with homework support, study skills, and subject tutoring. Patient instruction available for elementary and high school levels. Flexible scheduling before the September rush begins.
OLD PHOTO DIGITIZATION
Have boxes of family photos collecting dust in a closet? Offering scanning services to preserve old pictures, albums, and documents before they fade away. Digital copies provided so memories can be shared without handling fragile originals.
MOVING DAY ASSISTANCE
Need an extra set of hands for an apartment move? Available for lifting, packing, loading, and navigating tight staircases throughout the city. Friendly help provided, though elevator delays and impossible parking spots are not guaranteed to be defeated.
Obituaries
MARVIN KELLER
(1949-2026)
Marvin spent over thirty years working as a postal carrier, becoming a familiar face throughout the neighbourhoods he served. Friends remember him for his punctuality, friendly conversations, and ability to remember nearly every address by heart.
In retirement, Marvin enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, and morning walks through the city. He was known for taking the same routes he once delivered mail on, often stopping to chat with former neighbours and catch up on how the community had changed. Though he lived a quiet life, he had a way of making himself remembered wherever he went. His steady presence and familiar smile will be missed by many.
LOUISE MARTIN
(1963-2026)
Louise worked in retail for much of her life and had a talent for making customers and coworkers feel welcome. She enjoyed weekend markets, cooking for friends, and collecting small decorations from places she visited.
Those close to her describe Louise as generous, warm, and always ready with a story. She had a habit of remembering small details about people, whether it was a favourite snack, an important date, or a conversation from years earlier. Friends and family will remember her for bringing energy and kindness into even the most ordinary moments. Her laughter, hospitality, and thoughtful nature will be deeply missed.
Events
CNE SUMMER EXHIBITION
Toronto’s annual summer exhibition returns with midway rides, food vendors, live entertainment, and attractions for visitors of all ages. Guests can explore new exhibits, revisit familiar favourites, and debate the important question of whether any deep-fried creation is truly worth trying. Expect large crowds throughout the grounds as the city comes together for one of its biggest seasonal traditions.
HARBOURFRONT ART WALK
Local artists, performers, and makers gather along the waterfront for a weekend celebration of creativity and community. Visitors can browse outdoor installations, handmade goods, and live demonstrations while enjoying the scenery along the lake. Organizers encourage attendees to explore the area on foot and discover something new around every corner.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL COMMUNITY FAIR
Families and students are invited to a neighbourhood event featuring local vendors, games, activities, and resources for the upcoming school year. Community groups will be offering information, refreshments, and opportunities to connect before the busy fall season begins. Whether preparing for classes or simply looking for a fun afternoon out, everyone is welcome to attend.
Changelog
Changes/Fixes:
Changed Map to reflect 2000s era of Toronto, introducing more parking lots and changing a lot of existing buildings, including the hospitals
Updated overworld collisions to reflect new map change, collisions are now a tilemap instead of a bunch of box colliders
Streetcar's have been changed to an older model to reflect time period
Fixed a bug where subsequent minigames would constantly spawn customers and never end
Buying food from cashiers now asks for a confirmation before buying
Fridges now have a new UI for players to navigate in and store items
Some food items and they energy they give have been buffed
Added a quick Exit toggle (ESC/B) for buying food dialogue
Lights in the city now dynamically light up random windows on buildings at night
Homes now generate an address when spawned
Updated Berczy Park to reflect time period (dog fountain and general renovations werent done until 2017) :(
Bikes can now be different colours
Additions:
Added/Updated some new home interiors that can generate different wall colours, floor tilings, floor colours, and bed colours. Will retain generation on repeat visits
Added Randomized home locations, so that now players can find 3 different homes in randomized areas around the city
Added 'Wheelhouse', a hardware store that sells the means to change home walls/floors, tool items for a later feature, and bikes
Added bike locks/keys to lock your bike in the overworld for 'reasons'
Added Paint Cans and Flooring Items, which change floors and walls inside rented homes
Removals:
Removed most bikes in overworld except for one near Union Station
Removed a fair amount of misc buildings in overworld
Got feedback, questions, or concerns about the development of Retroronto? Join the discord server below!
EDITOR’S NOTES
Hello again!
Sometimes you just need a month where your nose is to the grindstone. May and June were incredibly busy with showcases, networking, and marketing, so it felt refreshing to simply sit down and fully work on the game again. It might mean fewer opportunities for feedback and bug reports in the short term, but I'm really happy with how much progress was made this month. Hopefully I'll have even more to show once CNE rolls around later in August.
I probably pushed myself a little hard over the past few months, so every summer I head up to Collingwood with some friends for a cottage weekend to completely unplug, get out of the city, and hopefully soak up some sun. Unfortunately, it rained for basically the entire long weekend. This year we all made PowerPoint presentations on whatever topics we wanted and presented them to each other. I ended up doing mine on one of my favourite childhood cartoons, ReBoot (for those who know, kudos). It gave me an excuse to revisit the show, make a bunch of dumb memes, and convince a few more people that it deserves to be remembered. The rest of the weekend was exactly what a good vacation should be: relaxing enough that it all sort of blurred together.
YTV: GOATED kids channel for Canadians everywhere
Capy Castaway by Kitten Cup Studios
Before I sign off and get back to work on September's update, I wanted to give a quick shoutout to Kitten Cup Studio, whose game Capy Castaway releases tomorrow on Steam. We showcased beside each other at XP Summit, I took part in their Tea Party event during Toronto Games Week, and their pitch deck for their last game ‘Pekoe’ was given to I and several colleagues during our Futures Forward workshop with Ontario Creates (which was helpful reference for creating my own pitch deck for Retroronto).
Most importantly though, Capy Castaway is another wonderful love letter to Toronto, inspired by the real story of the capybaras that escaped into High Park a few years back. If you're looking for another game that celebrates this city, I definitely recommend checking it out. I'd like to think that if a proudly Toronto-inspired game like Capy Castaway can find its place, then maybe Retroronto can too.
Alright, that's enough from me. Time to get back to development. Hopefully I'll see some of you at CNE later this month. Otherwise, I'll be back next month with another update!
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!