2K Games Taking Civ V To A Brave New World

Civilization keeps growing, and it isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Publisher 2K Games and developer Firaxis have announced the second expansion to Sid Meier's Civilization V. The Brave New World expansion adds a host of new wonders, units, and scenarios, including a chance to see how the American Civil War would play out in your hands.

The biggest changes to the game appear to be the introduction of a new cultural path to victory, as well as the increased role of diplomacy. Members of the game's World Congress vote on matters large and small, which means players will have to decide whether to play nice or go rogue and take care of business on their own.

Here are some of the highlights from the Brave New World expansion, according to 2K Games:

• New Civilizations, Units and Buildings: The expansion features nine new civilizations, each with unique traits, units, buildings and all-new leaders, including Casimir III of Poland.

• New Culture Victory: Spread your culture across the globe, dominating all other cultures. Create masterpieces with Great Artists, Writers, and Musicians that are placed in key buildings across your empire, like Museums, Opera Houses and even the Great Library. Use Archaeologists to investigate sites of ancient battles and city ruins for priceless cultural artifacts. Become the first civilization with a majority influence in all other civilizations to achieve a Culture Victory, becoming the envy of the world.

• World Congress: The importance of diplomacy is intensified and city-state alliances are more important than ever. Change the diplomatic landscape through a new World Congress that votes on critical issues like implementing trade sanctions against rogue nations, limiting resource usage, designating host cities for the World Games and the use of nuclear weapons. Game-changing resolutions, vote trading, intrigue, and a new lead into the Diplomatic Victory ensures that the end of the game will be more dynamic than ever before.

• International Trade Routes: Build your cities into hubs of international trade by land and sea, creating great wealth and prosperity for your people, while also spreading religion, cultural influence, and science. The number of trade routes increases through the advancement of economics and technologies, the creation of wonders and the unique abilities of your civilization. Will you connect to a closer city for a lower payoff and a safer route, choose a longer route with more risk for the bigger payoff, or perhaps point your trade route inward, sending vitally important food and production to the far corners of your own empire?

•  New Wonders: Eight new Wonders are introduced, including the Parthenon, Broadway, the Uffizi, and more.

• New Game Scenarios: Two new scenarios let gamers fight the “War Between the States” and embark on the epic Scramble for Africa. Fight the American Civil War from either the Union or Confederate side, as you focus on the critical action in the Eastern theatre of operations between the capital cities of Richmond and Washington. In “Scramble for Africa”, the great colonial powers of the world are racing to explore the Dark Continent and extend their reach into its interior. Search for great natural wonders in the heart of Africa, as you explore a dynamically-generated continent each time you play.

The Brave New World expansion is due out this summer on PC and Mac for $29.99. You can read our review of the base game here, and check out our thoughts on the Gods & Kings expansion here.