Can you exploit the New World to control the Old?
4X Grand Strategy Five Centuries of History Early Access Q4 2026
Can you exploit the New World to control the Old?
4X Grand Strategy Five Centuries of History Early Access Q4 2026
4X Grand Strategy
Chart unknown coasts, open trade routes, and send expeditions into the New World before your rivals do.
Grow your empire across five centuries — from a minor kingdom to history's first true Superpower.
Build interlocking production chains. Manage logistics. Extract colonial wealth and channel it into your heartland.
Outmanoeuvre rivals on the battlefield — or strangle them diplomatically before they raise a single regiment.
Announcement Trailer
Screenshots
What sets it apart
Imperialist draws from the golden era of PC strategy games — interlocking systems, consequential decisions — and brings that design philosophy into a modern package.
Raw materials flow through factories and workshops. Logistics & supply lines matter. Technology leads to better resource gathering, transportation methods, and worker promotions. Every hex of territory you hold, every worker in your factories, every cargo ship, has its job.
From the Age of Discovery through to the World Wars — watch your industry, economy, and military doctrine evolve alongside history. Victory is obtained by emerging as the world's first Superpower.
Forge alliances, negotiate colonial boundaries, and absorb minor nations and New World tribes diplomatically. Enact trade subsidies on your friends, and boycott your enemies. If all else fails, just straight up give other nations money to pay them off. Outmanoeuvre great powers without firing a shot — if that's the kind of ruler you are.
Combat occurs on a chess-like board where both armies face off in the ultimate showdown of Napoleonic-era field tactics. Deploy in line, wedge, box, or any formation you can think of. Control every unit's actions in your armies, or let the AI play out the battle for you.
Play against AI nations in Single-player or bring the rivalry to friends with Hotseat and PvP Online Multiplayer. Cross-platform support on Windows, Mac, and Linux via Steam networking. Steam features include cloud saves, Steam lobbies, and friend invites.
Controller support, Steam Deck compatibility, scalable UI, and many more modern accessibility features built in. Classic 90's strategy for the modern player.
The Developer
BRR Games is a Melbourne-based independent studio built on a simple conviction: that the golden era of PC strategy games produced some of the most enduring, rewarding strategy games, and that era deserves worthy successors.
BRR Games acknowledges the Bunurong people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the studio operates, and pays respect to Elders past, present, and emerging.
Common Questions
When does Imperialist release?
Imperialist is targeting Early Access on Steam in Q4 2026, with a full release following the Early Access period — estimated at least 6 months after launch. Wishlist on Steam to be notified.
What will Early Access include?
Early Access will feature the complete game — exploration, expansion, economy, diplomacy, and tactical combat. Systems will continue to be fine-tuned based on player feedback, plus art and UI upgrades are planned throughout Early Access.
How long is a typical game session?
Imperialist is a long-form strategy game in the tradition of Civilization, Old World, and other 4X titles — expect sessions of several hours for a full game. The turn-based format means you can save and return at any point, with no time pressure.
Does it support multiplayer?
Yes. Imperialist supports single-player against AI, local Hotseat multiplayer, and online PvP via Steam networking — including Steam lobbies and friend invites. Up to 5 human players are supported.
Steam Deck & Controller verification?
Yes. Steam Deck verification and full controller support are planned features. The goal is to achieve Steam Deck verification before full release. The game is being developed with scalable UI and rebindable controls specifically to support handheld play.
What platforms will it support?
Imperialist will launch on Windows, macOS, and Linux via Steam. Steam cloud saves are included.
How can I give feedback or follow development?
The best place is the Discord server — it's where development updates are shared and where playtester discussions happen. You can also follow on YouTube and Facebook.
Will there be modding support?
Modding support is planned for the Early Access period. The game's modular, data-driven architecture is being built with extensibility in mind from the ground up.
What are the system requirements?
Windows (recommended): Windows 10/11 64-bit · Intel Core i5 8th gen / AMD Ryzen 5 · 8 GB RAM · Vulkan-compatible GPU with 4 GB VRAM · DirectX 12 · 4 GB storage.
macOS (recommended): macOS 12 Monterey · Apple Silicon M1 / Intel Core i5 quad-core · 8 GB RAM · Metal-compatible GPU with 2 GB VRAM · 4 GB storage.
Linux / SteamOS (recommended): Ubuntu 22.04 LTS / SteamOS 3.0 · Intel Core i5 8th gen / AMD Ryzen 5 · 8 GB RAM · Vulkan-compatible GPU with 4 GB VRAM · 4 GB storage.
Join players already shaping history. The game is in active development — your feedback shapes what it becomes.