2026 Roadmap (Quick Look)
Here’s what’s coming next for Empire Builder:
Eurorails (2004) DLC map
Multiplayer improvements including host recovery
Deck Seed of the Week community challenge
Empire Builder: Ireland in development
Xbox for PC release expanding platform support.
Playable at GenCon 2026 in Indy as an official event
2026 Roadmap Update
It’s been a while since our last roadmap update. We recently met with the team at Darwin’s Toys and wanted to share where things stand for the digital edition of Empire Builder. Since our last release, bug reports from the game and our Discord (click to join and find games to play) have dropped dramatically. While a few issues remain, the vast majority of the early bumps have now been addressed. Thanks to everyone who stuck with us while we worked through those early fixes. We hope you’re enjoying the game.
With Solo Challenge Mode launching successfully, it’s time to look ahead at what’s coming next.
Coming Soon
Over the next month or two, we’re working on several updates:
Eurorails (2004 Edition) – DLC
We’re implementing the 2004 version of Eurorails as DLC. Our goal is to stay faithful to that version while adding a few quality-of-life improvements. This map also lays the groundwork for bringing additional maps from the series to the game.
Network Improvements
We’re improving multiplayer networking so that if the host disconnects, the game can be restarted instead of lost. This work is the first step toward allowing another player to seamlessly take over as host.
Deck Seed of the Week
Each week we’ll publish a deck seed that players can use in solo or multiplayer games. In solo mode this creates a shared challenge where everyone is playing the exact same deck and can compare results with others in Discord.
These updates, along with a few additional bug fixes, are our immediate focus and should be entering testing soon.
Looking Ahead
Darwin’s Toys has asked us to explore releasing Empire Builder: Ireland around the same time as their upcoming physical edition. We believe this is achievable and are working toward that goal, though we’re not committing to a specific timeline yet.
There’s also a chance that a Steam copy of the digital game could appear as a stretch goal in their Kickstarter campaign. We’ll share more as plans develop.
Gen Con 2026
We’ll be an official event at Gen Con 2026.
From 9–11 AM and 11 AM–1 PM, players will be able to join digital Empire Builder sessions in the Train Gamers Association area. Look for the event in the Gen Con catalog when it releases in May.
Depending on volunteer availability, additional games may also be available using generic tickets.
Expanding to Xbox for PC
We’ve also been approved to release on the Xbox for PC ecosystem, bringing the game to a second gaming platform. We’re excited to welcome new players and continue growing the community.
More players means more games running and more opportunities to jump in when you’re ready to play.