Steam News16 May 20261mo ago

Developer Update

It's been a couple of months since our last release, and we've been heads-down building. Here's what's coming. Save Games The big one.

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Full Empire Builder update

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Repeated intro

It's been a couple of months since our last release, and we've been heads-down building. Here's what's coming.

What changed

0 fixes2 additions1 change0 removals

Server
Maps
Events

addedSave GamesThe big one. You can now save and resume games at any point — and you don't need the same players to pick back up where you left off. The host can swap players from the save file into the current lobby, so if someone can't make it back, the game doesn't have to die with their absence. Hand a struggling start to a veteran and see if they can salvage it. Save games also solve one of the more painful experiences in Empire Builder: host disconnects. Instead of losing everything when the network goes sideways, the host can now reload and restart from the save. We can't control connectivity to our backend, but we can make sure a bad connection doesn't cost you a game. This is now a baseline feature — it's not going anywhere.

addedEmpire Builder: Eurorails (2004)Our first DLC is in testing. Eurorails (2004) brings a new deck, a new map (no Chunnel), updated board card and train artwork, and events pulled directly from the 2004 Eurorails release. This release also lays the groundwork for future maps — which brings us to the next thing.

changedGenCon 2026 — IndianapolisWe'll be at GenCon this year with official events. Find us Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the Train Gamers Association area. Two sessions each morning — 9am and 11am — with 2-3 players per game, two hours each. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon through the GenCon catalog. Generic Tickets also work if you want to grab a seat on the fly. Come play with us.

Save Games

The big one. You can now save and resume games at any point — and you don't need the same players to pick back up where you left off. The host can swap players from the save file into the current lobby, so if someone can't make it back, the game doesn't have to die with their absence. Hand a struggling start to a veteran and see if they can salvage it. Save games also solve one of the more painful experiences in Empire Builder: host disconnects. Instead of losing everything when the network goes sideways, the host can now reload and restart from the save. We can't control connectivity to our backend, but we can make sure a bad connection doesn't cost you a game. This is now a baseline feature — it's not going anywhere.

Empire Builder: Eurorails (2004)

Our first DLC is in testing. Eurorails (2004) brings a new deck, a new map (no Chunnel), updated board card and train artwork, and events pulled directly from the 2004 Eurorails release. This release also lays the groundwork for future maps — which brings us to the next thing.

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Empire Builder: Ireland

Darwin's Toys is actively developing the physical Ireland game, with prototypes appearing at board game conventions this summer. We're working with them toward a simultaneous digital release. No date to commit to yet, but it's real and it's in motion. Also in the pipeline: a DLC bringing the current Empire Builder: Europe (2026) physical game to Steam.

GenCon 2026 — Indianapolis

We'll be at GenCon this year with official events. Find us Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the Train Gamers Association area. Two sessions each morning — 9am and 11am — with 2-3 players per game, two hours each. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon through the GenCon catalog. Generic Tickets also work if you want to grab a seat on the fly. Come play with us.

Source

Steam News / 16 May 2026

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