The RETRORONTO Report #19
📅
Monday, June 8, 2026
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⛅
Mostly Sunny 18C
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📃
Vers. 0.48
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📅 Monday, June 8, 2026 | ⛅ Mostly Sunny 18C | 📃 Vers. 0.48 |
Wishlists:
📈 1,098
|
Itch.io Views:
👁️ 5,864
|
Discord:
🙌 74
|
Instagram:
📷 259
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Wishlists: 📈 1,098 | Itch.io Views: 👁️ 5,864 | Discord: 🙌 74 | Instagram: 📷 259 |
This is The RETRORONTO Report, your go-to source for all the latest happenings and updates in the evolving city of Retroronto!
XP Times Three
Retroronto made its third appearance at XP Summit this month, returning once again as part of a sponsored indie booth selection supported through the City of Toronto. Joined by four other Toronto-based studios, the project was showcased across the two-day event using a booth setup built from last year’s materials, alongside new promotional support and a renewed focus on business development.
In preparation for the event, development efforts briefly shifted toward pitching and visibility. A refined pitch deck was assembled, meetings were scheduled through XP’s MeetToMatch system, and the lead-up included business seminars and outreach sessions. Over the course of the event, approximately 14 meetings took place with a mix of returning contacts, consultants, journalists, potential investors, and publishers. However, rather than relying heavily on formal presentations, most conversations naturally shifted toward hands-on play and direct discussion at the booth. This approach proved more effective and more personally rewarding than structured pitching.
While feedback on Retroronto was generally positive, several industry conversations raised concerns about the game’s strong Toronto identity, with some suggesting it may limit broader market appeal compared to more generalized urban settings. This tension between artistic specificity and commercial positioning became a recurring theme throughout the event. Though no formal deals or commitments followed, discussions continued into surrounding events including the Canadian Game Awards, as well as media coverage and interviews that further highlighted ongoing questions around Canadian-made games and their ability to scale globally.
CBC recently covered Canadian game development and the growing conversation around games set in Canada, Retroronto included.
For now, XP Summit has left development at a crossroads: continue pursuing traditional funding pathways, or lean further into self-publishing and alternative support models such as early access or crowdfunding. With Toronto Games Week approaching, Retroronto remains in active circulation within the local industry, still gaining visibility, but also facing increasingly difficult questions about how far a deeply location-specific game can realistically travel in today’s funding landscape.
- Eliza O’Brien, Staff Reporter
Monthly Roadmap Recap
Following XP Summit, development this month has been lighter than planned, with much of the focus directed toward showcasing, meetings, and navigating the broader funding landscape for Retroronto. With the roadmap now more flexible than originally anticipated, the emphasis going forward is shifting toward completing a strong, stable version of the demo rather than expanding too aggressively. Care is being taken to avoid feature creep, while still leaving room for systems that meaningfully support the core experience.
One notable addition this month came through a commissioned collaboration with Bonus Stage, a long-running Toronto game dev meetup group. The task involved recreating their real-world venue within Retroronto, which naturally extended into improvements to NPC behavior. Characters in indoor spaces now feature more expressive animation, including sitting, blinking, and contextual reactions. This work also helped establish a foundation for “preset NPCs,” opening the door for more distinct, recognizable characters in the world going forward. Similar momentum in the past, such as school playtesting feedback, has previously shaped systems like educational content and tourist-focused interactions, continuing a pattern of external events directly influencing development.
On the presentation side, Retroronto has also been adapted for upcoming showcases during Toronto Games Week, including a streamlined “Learn Mode” designed specifically for lower-end hardware and educational display environments. This mode focuses on landmarks, navigation, and historical context, reducing simulation systems in favor of clarity and performance. During development of these changes, a new “Arcade” option was also added to the main menu, allowing direct access to the Tram Panic mini-game, previously only accessible in limited in-world conditions. While unintended, it reflects an ongoing desire to ensure smaller, easily overlooked parts of the game remain discoverable and accessible for future events.
Behind the scenes, development was also impacted by a significant technical failure when the main development PC experienced hardware issues following XP Summit. After diagnosis, the problem escalated from GPU concerns to CPU and motherboard failure, requiring repair and contributing to delays in this month’s update. With recovery underway, work is expected to resume at full capacity ahead of Toronto Games Week, where Retroronto will be featured across multiple events including the Giant Video Games Kickoff Party, Luminato Festival installations, and the Seriously Fun Showcase. Despite setbacks, the project continues to move forward into one of its busiest public-facing periods yet.
Where citizens say what’s on their mind, and we print it anyway.
The Great Air-Conditioner Race
By Sandra M., 39
Every June seems to begin with the same ritual: realizing it’s suddenly too hot and scrambling to install the air conditioner before the first heat wave arrives. Hardware stores get cleaned out, extension cords mysteriously vanish, and everyone spends a weekend wrestling with windows. You’d think after living here for years we’d all be better prepared.
Lawn Mowers at 7am
By Victor L., 48
The weather finally improves and apparently the entire neighborhood agrees it’s time to mow the lawn at the exact same moment. One mower starts, then another, then another, until it sounds like a small airport outside your window. I appreciate a tidy yard as much as anyone, but some of us were hoping to sleep in.
The Festival Season Commute
By Jasmine R., 27
I love seeing parks and streets full of events again, but getting around the city becomes an adventure this time of year. Every weekend there's a new road closure, crowd, or detour waiting somewhere unexpected. It can be frustrating when you're in a hurry, though it's hard to complain when people are actually out enjoying themselves.
Classifieds
SUMMER PET SITTING
Heading out of town for a few days? Reliable care available for cats, dogs, fish, and other reasonably behaved companions. Daily visits, feeding, walks, and photo updates included. Plants can also be watered, though they tend to be less appreciative.
BIKE DELIVERY RIDERS WANTED
Local courier service seeking riders familiar with downtown streets, shortcuts, and construction detours. Flexible hours and competitive pay. Must supply own bicycle, helmet, and patience when navigating traffic.
RECORD COLLECTION APPRAISALS
Inherited a box of vinyl and wondering if it's treasure or clutter? Offering collection evaluations, pricing advice, and purchasing opportunities. All genres welcome. No promises that your uncle's polka records are worth a fortune.
TENNIS PARTNER NEEDED
Looking for someone interested in casual evening matches throughout the summer. Skill level not important, enthusiasm preferred. West-end courts preferred, though willing to travel if transit cooperates and mosquitoes permit.
Obituaries
ELAINE PARKER
(1957-2026)
Elaine worked for many years as a receptionist in a small medical office, where she became a familiar face to generations of patients. She was known for remembering names, birthdays, and details most people assumed had long been forgotten. Friends describe her as thoughtful, dependable, and rarely without a book tucked somewhere nearby.
In retirement, Elaine spent much of her time tending a modest garden and volunteering at local community events. Neighbors remember her as someone who always stopped to chat, ask how things were going, and offer encouragement when it was needed most. She leaves behind many quiet friendships built over decades of simple kindness.
RICHARD “RICK” HOLLIS
(1968-2026)
Rick worked a variety of jobs throughout his life, from delivery driving to building maintenance, and never stayed idle for long. He enjoyed weekend fishing trips, local baseball games, and finding excuses to spend time outdoors whenever the weather cooperated. Those who knew him often remarked on his easygoing nature and willingness to lend a hand without being asked.
Family and friends remember Rick for his practical outlook, quick laugh, and ability to make ordinary gatherings feel welcoming. Whether helping a neighbor move furniture or showing up to support a local fundraiser, he believed that small efforts mattered. His presence will be deeply missed by those fortunate enough to know him.
Events
NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET FESTIVAL
Several blocks will be closed to traffic for a weekend celebration featuring local vendors, food stalls, live performances, and community groups. Residents are encouraged to explore on foot, support small businesses, and enjoy the rare opportunity to wander down the middle of the street without looking both ways. Organizers expect thousands to attend throughout the weekend, making it one of the area's largest annual gatherings.
SUMMER FOOD TRUCK RALLY
A rotating collection of food trucks from across the city gathers for an afternoon of outdoor dining, friendly competition, and difficult decisions about what to order first. Expect long lines, generous portions, and plenty of debate over which vendor deserves the title of best meal of the day. Visitors are encouraged to come hungry, as several vendors will be offering limited-time menu items exclusive to the event.
COMMUNITY MOVIE IN THE PARK
Bring a blanket, lawn chair, or whatever passes for outdoor seating and enjoy an evening film screening under the stars. Snacks will be available while supplies last, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to claim a good spot before sunset. Weather permitting, of course. A short community showcase featuring local artists and performers will take place before the film begins.
Changelog
Changes/Fixes:
Adjusted Main Menu to choose between Life Mode, Learn Mode, and Arcade Mode
Adjusted Tram Panic Arcade game's time per stage to be a bit shorter
Players can now quit Tram Panic during gameplay back to main menu using Escape/B
Fixed a bug where collisions on buildings would be disabled after toggling the map on/off
Fixed a bug where the player sprite would get cut off seemingly inside the Bank interior
Prevented players from accessing the map and their phone when working a minigame
Paused energy drain and game time during player customization
Adjusted highlights for 'Job Complete' text in Paycheque graphic
Fixed a bug where the camera zoom would reset after using the map, but not when riding a bike
Changed Energy and it's UI so that max Energy is related to hunger, and energy Count is related to Fatigue. Adjusted the drain rates of both to better coincide with the time of day.
Coffee now gives the player some extra energy count instead of increasing max energy
Additions:
Added "Learn Mode" to Main Menu
Added "Arcade Mode" to Main Menu
Added white fade ins and out to Tram Panic
Got feedback, questions, or concerns about the development of Retroronto? Join the discord server below!
EDITOR’S NOTES
Heyo folks,
It’s a little strange to already be missing the cooler months. There’s something nice about just throwing on a jacket and not having to negotiate with the weather every time you leave the house. Toronto sits in this ‘habitable zone’ of sorts, caught between northern cold fronts and humid southern air. It makes the city feel like it’s constantly shifting between extremes, but I love it all the same, and so does everyone else outside now!
Aside from XP Summit, I took part in Toronto Game Jam for its 20th anniversary, teaming up with other local developers to build a small game about shopping (which, unintentionally, was akin to the shopping game I made last year). I also contributed to a Bonus Stage commission and used it as part of a talk titled “What Lies Ahead”. Like a lot of these talks and presentations, I started with notes and quickly abandoned them halfway through. At this point I think I’m better off speaking more freely than trying to script everything. The core idea I wanted to get across was simple: if I can’t fully control what comes next, I can at least control what I leave behind. That’s been increasingly relevant over the past few years of development.
Team Dark Tetrad (w/ vvvultures, me, and lintilion)
On a less ideal note, my main PC failing right before XP Summit was a rough reminder of how fragile the setup behind all of this can be. I’m lucky to have access to repair help and to be able to cover the cost for now, but it definitely disrupted things. If there’s any takeaway worth sharing from that, it’s a very practical one: back up your work, and don’t assume your machine will quietly keep going forever.
With Toronto Games Week just around the corner, things are about to get busy again. After that, I’m hoping for a bit of breathing room to really dig back into development with a freshly recovered setup. If you’re around any of the events, feel free to drop by! If not, I’ll keep posting progress as the city keeps evolving.
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!