Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop: Official School Bus Extension

The Official School Bus Extension DLC for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop was developed by stillalive studios and published by Astragon Entertainment. It was released on August 30, 2023, adding new content centered on school bus operations. The expansion introduced three officially licensed school buses from the US manufacturer Blue Bird: the All American FE, the All American RE, and the Vision, each designed for large student transportation capacity. Beyond the vehicles, the DLC expanded the game world with additional school buildings, dedicated bus stops, and child passengers as NPCs.

In gameplay terms, the Official School Bus Extension brought an entirely new mission type to both game maps: school trips. Players could pick up children from various stops, transport them to schools in the morning, then drive them back home at the end of the day. The DLC also added special timetable-driven routes specifically for school buses, as well as four new school buildings per map in Angel Shores and Seaside Valley. The presence of children as NPCs and dedicated mission sets broadened the simulation experience beyond standard bus operations, adding a new dimension to daily transport routines.

Promotion for the expansion was handled via official announcements from Astragon, social media updates, and trailers released on YouTube. A news post from Astragon in late August 2023 announced the availability of the DLC across multiple platforms, highlighting the partnership with Blue Bird and the introduction of new school-related features. The promotional campaign emphasized the fresh challenges offered by the school bus missions and the authenticity of the officially licensed vehicles, appealing to both long-time fans and new players.

Reception among players was generally positive. The DLC received praise for introducing new gameplay elements and expanding the realism of the public transport simulation. Players appreciated the variety offered by the new mission type and the quality of the licensed Blue Bird bus models, noting that the school bus routes added a unique twist to the usual gameplay loop. While some viewed it as a niche addition primarily for those interested in American-style school transportation, it was widely regarded as a welcome and well-made expansion to Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop.