Planetary Industry for dummies
This page was created because there are way too many sources online, be it from a person in chat or social networks, that hype you up about Planetary Industry (PI for short) but do not explain it. This Loru Gaming video is a prime example.
The truth is that PI is one of the most complex topics in the game. It is extremely difficult to learn and execute. Return is decent but to say it is "passive" is an outright lie. You will need to invest hours or days of learning, hours or days of preparation, and 15-20 minutes a day upkeep until you get a hang of it and realize daily management is not worth it before adopting "lazy" management modes.
Preface
Not Omega? Stop here.
Before getting into it, you can check EVE Online support article here describing differences between an Alpha Clone (free to play) and Omega Clone (paid and/or subscription) accounts.
As stated "Alpha clone cannot export from their colonies" for the purposes of "Planetary Interaction".
Goal
Goal of this guide is to educate you, a new player, on PI using simple terms and get you running as fast as possible. This is written by a newbro for newbros.
My story
I started the game in January 2026 as Alpha Clone, free to play account. I was generously gifted Omega game time my third week into play.