Ubisoft today announced the development of Anno 2070, the newest addition to the award-winning real-time strategy (RTS) franchise.

As can be deduced from the name, unlike previous Anno games, the next title will be set in the near future, with new challenges and technologies available for players to forge their empires with.

Developed by Related Designs in collaboration with Blue Byte, Anno 2070 takes place, “in a near-future environment where climate change has forced humanity to adapt to rising sea levels that have left stretches of once-fertile land completely inhospitable.”

Some of the key features in Anno 2070 include new gameplay mechanics brought on thanks to the new near-future setting, and players will for the first time be able to construct truly sprawling cities, more massive than in any previous Anno title.

The studio also teased with hints of a 'dynamic world' which will evolve depending on a player's playstyle and choices they make during the game. The environmental impact of your city, its architectural style and the needs of your people will all change depending on how you choose to play the game.

Players will also be able to select between two factions when it comes to building their future utopia, the Tycoons; who champion a course of efficiency and industrialisation, and the Ecos; who promote a more sustainable and environmentally friendly one.

The game will also sport a brand new engine, meaning beautiful vistas and cityscapes, and will support single and multiplayer as well as Anno's renowned 'continuous mode', where the aim is simply to build the most powerful civilization with no time constraints whatsoever.

The game is set to be released at the end of the year and will be available on PC. For more information head over toAnno 2070’s official site.