'Railway Empire' news: Release date set for January, gameplay details revealed

Promotional photo for "Railway Empire"Steam/Railway Empire

Digital train tycoons should get ready to be on board as "Railway Empire" is back on track with a release date set for January.

Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Gaming Minds Studios have announced the release date of the game, and it will arrive precisely on Jan. 27, 2018. Kalypso Media is well-known for publishing similar management strategy games similar to "Railway Empire" such as the "Tropico" series, but the release of the train system management game marks the first train simulation title on the current generation consoles.

"Railway Empire" is set on North America's 1830-1930 period where the Westward expansion of the railroad systems is all over the continent. This is the era in American history where workers from all over the world were hired to build the railways due to the nature and scope of the undertaking. Some were even from as far as China. This railroad network has contributed much to the US' industrial and modern ages, paving way for their economy.

The game will start from the first widespread use of the steam locomotive in the US in the 1830s and spans a time period of one century. During this time span, players must build the railroad network, as suited to economic demands, and buy train models, with over 40 different trains modeled with historical accuracy. Apart from this, players can also build railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories, and tourist attractions in order to stay ahead of the competition.

But, all this will come at a significant cost. An elaborate network of railroads requires tremendous amounts of labor, where players must also manage their workforce and facilitate their hiring. As the in-game years go by, players will also be given the option to adapt to new technologies and the ever-advancing state of transportation, with a big selection of 300 different technological advancements.

Should they lag behind, there are always dirty tactics to keep the competition crippled, as players will be able to attack and sabotage opponents through raids and industrial espionage. They, however, can also experience the same attacks.

"Railway Empire" is set to be released on the aforementioned date of Jan. 27, 2018 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows.