The OpenTTD team has released 16.0-beta1, the first public test build for the next major version of the open-source transport simulation. This beta introduces trains that can drive backwards — a long-requested feature that changes network design possibilities — alongside multiplayer companies that now accept players without invitations, lowering the barrier for casual co-op sessions.

Map generation received substantial work: desert tiles now spawn rocks, coastlines behave better near edges, lighthouses place more sensibly on large maps, and transmitters only appear after 1920. Players can also set average land height directly. Subsidies now function for CargoDist routes, New GRF collections organize in picker windows, and cargo payment aging scales so slow vehicles stay profitable on expansive maps.

Interface polish rounds out the release — dropdowns gain text filters, and vehicle preview offers consolidate into a single window instead of spawning multiples. The team also launched the Title Game Competition on TT-Forums, where the community designs and votes on the menu background scenario. Bug reports go through the project tracker; the full changelog details every change.