Buy Vienna now and redeem the Steam key: This is how the pre-order works!

The crucial information is now stated directly on the official product page. ViewApp explicitly writes there that the Vienna Expansion and the Vienna Edition can already be purchased and the associated Steam key can be redeemed directly. At the same time, it is made equally clear: The Vienna expansion will not be playable until October 13, 2026. This is therefore a classic pre-order and not early access.

Anyone who orders today will not receive secret advance access to Vienna. The advantage is instead that the purchase and activation can already be completed. The Steam key is assigned to your own Steam account, and the corresponding license will already be available on the actual release date. ViewApp explicitly does notmention an earlier start of play or a promise of a preload. This distinction is important so that “buy now” does not accidentally become “drive in Vienna already.”

The redemption itself works like any regular Steam key. In the Steam client, open the “Games”menu at the top, select “Activate a Product on Steam…”, enter the product key you received and then follow the steps on screen. Valve also describes this exact process in its own Steam Support. Alternatively, a valid product key can be registered via the corresponding activation page in a browser.

However, you should pay close attention to which product you purchase. Anyone who already owns City Transport Simulator 2026 normally only needs the Vienna Expansion for 49.99 euros. It expands the existing game with the new Vienna map, featuring tram lines 37 and 38 as well as bus line 35A. It also includes, among other things, ULF A and ULF B and the corresponding Vienna C2 buses. More than 1,000 buildings along the three routes were designed based on real-life models.

Those who, on the other hand, do not own City Transport Simulator 2026 at all, should not accidentally purchase only the DLC. There is the Vienna Edition for 69.99 eurosfor this purpose. It combines the Starter Edition of the main game with the Vienna Expansion. This gives a new player both Tramau as the existing game world and the new real Vienna map once it is unlocked on October 13. For this edition too, the shop explicitly confirms that it can already be purchased and the Steam key activated directly.

There is also a third option, which is particularly interesting for players who intend to purchase several CTS contents anyway. The Season Pass 2026 costs 64.99 euros and is likewise offered as a digital Steam key. In addition to Vienna, it includes the Citybus C2, the Tatra KT4D, the upcoming Flexity Graz and the exclusive C2K bonus vehicle. Anyone who owns the Season Pass therefore does not need to purchase the Vienna Expansion separately again.

For this reason, it is worth taking a quick look at your own library before purchasing. If you already own CTS 2026 and have bought several Season Pass contents separately, you will have to calculate for yourself which option makes more sense. If you mainly want Vienna and own the base game, the separate expansion is the clearest choice. New players have the simplest complete package with the Vienna Edition.

The platform is also important. The Vienna Expansion will be released on October 13 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. However, the process described here with the immediately redeemable Steam key applies to purchases through the official CTS shop and thus to the PC/Steam version. On consoles, purchases are made through the respective platform stores. The Xbox pages for the Vienna Expansion and Vienna Edition, for example, are already available; the Steam key from the CTS shop naturally cannot be used on Xbox or PlayStation.

In terms of price, our readers also receive our familiar advantage in the official shop. The Vienna Expansion normally costs 49.99 euros. With the discount code SIMULATORENNEWS you get an additional 5% discount there and pay around 47.49 euros. So anyone who already knows for certain that they want to drive in Vienna on October 13 can complete the purchase now, add the key to Steam and use our discount at the same time.

Vienna Expansion – €49.99; around €47.49 with SIMULATORENNEWS

For the Vienna Edition our code reduces the price from 69.99 euros to around 66.49 euros. This option is aimed primarily at players who do not yet own CTS 2026 and want to use Vienna directly as an introduction.

CTS 2026 Vienna Edition – 5% discount with SIMULATORENNEWS

The Season Pass 2026 normally costs 64.99 euros and, mathematically, comes to around 61.74 euroswith our discount code. Since Vienna is already included in the pass, this option should at least be briefly compared before making an individual purchase.

CTS 2026 Season Pass – 5% discount with SIMULATORENNEWS

So the current situation is surprisingly simple: Vienna can already be purchased, and the Steam key can also already be added to your own account – but you still cannot drive there until October 13. For buyers, this at least eliminates the question of whether they will first have to wait for a product key to be delivered on release day. At the same time, anyone who is still unsure loses nothing by waiting: According to the information currently communicated, the pre-order does not provide any gameplay advantage.

Have you already purchased the Vienna Expansion and redeemed your Steam key? Are you deliberately waiting until October 13, or is it already certain for you that Vienna will be added to your CTS 2026 library? And if you do buy it: the individual Vienna Expansion, the Vienna Edition or the Season Pass right away?