Devices Tycoon real history mode is a gameplay setting in the PC business simulation game by Roastery Games that locks technological breakthroughs to their actual real-world release dates. Instead of researching futuristic parts right away, players start in historical eras—such as 2008 at the dawn of the modern smartphone—and develop products using era-appropriate hardware, physical designs, and component specifications.
How Real History Mode Works
When starting a new game in Devices Tycoon on PC, you can select your starting year. Choosing an earlier point on the timeline, such as 2008, places your company right at the transition into modern touchscreen mobile devices.
As time advances in-game, your company receives regular milestone notifications when engineers discover or invent new functions. Rather than unlocking all modern hardware upfront, technologies become available gradually based on historical release calendars.
| Feature Element | Real History Mode Specification |
|---|---|
| Recommended Starting Year | 2008 (the beginning of the modern smart device era) |
| Tech Milestones Scale | Over 500 categories of features |
| Feature Database Count | More than 50,000 total discoverable technologies (100+ per category) |
| Real Processor Database | Over 3,000 verified CPU and GPU models spanning 2006 to 2025 |
| Visual Styling | Era-accurate device aesthetics (e.g., physical buttons on early touchscreens) |
The progression system also governs the physical appearance of products. In the 2008 era, touch smartphones incorporate mechanical navigation buttons reminiscent of early touchscreen devices, preventing players from designing ultra-slim, bezel-less hardware decades before such parts existed.
Becoming an Industry Pioneer
Whenever a message appears stating that engineers have invented a new function, competing artificial intelligence firms do not adopt it immediately. This creates a strategic window for your company to act as an industry pioneer.
- Monitor Tech Breakthrough Notifications: Keep an eye on system alerts announcing that a real-world technology has officially unlocked for production.
- Integrate Before Rivals: Open the device editor and immediately design new smartphones, tablets, or laptops featuring the newly available milestone function.
- Capture Market Share: Launch the product before competitor brands adapt to the breakthrough, capitalizing on higher customer review scores and consumer interest.
Real CPU and GPU Integration
Real History Mode is closely linked to the PC version's dedicated hardware editor. Roastery Games integrated verified specifications for real-world processors spanning from 2006 through 2025, adding more than 3,000 authentic chips across smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
When configuring hardware across these historical eras, you choose from three distinct CPU approaches:
- Manufacturer CPU: Standard, off-the-shelf processors supplied directly by third-party chipmakers.
- Custom Manufacturer CPU: A modified variant of a supplier's chip with adjusted parameters. This incurs higher production costs but allows for fine-tuned performance.
- Your Own CPU: In-house silicon designed in the game's processor editor, offering the most budget-friendly unit costs over time.
For laptops and mobile devices, the graphics system mirrors these historical tiers. Mobile devices allow selection between Manufacturer iGPUs and Custom iGPUs, while laptops expand options to include discrete graphics cards (Manufacturer dGPU, Custom dGPU, or dedicated in-house dGPUs). Applying custom hardware tweaks increases unit manufacturing costs, directly impacting device retail pricing and profit margins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you start Real History Mode in years other than 2008?
Yes. When setting up a new game profile, you can choose your starting year. The developer highlighted 2008 as an ideal baseline for players wanting to experience the complete evolution of modern smart devices from the beginning.
Do competitor companies get historical tech at the same time as you?
While technologies unlock based on real-world years, competitor companies do not automatically use newly discovered functions right away. Players who quickly add newly unlocked functions to their designs gain a temporary advantage as the first to bring that technology to market.
Does Real History Mode change component specifications?
Yes. The mode draws from a database of over 3,000 real CPUs and GPUs released between 2006 and 2025, matching the performance, integration types, and technical parameters available during each respective historical year.
