Tropico dev Kalypso Media announces Urban Empire, a new “city ruler” game

Kalypso Media, the studio behind the long-running Tropico series, has announced its new game, a “city ruler” sim called Urban Empire. It will feature elements of city building games, but instead of working as an overblown urban planner, you’ll take control of one of four unique families, each with its own interests and priorities, and lead your city and its citizens through 200 years of progress. 

Large-scale city management, like planning city districts and infrastructure, is naturally part of the job, but it sounds like the real meat will be in the political operations, both above-board and behind the scenes. There will be up to 800 dynamic events, ranging from child labor laws to women’s rights, that “represent the twists and turns of public life.” In some instances, diplomacy and debate will get the job done; in others, a firmer (or, perhaps, cash-filled) hand may be required.  

The teaser doesn’t say too much about how the game will actually be played, but it looks promising. And it’s the sort of thing that should be right up Kalypso’s alley, too: The banana republic strongman series Tropico is fairly niche stuff, but quite good at what it does. Urban Empire is currently expected to be ready for released in the fall.