Dev Diary: Media. Upcoming Update Announcement

After a long pause, I'm ready—just as promised—to share the details of the upcoming update. We're now in the final stage before delivering it to you, and just a few days after we finish internal testing, you'll be able to download it.

So, what awaits us in the new update:

Endless Game Mode

First, some good news for those who asked us to extend the game beyond 1947, even at the cost of losing historical accuracy and transitioning into a new era. We’ve worked on it — and now, you’ll have that option. The game will no longer be interrupted, and you’ll be able to continue playing in endless mode if you feel there just aren’t enough years in the timeline. The political system and economy will continue functioning after 1947, though without a historical vector.

Media

And the headline feature of this update is, of course, Media Companies! A brand-new type of company, which I previously teased.

What are they for?

Well, it’s hard to imagine a true Plutocracy — a world of politicians and big money — without the so-called Fourth Estate. The influence on the minds of readers has always been powerful, and starting from the late 19th century with the rise of mass printing, it reached dangerous levels for anyone standing in the way of media tycoons.

Want to influence election candidates? No problem! Change public opinion on a law? Go ahead! Destroy or revive the business reputation of a company? Just pay a visit to your media company’s editorial office!

There’s just one condition — you must own a controlling stake in the media company.

The effectiveness of influence depends on the newspaper’s circulation. The higher the circulation, the broader the reader reach — and the stronger the effect. Don’t expect a small-town rag with limited copies to make any serious impact.

Also, keep in mind that the influence of a media company is limited to the region where its office is located. To exert influence across other states or the entire country, you’ll have to work hard — consolidating scattered companies into a media empire through familiar tools: trusts, media cartels, mergers, and acquisitions.

While editing an article, you’ll have to decide how and by whom the chosen media target will be influenced. You can opt for a soft approach — with a mild effect and minimal risk for your media company — or go aggressive, which may lead to lawsuits, financial penalties, or reputational damage.

The system also takes into account who you are targeting. Influencing a well-known public figure or a major enterprise will be significantly harder, as they are more likely to respond with a public rebuttal or even spark a scandal.

Advertising as a New Lever

This update also brings changes to the game’s economic model. To properly integrate the media system, we had to revise how all companies operate economically — making the role of media companies more impactful than just spreading compromising news about competitors or glorifying friendly politicians to boost their reputation and renown.

A key change: all companies will now purchase advertising from media companies instead of investing in R&D. This, in turn, will affect product pricing. If a company's advertising investment exceeds the sector’s average, its product prices will receive a bonus markup. If it falls behind, prices will be penalized accordingly.

Integration with Holdings

By owning a media company within your holding, you'll gain preferential advertising rates when promoting through your own media assets — effectively reducing your advertising expenses. This opens up a new layer of strategy in market monopolization — adding another lever of pressure against competitors.

All other changes — including the many bug fixes you’ve reported to us — will be detailed once the update goes live. We expect that to happen within the next week.

Thank you all for your concern and your dedication to the future of Plutocracy. We continue working toward everything we’ve set out to deliver for the final version of the game — and your support keeps us inspired!

Stay tuned for more news coming soon! ___ CEO.