Early Start

”

Build the foundations of your glorious Soviet Republic starting from the tumultuous 30s and lead it through a time of rapid industrialization and centralization. Face off against the limitations of the era, research technologies that revolutionized the world, and establish the roots of a nation that will stand for decades to come.

—Official Steam page description

”

Early Start is the fourth available paid downloadable expansion for Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic released in May of 2025. It was released alongside Update 1.1.0.7.

Overview

The Early Start expansion allows the player to begin a game as early as the year 1930 – before the expansion, the earliest possible starting year for a game was 1960. Altogether, players can now choose between six different starting years: 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980.

To complement the earlier starting dates, a variety of era-appropriate content was added to the game including older vehicles, buildings and infrastructure elements. Additionally, Early Start added steam-powered locomotives that require coal and water to refuel at Coaling stations.

Various standard technologies were locked behind new research options, some of which can only be unlocked from a certain year onward. Instead, the player must at first rely on older, less efficient or convenient early versions of most buildings.

As a result, Early Start changes the early game experience quite significantly and forces the player to work with suboptimal and relatively inefficient infrastructure, vehicle and building options. This encourages the player to plan around eventually demolishing and rebuilding entire industries, districts and infrastructure projects once modern variants are available.

Content

Buildings

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Vehicles

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Bus

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15 Bus	14	45			25	1.92	1924	1937
Chausson APH521	70	78			60	6.65	1953	1960
Gaggenau c40	30	40			40	3.5	1923	1955
Gaz Bus 03-30	17	55			36.8	1.8	1933	1953
Ikarus 60	55	60			93	7.93	1951	1959
Mavag Tr5	55	60			80	7.5	1948	1951
Skoda 706 RO	61	68			107	8.5	1947	1958
Ya-6	35	45			69	5.5	1929	1944

Personal Car

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
DKW F8	4	65			13	0.8	1939	1942
FSO Warszawa M20	4	100			38	1.46	1951	1964
GAZ 11-73	4	110			56	1.46	1941	1948
GAZ A	4	75			30	1.1	1931	1936
GAZ M1	4	90			37	1.37	1935	1943
GAZ M20	4	100			38	1.46	1946	1958
IFA F8	4	67			16	0.8	1948	1955
KIM-10	4	80			19	0.84	1940	1941
Moskvich 400	4	80			19	0.86	1946	1956
Moskvich 407	4	110			33	0.9	1956	1964
NAMI-1	4	60			16	0.7	1927	1932
P70 Zwickau	4	70			16	0.8	1955	1959

Covered hull

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
Ikarus 60T	55	55			86	8.15	1951	1959
LK	55	55			60	8.75	1929	1939
Skd 3T	63	46			96	10.5	1941	1949
Skd 6T	64	46			96	9.6	1948	1951
Skd 7T	65	50			96	9.9	1950	1956
Skd 8T	65	50			110	9.9	1956	1961

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA	1.5	57			36.8	1.8	1932	1955
Gaz AA Хлеб	1.5	57			36.8	1.8	1932	1955
MAZ-200	8	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
MAZ-200V	12.5	60			89	10.56	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Covered	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939
Ya-12D Covered	11	40			77	7.9	1932	1948
Ya-4	4	45			40	4.7	1928	1934
YaG-10 Covered	8	40			75	6.8	1932	1948
YaG-10 Covered Trailer	13	35			75	8.8	1932	1948
YaG Covered	5	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Dry bulk tank

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15 Dry Bulk	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
MAZ-200V	12	60			89	10.56	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Dry Bulk	3.5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1923
YaG Cement	5	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Dumper

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA 410	1.2	57			36.8	1.8	1932	1955
MAZ-205	6	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Dumper	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939
YaS	4	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Felled tree capacity

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA wood	2	55			36.8	2.0	1932	1955
Russo-Balt T40/65 Logging	8	31			48.5	4.7	1913	1939
YaG Logging	8	42			54	5.930	1932	1948

Forklifts

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15 Industrial Carrier	1.5	21			25	2	1924 1937
GAZ 905	1.8	23			36.8	1.8	1930 1955
Multicar M21	2	25			5	0.93	1956 1964

Oil Tanker

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA Oil	2	57			36.8	2.0	1935	1955
Gaz AA Oil trail	4	52			36.8	2.5	1935	1955
MAZ-200	8	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Oil	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939
Ya-4	4	45			40	4.7	1928	1934
YaG Oil	5	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Open Hull

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
Gaz AA	1.5	57			36.8	1.8	1930	1955
MAZ-200	8	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
MAZ-200V	12.5	60			89	10.56	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Open	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939
Ya-12D Open	11	40			77	7.9	1932	1948
Ya-4	4	45			40	4.7	1928	1934
YaG-10 Open	8	40			75	6.8	1932	1948
YaG-10 Open Trailer	13	35			75	8.8	1932	1948
YaG Open	5	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Refrigeration

