2k games have announced that Sid Meier’s Civilization V is currently in development at Firaxis Games and is on it’s way to a fall 2010 release. The new developments which have come to light via the press release are
+ Square tiles to be replaced with hexagon tiles which will allow deeper strategy(Check it out in the screenshots)
The game will allow players to bombard cities from more than one tile away with siege weapons.
+ Huge Battles
Combat is more exciting and engaging than ever before. Wars between empires feel massive with armies spreading across the landscape. The addition of ranged bombardment allows players to fire weapons from behind the front lines, challenging players to develop clever new strategies to guarentee victory on the battlefield.
+ Believable World
More than just a strategy game – immersive visuals and sound invite would be kings to take up the reigns of power and forge a mighty empire. Civilization V offers a limitless variety of vast, realistic and diverse landscapes for players to explore, battle over and claim as their own.
+ Inviting Presentation
An intuitive interface eases both new players and Civ veterans into the game. Guided by a set of trusted advisors who will explain game functionality and provide counsel for significant decisions, even first-time players will be confident in the choices they make.
+ Improved Diplomacy
Negotiate with some of history’s most cunning rulers, each with a well crafted plan for victory. Successful diplomacy will depend on players carefully managing relationships with other leaders, trading items and land, plying them woth gold, and deciding if they are friend or foe. City states will present a new diplomatic battleground on which the major powers of the world will vie for supremacy.
+ Modability
With unprecedented modding tools, players will have unlimited options for modifying Civilization V any way they like.
+ In-Game Community Hub
Compete with Civ players from all over the globe via the Internet and Play by Email, or complete locally in Hotseat and LAN matches, offering endless ways to rule the world. The game itself now serves as the hub of community activity featuring the ability to share scenarios, compare scores, brag about achievements and visit one of the thriving Civ fansites without leaving the game. It’s now easier than ever for players to become involved in the global Civ Community.
+ Live history
Write your own epic story each time you play! Choose one of eighteen historical civilizations to lead from the stone age to the space age on your quest to build the world’s most powerful empire.
Showing his excitement for the upcoming game, Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K, said,
Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise has been recognized as one of the greatest PC game franchises of all time with millions of units sold worldwide. Civilization V takes the franchise further by offering players a more immersive experience with deeper strategies; heightened tactical combat; vast, realistic landscapes to explore, battle over and claim as their own; and an in-game community hub where Civ fans can share content and compete against each other without leaving the game. This marks a new era that will forever change the franchise responsible for sleep deprivation and reduced productivity for nearly two decades.
We also have some teaser screenshots for Sid Meier’s fans