2K and Firaxis Games have settled upon a October 24, 2014 release date for Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, the latest installment in the critically-acclaimed Civilization series that challenges players to colonize and tame an exoplanet beyond the Milky Way Galaxy.
Pre-ordering the title from select retailers will net owners the Exoplanets Map Pack that has six additional maps based on real-life exoplanets.
The developers have also released an in-depth E3 walkthrough (posted above) showcasing some of the elements that I originally shared in my preview for the title. Will Miller, Co-Lead Designer for the title, provides insight on the game's core components: the environmental hazards along the hex-based alien planet, colony management, the new quest system to earn minor rewards, the non-linear technology tree, covert ops agents similar to the spies in Civ V, and three affinities (Harmony, Purity, and Supremacy) that replace the three ideologies from the Brave New World expansion.
A four-minute Inside Look has been revealed as well (posted below) that is narrated by both Will Miller and David McDonough, also Co-Lead Designer, showing concept art from sci-fi literature and inspired by the current climate of geopolitics (plus the swearing in Madarin in FireFly, yippee!).