For this update we focused on the stability and performance across all platforms. We resolved the Top 20 critical issues that were causing crashes and hangs, and we improved FPS by 3x. That said, we were also able to slip a couple of fun new features into this release. 

Steam Deck verified

We rearchitected all the main components of our interface to deliver a perfect experience on the Steam Deck. Not only are all the dialogs and information you'd normally see with mouse and keyboard fully accessible on the Steam Deck. We also paid a lot of attention to making sure it's a first-class experience: the controls are smooth and comfortable, and there's no penalty for playing on a Steam Deck compared to mouse and keyboard. We want you to be able to play just as well as players on other platforms.

On top of that, we paid a lot of attention to the graphics code. We ran many tests and tried many things to find the perfect balance between CPU and GPU work, so the Steam Deck conserves as much battery as possible. We optimized every model so there are no extra triangles and your Steam Deck doesn't do any unnecessary GPU work. That means you'll be able to play through long train rides, a full play session, or even several. 

Graphics & Stability

We changed our entire graphics technology, moving from WebGL (which is what the game was originally written in) to WebGPU. That means a lot of work that used to happen on the CPU now happens on the GPU, like cars, fire, and smoke.

Most importantly, we dedicated ourselves to resolving the Top 20 issues players had reported about crashes, the game freezing for several seconds, and very poor FPS experiences. We worked extremely hard solving each one of these issues and communicating with every player who had problems, and we're now confident that at least 95% of those issues are fixed. yes, there's still a 5% we haven't solved. For that, we haven't removed the old WebGL technology that we've also reworked for maximum stability. That means some players will be able to choose to play the more stable compatibility mode, which is a bit slower but still lets you play the game in its full form at a slightly reduced framerate.

Watch out for the elections

Previously, you lost the game when you reached $100 million in debt and your city went bankrupt. We realized this condition is arbitrary and isn't how real cities and real mayors lose their leadership. So we've introduced elections. Every five years, citizens will vote and decide whether you stay in office or have to go. If you have to go, the game ends.

To make this less brutal, we've also added a new feature: polls. In the polls you'll be able to see a prediction of the upcoming election and know whether you're about to lose or about to win. The polls are broken down into six scores: Housing, Parks, Employment, Safety, Health, and Cost of Living. By reviewing the polls and looking at these specific scores for each aspect of your citizens' lives, you'll be able to figure out what you need to improve in your city to raise your approval rating and win the next election.

Every time you win an election, you'll receive a gift. It might be something that makes your city prettier, or it might be something that changes your city's economy, like the stock market. They're completely random, with some rare ones, some common ones, and some super-rare ones, so every city has a bit of chaos and unpredictability. The old level system that went from 1 to 20 has been retired, and you can also now sell a gift if it doesn't match your strategy or vibe, and get some sweet cash for public works instead.

New Buildings

We also added cool new things you can build in the game. We added City Plazas of three types: Atomic, Zeus, and Old Town. Each of these plazas has a distinct look but shares the same trait: they raise the property values of the buildings built around them. This is a blessing and a curse, because while it gives you more tax revenue, it also causes a gentrification problem.

Other amazing buildings we added are the mysterious Cowboy Panda, The Museum of Cringe, and the favorite spot of White Russian drinkers: the Bowling Alley. We think these new buildings will add a distinct vibe to your cities.