Transport Fever 3 brings modders in early to start the new city builder on the right foundations

Whether it's Cities Skylines or Transport Tycoon, the best city-building games have long had a synergistic relationship with their modding communities. With Transport Fever 3, developer Urban Games isn't just relying on the legacy of its modder-friendly predecessors, it's actively pushing the boat out by allowing potential creators to jump in for early access as part of its ongoing closed beta. The new 'Curated Mods Program' aims to ensure you have "an international and iconic selection of mods available" right from day one of the full launch.

More than six years on from the last entry, Transport Fever 3 is building on everything that made TF2 great, expanding its infrastructure tools and financial systems to capture the fundamentals of growing tiny hamlets into sprawling, high-profit metropolises. Its traffic systems are shaping up with an impressive suite of features, and the building and management elements weave tidily back and forth into each other, spurring ever more growth. Mods will naturally open the door to even more possibilities, and Urban Games is getting out ahead of the curve.

"With more than 15,000 individual mods currently available in the Steam Workshop from modding communities around the globe, Transport Fever 2 has long been known as an exceptionally modder-friendly game," Urban Games writes. "Transport Fever 3 provides an even more powerful and flexible toolset for modders, with nearly every feature developed having 'moddability' in mind with mods available cross platform through the in-game Mod Hub."

Rather than waiting for launch, Urban Games is integrating early mod development into the ongoing Transport Fever 3 closed beta, which recently wrapped up its most recent round of testing. More are on the way soon (including a first round for consoles), if you're eager to get your hands on the game early, but anyone who fancies helping to optimize the mod tools and put them into practice can also apply to join the Curated Mods Program.

"Modders receive dedicated support, get early access to the game, and have the chance to influence the final part of modding-tool development with their feedback and expertise," Urban Games explains. The team is looking for modders with "a proven track record of very well-rated and popular mods for either Transport Fever 2 or similar games in the genre." While that does rule me out from taking part, I'm excited at the prospect of a wealth of great mods being available right from the game's launch.

Transport Fever 3 is set to launch later in 2026, and by that time Urban Games promises a range of mods including "new vehicles, maps, script mods, save games, and even localizations" will be available via the Mod Hub. The first creations will also be tested in-game as part of the ongoing closed beta program. If you think you're up to the task, you can apply now via the game's official website.

This initiative doesn't stop after launch, either, as the developer promises to expand the program, "supporting creators with resources, visibility, and financial grants to ensure a steady stream of new content for players." It's great to see devs recognizing the value modders can bring to the table, and working to help them offer the best possible experience on day one, which should hopefully make Transport Fever 3 an easier recommendation out of the gate.