Rise of Industry 2 Release Date: Return to Business Excellence This June
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Bottom Line Up Front: Rise of Industry 2 launches on June 3, 2025, for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The business tycoon sequel brings the franchise to 1980s America with enhanced gameplay, new visual style, and the series’ first console release.
Official Release Confirmation
Publisher Kasedo Games and developer SomaSim officially announced that Rise of Industry 2 will launch on June 3, 2025. After years of development and anticipation following the success of the original 2019 title, the sequel is finally set to arrive in early summer.
The game will be priced at $34.99 (USD), €34.99 (EUR), and £29.50 (GBP) across all platforms, making it accessible to both returning fans and newcomers to the franchise.
Multi-Platform Expansion
One of the biggest changes for Rise of Industry 2 is its expansion beyond PC gaming. This marks the franchise’s first appearance on consoles, with simultaneous releases planned for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 alongside the PC version. The PC release will be available on both Steam and Epic Games Store, giving players multiple purchase options.
The move to consoles represents SomaSim’s effort to reach a broader audience with the tycoon simulation genre, which has traditionally been dominated by PC gaming.
Setting and Core Gameplay
Set in 1980s America during an era of rapid innovation, globalization, and unprecedented profits, players must navigate the competitive industrial landscape by building cutting-edge manufacturing powerhouses and cultivating business relationships. The decade provides a perfect backdrop for industrial simulation, capturing the excitement of emerging technologies and global market expansion.
Players can manage various industries including automotive production, wineries, mining operations, and aviation enterprises, while optimizing production chains and maintaining relationships with government officials.
What’s New in the Sequel
Campaign Mode
Rise of Industry 2 introduces an all-new campaign mode featuring 15 unique and exciting scenarios as players rise through the corporate ranks. This structured progression system provides clear objectives for players who prefer guided experiences over pure sandbox gameplay.
Enhanced Social Systems
The sequel introduces dynamic social connections where players must network with CEOs of other companies to trade materials and finished products, while gaining introductions to powerful industry leaders. This social element adds a new layer of strategy beyond traditional production management.
Visual Overhaul
The game features a sleek 1980s-inspired art style with neon lights, sharp suits, and bold aesthetic choices that capture the decade’s distinctive look. The visual direction has been completely reimagined to reflect the era’s characteristic designs and early digital revolution.
Media Industry Focus
Players can provide the emerging media industry with televisions, cameras, vinyl records, cassettes, computers, and video game consoles, reflecting the technological boom of the 1980s.
Development Changes
Development studio SomaSim has taken over from the original developer, bringing fresh ideas to the boardroom along with the new art style and gameplay mechanics. SomaSim is known for successful titles like Project Highrise and City of Gangsters, bringing their expertise in city-building and management simulations to the franchise.
Legacy of the Original
The original Rise of Industry, set in the early 20th century, established a solid foundation for the franchise. The first game received mostly positive reviews on Steam with 74% of 3,059 user reviews being positive, creating a dedicated fanbase eager for the sequel.
Pre-Launch Availability
The game is currently available for wishlist on Steam, with the platform showing it will unlock in approximately 12 days from the current date. Players interested in staying updated can add the game to their wishlist to receive notifications when it becomes available.
Recent Demo Feedback
SomaSim recently removed the game’s demo after receiving extensive player feedback during Steam Next Fest, with the developers stating that the demo no longer reflected the final version. The feedback period allowed the team to make significant improvements ahead of the June release.
Industry Context
The business tycoon genre has seen renewed interest in recent years, with players seeking deeper simulation experiences. Rise of Industry 2’s focus on the 1980s taps into nostalgia while offering modern gameplay mechanics and quality-of-life improvements that weren’t available in the original era of business simulation games.
The timing of the release also positions it well for the summer gaming season, when players often look for engaging single-player experiences they can dive into during vacation periods.
What This Means for Players
Rise of Industry 2 represents a significant evolution for the franchise, expanding both its platform reach and gameplay depth. The combination of enhanced social mechanics, campaign structure, and 1980s setting should appeal to both series veterans and newcomers to business simulation gaming.
The confirmed June 3 release date gives players a concrete target to anticipate, ending months of speculation about when they’ll be able to build their industrial empires in Reagan-era America. With development now complete and the game entering its final marketing phase, everything appears on track for the summer launch.
For fans of the original or business simulation games in general, Rise of Industry 2 promises to deliver the complex production chain management that made the first game successful, while adding new layers of strategic depth through its social and campaign systems.
