Microlandia, the city-building simulation developed by Information Superhighway Games, has received a major technical overhaul with version 2.2. The October 22, 2026 update replaces the game’s original browser-based technology with Moonshine, a custom-built game engine designed to improve performance, reduce system overhead and support future development.
The developer announced the change through Steam, explaining that Moonshine had been in development for several months. The new engine runs natively on Windows, Linux and macOS, removing the need to operate an entire web browser underneath the game.
Microlandia originally relied on web technologies, including WebGPU, to handle graphics rendering. Although this approach provided a stable foundation, it became increasingly inefficient as the developers introduced larger maps and smaller construction grids.
Running the game through an embedded browser also created compatibility problems that were difficult to resolve. The developer identified issues involving certain OBS streaming configurations, Steam overlay support and Linux laptops that switch between integrated and dedicated graphics.
Moonshine addresses these limitations by communicating directly with each platform’s graphics APIs. The engine uses Direct3D on Windows, Vulkan on Linux and Metal on macOS, allowing the developers to control rendering behavior without the additional browser layer.
Rather than rebuilding the project in Unity or Unreal Engine, the team developed Moonshine specifically for Microlandia’s visual style and existing GPU calculations. Most of the engine’s code remains shared across platforms, with operating system-specific implementations used only where necessary.
The developer says the transition delivers smoother frame rates, improved efficiency and longer battery life on portable computers. Desktop players should also benefit from being able to use higher graphics settings without the same performance penalties associated with the previous engine.
To evaluate the upgrade, the studio compared Microlandia 2.2 against version 2.1.7, the final browser-based release. Its internal testing covered three configurations: a MacBook Air and a ThinkPad laptop running Windows and Linux.
The developer presented comparative performance results but emphasized that Moonshine has not yet undergone a dedicated optimization pass. Initial development focused on reproducing the previous renderer’s functionality across all three operating systems, leaving room for additional performance improvements.
The overhaul is particularly relevant to Microlandia because of the complexity of its simulation. Unlike city builders that represent populations primarily through aggregated statistics, Microlandia individually simulates citizens, households and companies.
Residents hold jobs, pay rent, interact with businesses and respond to economic conditions. Players manage infrastructure, taxation and public services while dealing with unemployment, crime, pollution and political approval.
The game’s simulation incorporates research and statistical information from organizations including the World Bank, OECD and US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Its economic systems are designed to produce consequences based on the mayor’s decisions rather than relying entirely on scripted events.
Despite that simulation depth, Information Superhighway Games wants to maintain accessibility on relatively modest hardware. The developer says Moonshine provides a foundation for expanding the game without raising its target hardware requirements beyond a typical laptop with 8GB of RAM.
The engine transition also clears the way for planned sandbox and modding functionality. The studio describes these as two aspects of the same upcoming feature, although it has not provided a release date or detailed implementation plans.
Version 2.2 also introduces a hidden achievement. Subsequent updates, including versions 2.2.1 through 2.2.3, have addressed additional stability, rendering and compatibility issues, including startup problems affecting some Windows and Linux systems.
Microlandia originally launched on December 3, 2025, and is available for Windows, Linux and macOS through Steam and itch.io. The game is also Steam Deck Verified, making the engine’s efficiency improvements relevant to handheld PC gaming.
Information Superhighway Games plans to continue expanding the existing game through free content updates rather than releasing a separate sequel or paid expansions. Moonshine is intended to support that ongoing development while keeping the simulation accessible to players without high-end gaming hardware.
