The skies are about to get a whole lot busier. The Wandering Band and publisher Stray Fawn have officially announced that their ambitious aerial citybuilder, Airborne Empire, will be leaving Early Access and launching its 1.0 version on April 17, 2026.

After just over a year of community-driven development, the sequel to the BAFTA-nominated Airborne Kingdom is ready to show off its final form. If you’ve been waiting for the “complete” experience before taking to the clouds, your patience is about to be rewarded with a massive content drop that expands the world far beyond its initial horizons.

What’s New in the 1.0 Launch?

The jump to 1.0 isn’t just a label; it brings the conclusion to the game’s sprawling story and several highly requested features:

The Kingsfell Biome: A brand-new frozen tundra located in the far north. Players will navigate snow-capped peaks and icy winds to liberate ancient cities buried beneath the frost.

The Final Boss: Prepare for the ultimate showdown. The 1.0 update introduces the final confrontation with the Pirate Queen, the leader of the sky-pirate forces that have been hounding your city.

Advanced Tech: To handle the new threats, players can research high-tier upgrades like the Jet Engine, providing the burst of speed needed to outmanoeuvre pirate interceptors.

Survival Mode (Available Now!): As a lead-up to the launch, a new Survival Mode was released on March 20. It features a 20-stage campaign where you must rapidly expand and defend your city against escalating waves of enemies.

More Than Just a Builder

For those who missed the Early Access period, Airborne Empire evolves the tranquil building of its predecessor by adding Open World RPG elements. You aren’t just managing resources; you’re managing lift, propulsion, and tilt. If you build too many heavy factories on the port side without balancing them out, your entire civilisation might just tip into the abyss.

The addition of combat is the real game-changer here. You’ll need to outfit your floating fortress with defensive towers, cannons, and hangars for your own fighter planes to fend off sky pirates and destroy ground-based bandit colonies.

Launch Details

Release Date: April 17, 2026

Platforms: PC and Mac (Steam)

Current Price: £24.99 / $29.99 (Note: Prices may increase slightly after the 1.0 launch, so now is a great time to jump in).

Whether you’re a veteran of the first game or a newcomer looking for a citybuilder that actually lets you go places, Airborne Empire is shaping up to be one of the most unique strategy titles of the year.

Keep your eyes on the horizon—the empire is almost here.

Find out more here – https://www.airborneempire.com

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