'Civilization VI' release date: Game confirmed for October release, to offer different core mechanics

Civilization VI2k Games, Fireaxis Games

"Civilization" fans can look forward to the sixth title in the highly successful turned-based game franchise. "Civilization VI" has been officially announced and will hit the shelves by October 21. The game was developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. It will be distributed by Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of 2K Games.

The upcoming "Civilization VI" will be using the same game system that was used in its fifth title, but that is the only similarity. The new game will be offering a different gameplay and players who are familiar with the previous one will be taken aback in the beginning but will enjoy it once they understand the newly implemented strategy.

Game Informer was able to discuss the game with Ed Beach, lead designer for the game, who said, "We want players to adjust and think on their feet in 'Civ VI.' We didn't want there to be a standard playbook or recipe on how to get through it, from tech tree to policy."

Beach added, "We always saw discussions about dominant strategies, like, 'Get the Great Library and go into these policy trees and build this way.' We built a game with so many options, but so much of the community is playing it this same way with the same pattern, and we want to shake that up and adjust to the map and leaders they are faced with to come up with other solutions, to rethink their strategic approaches every time they play the game."

Additionally, the new game is now based on three key core mechanics, with the first one called unstacking the cities. Here, players will be dealing with a map that is divided into districts, and certain structures or buildings can only be constructed in a specific district. Some structures will now be built three tiles away from the main city.

The second is the active research system, which is meant to give diversity to what players can research on the tech tree. Special bonuses will be offered to a successful tech line, but they will not be the same once the game is played again. There are now variables that affect the progress of the game.

The last is called diplomacy, where the game's A.I. contains several personalities and will play a big part when interacting with the human players.  Leaders of the other nations will act according to their own agendas, hidden or not.

"Civilation VI" also contains several new features that will keep players entertained for hours on their Windows PC.