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15 Refrigerator	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA Vnichi	1.5	57			36.8	1.8	1932	1958
MAZ-200	8	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
Moskvich 400-420K	0.5	80			19	0.86	1946	1956
Russo-Balt T40/65 Refrigerator	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939

Bulldozer

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
Ruston Bucyrus RB10		14			60	14.2	1929 1958
SKhTZ NATI		15			38	5	1937 1952
Stalinets S-60		8			44.2	10	1929 1938
Stalinets S-65		12			47.8	10.5	1937 1959

Concrete Mixer

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA mixer	1	55			36.8	2.5	1932	1959
MAZ-200	6	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Liquid Concrete	3	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939
YaG Concrete	5	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Excavator

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
M-III P 1.5		13			60	14.2	1929 1960
Ruston Bucyrus RB10		14			60	14.2	1929 1958
YaG Excavator		42			54	6.430	1932 1948

Crane

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
20-Meter Service Tower Crane		0			105	3.5	1928 1955
Gaz AA Cran KS-1	1	57			36.8	2.0	1932 1955
MAZ-200 K-51		65			89	12	1947 1965
SBK-1		0			165	6	1946 1976
VEB Kranbau Baumeister		0			135	4	1945 1972
YaG Crane		42			54	6.430	1932 1948

Roller

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
D-83 roller		6			22	5	1940 1956

Sewage cistern

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA Sewage	2	55			36.8	2.0	1932	1955
MAZ-200	8	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Sewage	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939
Ya-4 Sewage	4	45			40	4.7	1928	1934
YaG Sewage	5	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Snowplow

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15 Snowplow		42			25	2	1924 1938
Gaz AA Snow		54			36.8	2.0	1932 1958
YaG Snowplow		42			54	4.930	1932 1959

Waste truck

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
MAZ-200	6.5	65			89	6.4	1947 1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Waste	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913 1939
YaG-10 Waste	6.5	40			75	7.3	1929 1948

Water cistern

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	1.5	42			25	2	1924	1937
Gaz AA Water	2	55			36.8	2.0	1932	1955
MAZ-200	8	65			89	6.4	1947	1965
Russo-Balt T40/65 Water	5	31			48.5	4.3	1913	1939
Ya-4 Water	4	45			40	4.7	1928	1934
YaG Water	5	42			54	4.930	1932	1948

Harvesting

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
Kommunar Combine		12			23	10	1929 1948
S-4		14.6			44.2	4.5	1947 1958
Stalinets-1 Combine		9			44.2	17	1931 1954
Stalinets-6 Combine		15			38	12	1947 1958

Sowing

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
SKhTZ 15/30		12			23	3	1929 1959
SKhTZ NATI		15			38	5	1937 1957
Stalinets S-60		9			44.2	10	1921 1938
Stalinets S-65		12			47.8	10.5	1937 1953

Ambulance

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	6	46			26	1.92	1924 1937
FSO Warszawa M20	4	100			38	1.46	1951 1964
Gaz AA 55	4	63			36.8	2.0	1933 1955
GAZ M1	4	90			37	1.37	1935 1943
GAZ M20	4	100			38	1.46	1946 1958
Moskvich 400 Doctor	4	80			19	0.86	1946 1956

Fire truck

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15	2.2	46			26	1.92	1924 1937
Gaz AA PMG-1	3.5	57			36.8	2.5	1932 1958
MAZ-200		65			89	6.4	1947 1965
YaG Firetruck		42			54	4.930	1932 1948

Police car

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
FSO Warszawa M20	4	100			38	1.46	1951 1964
GAZ 11-73	4	110			56	1.46	1941 1948
GAZ A	4	75			30	1.1	1931 1936
GAZ M1	4	90			37	1.37	1935 1943
GAZ M20	4	100			38	1.46	1946 1958
Gaz Policija	8	63			36.8	1.8	1929 1950
IFA F8 MO	4	67			16	0.8	1948 1955
Moskvich 400	4	80			19	0.86	1946 1956
Moskvich 407	4	110			33	0.9	1956 1964
NAMI-1	4	60			16	0.7	1927 1932

Prison bus

Name	Capacity	Max Speed (km/h)	Relative Value	Production Resources (tons)	Engine Power (kW)	Empty Weight (tons)	Production Start	Production End	Origin
AMO-15 Prison Bus	8	45			25	1.92	1924 1937
Gaz Prison bus	10	57			36.8	1.8	1929 1955

Landscapes

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Reception

As of late July of 2025, the expansion is rated Mixed on Steam.

Most positive reviews praise the gameplay additions such as steam trains, the refined game progression and research tree, the aesthetics and the more unique early-game experience.

Most negative reviews mention a perceived lack of content and subpar attention to bugs and polish relative to its price. At release of the expansion, several types of vehicles did not have Early Start equivalents. Some buildings were reportedly bugged.

Since then, several free game updates have added significant amounts of additional content to the early eras.

Gallery

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