TML-Edition
TML-Edition GmbH (TML-Studios) is an independent German game studio founded in 2004 in Erfurt that develops and publishes 3D real-time bus simulation games (The Bus, Fernbus Simulator, Tourist Bus Simulator) and a survival title (Dead Man's Diary) for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox consumers, monetizing through one-time game and DLC sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersErfurt, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What TML-Edition does
TML-Edition GmbH, trading as TML-Studios, is an independent German game development studio headquartered in Erfurt, Thuringia, founded in 2004. The studio specializes in 3D real-time simulation games, with a portfolio centered on realistic bus transportation simulations — The Bus (city bus simulation set in a 1:1 scale Berlin, released March 2026), Fernbus/Long Distance Bus Simulator (intercity coach simulation developed under licensed cooperation with FlixBus, launched 2016), and Tourist Bus Simulator (set on Fuerteventura) — plus one genre departure, Dead Man's Diary, a post-apocalyptic single-player survival game built on Unreal technology. Supporting infrastructure includes a proprietary interactive radio station (Flashbass.FM) integrated into the simulators for live traffic reporting, a non-moderated companion station (DoubleBass), and a free modding editor for The Bus distributed via Epic Games Store with Steam Workshop integration.
The studio's core technology centers on a 3D real-time simulation engine with detailed vehicle modeling, realistic physics, and interactive environments, layered with economic simulation systems covering fleet maintenance, personnel planning, and depot expansion. Authentic German public transportation scenarios are sourced through strategic partnerships with FlixBus (route data and branding across 20,000 km of German highway network and 40+ cities) and MAN Truck & Bus (true-to-original vehicle implementations). Distribution is multi-platform across Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X (since the 2023 console expansion), with additional reach into Epic Games Store for the modding tool.
The business model is one-time perpetual license sales of base games (priced €19.99–€38.99) and DLC expansions (map packs, vehicle DLCs, content packs), supplemented by branded merchandise sold through a Spreadshirt-powered store. Community engagement drives a meaningful portion of marketing and content velocity: Discord, Twitch SimDevLive developer streams, Steam Workshop community content (650+ repaints, 200+ lines, community maps), screenshot contests, and public beta testing programs. The legal entity is a privately held German GmbH managed by Thomas Langelotz and Michaela Vogeler, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investors since founding.
TML-Edition firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TML-Edition
- Legal name
- TML-Edition GmbH
- Website
- https://tml-studios.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TML-Edition GmbH (TML-Studios) is an independent German game studio founded in 2004 in Erfurt that develops and publishes 3D real-time bus simulation games (The Bus, Fernbus Simulator, Tourist Bus Simulator) and a survival title (Dead Man's Diary) for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox consumers, monetizing through one-time game and DLC sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where TML-Edition is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erfurt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
TML-Edition business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Base Game Sales: One-time purchase revenue from full game titles sold through Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Games include The Bus, Fernbus Simulator, Tourist Bus Simulator, and Dead Man's Diary.
- DLC and Add-on Content: Expansion packs including map expansions (Poland, France, Czech, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria/Switzerland), vehicle DLCs (MAN Lions Coach, VDL Futura, Scania Touring), and additional content like Top Class DD and team buses.
- Merchandise Store: TML branded merchandise sold through Spreadshirt-powered store including apparel and accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Bus (City Bus Simulator Berlin) - Base game |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fernbus Simulator / Long Distance Bus Simulator - Base game |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tourist Bus Simulator - Base game |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dead Man's Diary - Base game |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | DLC and Add-on Packs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
TML-Edition product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TML-Edition GmbH (trading as TML-Studios) is an independent German game development studio that develops and publishes 3D real-time simulation games, primarily bus simulation titles. The portfolio includes The Bus (city bus simulation set in Berlin at 1:1 scale), Fernbus/Long Distance Bus Simulator (intercity coach simulation in cooperation with FlixBus), Tourist Bus Simulator (set on Fuerteventura), and Dead Man's Diary (post-apocalyptic survival). Games are sold as one-time purchases through Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox, supported by DLC packs and community-driven modding tools.
Product overview
TML-Edition GmbH (trading as TML-Studios) is an independent German game development studio based in Erfurt, founded in 2004, specializing in 3D real-time simulation games. The portfolio consists of four main games: The Bus (city bus simulation in Berlin, released March 2026, with multiplayer and modding support), Dead Man's Diary (post-apocalyptic single-player survival game built with Unreal technology), Long Distance Bus Simulator / Fernbus Simulator (intercity coach simulation developed in cooperation with FlixBus), and Tourist Bus Simulator (bus empire simulation set in Fuerteventura). Supporting the core products are two proprietary radio stations — Flashbass.FM (interactive, live-broadcast radio integrated into the simulators) and DoubleBass (unmoderated music station) — and a modding editor for The Bus distributed via Epic Games Store and Steam Workshop. The studio also hosts community-generated content including maps, sounds, repaints, and lines through Steam Workshop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Flashbass.FM: Radio station operated by TML Studios, built into their bus simulation games with interactive traffic features and live streaming on Twitch.
- DoubleBass
Products and services
- The Bus City bus simulation set in Berlin at a 1:1 realistic scale. Players transport passengers on multiple lines and bus types, manage fleets, and collaborate online with other drivers. Features interactive traffic and weather events, built-in Flashbass.FM radio with live traffic reporting, modding editor, and Steam Workshop support.
- Long Distance Bus Simulator (Fernbus Simulator) Intercity bus simulation developed in cooperation with FlixBus, covering German highways and more than 40 cities across approximately 20,000 km of route network. Players drive MAN Lion's Coach coaches with realistic cockpits, manage tight schedules, and experience dynamic events.
- Tourist Bus Simulator Tourist bus simulation set on Fuerteventura island at 1:5 scale. Players build a bus empire by managing scheduled tours, hotel shuttles, and sightseeing routes. Includes economic system with fleet management, vehicle maintenance, personnel planning, and property purchase.
- Dead Man's Diary Single-player post-apocalyptic survival game set in a fictional destroyed world, 15 years after a disaster. Players find water, food, and shelter while solving realistic puzzles. Features crafting mechanics, photorealistic Unreal-engine environments, and approximately 20–30 hours of gameplay with fully synchronized diary-entry narration.
- DLC and Add-on Packs
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20 years of continuous operation as an independent studio since 2004
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TML-Edition
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TML-Edition technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature8 records
TML-Edition partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FlixBuscoreLicensed cooperation with FlixBus for the Fernbus Simulator (Long Distance Bus Simulator). FlixBus route data and branding authenticity recreate approximately 20,000 km of German route network across 40+ cities. The partnership provides genuine FlixBus branding and realistic route information for the simulation.
- AerosoftminorAerosoft is listed as a partner in the TML Studios partner section. Historical collaboration includes earlier simulation titles and distribution support.
- MAN Truck & BuscoreMAN Lion's Coach vehicles are featured in multiple TML Studios games including Fernbus Simulator and Tourist Bus Simulator with authentic vehicle modeling and branding. Vehicles are true-to-original implementations.
- Valve Corporation (Steam)coreSteam platform distribution partnership for PC games. Steam Workshop integration for community modding and content sharing. Primary digital distribution platform for TML Studios products.
- Epic GamesminorEpic Games Store distribution for The Bus Modding Editor. Free modding tool available for download to enable community content creation.
- zeroGamesminorListed as a partner in TML Studios partner ecosystem, suggesting distribution or collaboration relationship.
- SpreadshirtminorE-commerce partnership for TML Studios branded merchandise including apparel and accessories sold through Spreadshirt platform.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TML-Edition competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Reiza Studios: Brazilian developer of flight and racing simulations including Sky Simulation and Automobilista. Comparable as an independent studio operating in the broader vehicle simulation genre with similar scale and self-funded business model.
Direct peers
- Aerosoft: German simulation game publisher and distributor with extensive bus, truck, and flight simulation catalog. Listed as a TML partner and has a comparable role distributing simulation titles across Steam and console platforms, targeting overlapping enthusiast audiences in the German-speaking market.
- stillalive studios: Developer of the Bus Simulator series (published by Astragon), the dominant competing franchise in city bus simulation. Directly competes with TML's The Bus in the same niche, targeting identical player segments (bus driving enthusiasts) with similar gameplay mechanics (route driving, fleet management, multiplayer).
- SCS Software: Developer of Euro Truck Simulator and American Truck Simulator, the leading truck driving simulation franchises. Highly comparable as a European-based independent simulation studio specializing in licensed commercial vehicle simulations with realistic route networks, DLC-driven content models, and strong community modding ecosystems via Steam Workshop.
Broad incumbents
- Kunos Simulazioni: Italian developer of Assetto Corsa, the leading racing simulation franchise. Comparable as a European independent studio specializing in physics-accurate vehicle simulations with strong community modding ecosystems, similar development approach to TML's licensed commercial vehicle simulations.
- Dovetail Games: Established UK-based simulation developer and publisher of Train Simulator, Fishing Sim World, and bus/truck simulation titles. Comparable as a larger incumbent operating across multiple transportation simulation sub-categories with broader platform reach and deeper content libraries.
- Astragon Entertainment: Leading German publisher and developer of simulation games including the Bus Simulator franchise, Construction Simulator, and Police Simulator. Comparable as a broader simulation portfolio player that competes with TML across multiple sub-categories and also serves as the publisher behind stillalive studios' Bus Simulator.
Regional players
- Halycon Media: German publisher of simulation games focused on emergency services and niche vehicle simulations. Comparable as a regional German-speaking publisher competing in adjacent simulation sub-categories with similar distribution through Steam and console platforms.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TML-Edition social profiles
Digital presenceTML-Edition financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TML-Edition leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
TML-Edition funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TML-Edition M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TML-Edition
What does TML-Edition do?
TML-Edition GmbH (trading as TML-Studios) is an independent German game development studio that develops and publishes 3D real-time simulation games, primarily bus simulation titles. The portfolio includes The Bus (city bus simulation set in Berlin at 1:1 scale), Fernbus/Long Distance Bus Simulator (intercity coach simulation in cooperation with FlixBus), Tourist Bus Simulator (set on Fuerteventura), and Dead Man's Diary (post-apocalyptic survival). Games are sold as one-time purchases through Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox, supported by DLC packs and community-driven modding tools.
Is TML-Edition a public or private company?
TML-Edition is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TML-Edition founded?
TML-Edition was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TML-Edition based?
TML-Edition is headquartered in Erfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does TML-Edition make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Base Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are DLC and Add-on Content and merchandise Store.
Who are TML-Edition's main competitors?
Reiza Studios is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Aerosoft, stillalive studios and SCS Software. Broad incumbents are Kunos Simulazioni, Dovetail Games and Astragon Entertainment. Halycon Media is listed as a regional player.
Does TML-Edition have an API?
No public API is recorded for TML-Edition.