Transport Fever 3 launches on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, per developer Urban Games and publisher Paradox Interactive. Neither company has announced a launch hour, but the Steam, PlayStation Store and GOG listings all carry the same release timestamp: 16:00 UTC, which is 9 AM PDT, 12 PM EDT and 6 PM CEST.
Below we cover the official date, what the store data does and does not confirm, the likely unlock time in each region, where to buy the game on every platform, and what to sort out before you start. This guide covers the launch release as the developer and publisher describe it before September 29; we will update it if Urban Games posts an official hour.
The Official Release Date
Urban Games set the date in its release date announcement on August 25, 2026, and Paradox repeated it in its press release the same day. The key points:
- Every platform launches together. Urban Games says the game “will launch simultaneously” on PC, Mac and Linux through Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG, and on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- There is no early access period. The closed beta tests were invite-only, and the gamescom build was only playable at the show. Asked about it, Urban Games replied: “This is purely to play the game at Gamescom. The game will release on 29 September.”
- No edition unlocks early. None of the three editions is sold with early access, and the editions page says Collector’s Edition keys “will become active on the official release date.”
What Time It Unlocks
On September 9, answering a player on the official site who asked whether the launch follows local midnight or one worldwide time, Urban Games community manager Sam Bennett wrote: “We don’t have a precise release time at this point.” He added that games typically release around 17:00 UTC, which would push the launch into September 30 for anyone at UTC+5 or later.
Since then, the official storefronts have filled in a timestamp:
- Steam: the Steam page lists September 29, and its store data carries a release time of 16:00 UTC.
- PlayStation Store: the PS5 listing carries the same 16:00 UTC timestamp.
- GOG: the GOG page lists 18:00 CEST, which is also 16:00 UTC.
- Xbox: the Microsoft Store listing does not show a release time yet.
If that single worldwide unlock holds, this is when it lands:
| Region | Time zone | Unlock time |
|---|---|---|
| US West | PDT | Tue Sept 29, 9:00 AM |
| US Mountain | MDT | Tue Sept 29, 10:00 AM |
| US Central | CDT | Tue Sept 29, 11:00 AM |
| US East | EDT | Tue Sept 29, 12:00 PM |
| Brazil (Brasília) | BRT | Tue Sept 29, 1:00 PM |
| United Kingdom | BST | Tue Sept 29, 5:00 PM |
| Central Europe | CEST | Tue Sept 29, 6:00 PM |
| Moscow | MSK | Tue Sept 29, 7:00 PM |
| India | IST | Tue Sept 29, 9:30 PM |
| Japan | JST | Wed Sept 30, 1:00 AM |
| Sydney | AEST | Wed Sept 30, 2:00 AM |
| New Zealand | NZDT | Wed Sept 30, 5:00 AM |
Treat these times as likely, not confirmed. Three stores agreeing is strong evidence, but a store timestamp is not an announcement, and if Urban Games or Paradox names a different hour, the official post wins.
Where to Buy It and What It Costs
Per Paradox’s pricing, the PC and console versions cost different amounts:
| Platform | Stores | Standard | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG | $49.99 | $64.99 |
| Mac and Linux | Steam and GOG list both | $49.99 | $64.99 |
| PlayStation 5 | PlayStation Store | $59.99 | $74.99 |
| Xbox Series X|S | Microsoft Store | $59.99 | $74.99 |
We could not confirm which operating systems the Epic listing covers, so Mac and Linux players should check it before buying there.
The physical Collector’s Edition ($119.99) is sold only through the official merch shop, and Urban Games confirmed it comes with the Steam version of the game only. Transport Fever 2 owners get a 10% loyalty discount on the Standard and Deluxe Editions when they buy on the same store and account, until 14 days after launch. Urban Games says the PlayStation Store applies that discount silently: you just see a lower price.
If you buy on Steam and the game struggles on your hardware, Valve’s usual refund rules apply; our Steam refund guide walks through the request.
Before You Hit Play
- Check your hardware. Every PC version needs 90 GB of space on an SSD. Steam lists an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X (with AVX2 support), 8 GB of RAM and a 4 GB graphics card such as a GTX 1060 as the minimum. Macs must be Apple silicon, M2 Pro or better, on macOS Sequoia 15.7 or later; Intel Macs are not supported. Linux needs Ubuntu 24.04 or later.
- Do not count on a pre-load. Urban Games has not announced a pre-load window in any official post as of September 28.
- Collector’s Edition buyers: Urban Games says the Steam key is emailed with the order confirmation (check your spam folder). You can activate it right away, but the game stays locked until release day.
- Pick your input. Steam lists full controller support on PC, and Urban Games confirmed mouse and keyboard also work on PS5 and Xbox.
- Mods are ready at launch. Mods come through the in-game Mod Hub, built on mod.io and shared across every platform. The official FAQ says Steam Workshop is not included.
How to Start Your First Game
The game has three modes: Campaign, Tycoon and Sandbox. Per the official FAQ, the campaign has 8 missions set around historic events, and its opening part doubles as the tutorial, so it is the natural first stop for newcomers. Tycoon is the full economic game with adjustable difficulty, and Sandbox switches the economy off for pure building.
Coming from Paradox’s other management series? This is a transport tycoon game first: you build the network and the towns grow around it. Our Cities: Skylines mods list covers that side of Paradox’s catalog, and every Transport Fever 3 guide we publish is collected on the Transport Fever 3 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Transport Fever 3 release? Urban Games has not announced an hour. The Steam, PlayStation Store and GOG listings all carry 16:00 UTC on September 29, which is 9 AM PDT, 12 PM EDT, 5 PM BST and 6 PM CEST.
Does Transport Fever 3 come out on September 30 anywhere? If the 16:00 UTC timestamp holds, yes: players at UTC+8 or later, including Japan, Australia and New Zealand, get it in the early hours of Wednesday, September 30.
Can you play Transport Fever 3 early? No. There is no early access period for any edition, and the gamescom demo was only playable at the show.
Can you pre-load Transport Fever 3? Urban Games has not announced a pre-load as of September 28. With a 90 GB install, plan to leave time for the download on launch day.
Is Transport Fever 3 on Game Pass? Not as of September 28. The Microsoft Store listing shows it as a standard purchase at $59.99, with no Game Pass inclusion.