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EA to Revive 'SimCity' Franchise in 2013

EA announced at GDC that SimCity 5 will land next year.

March 7, 2012

At long last, Electronic Arts will resurrect the SimCity franchise. The company announced Tuesday at the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) in Los Angeles that SimCity 5 will arrive on the PC in 2013.

"Using our proprietary GlassBox Engine, SimCity for PC will equip players with the tools to play the most sophisticated simulation of its kind," senior vice president of EA's Maxix Label, Lucy Bradshaw, said at GDC. "We are dedicated to making sure the experience – no matter the platform – has the fun, flavor, and playability that has been intrinsic to the franchise since its birth."

EA has also posted an extended trailer (see below) on the SimCity site that gives the first glimpse into the revived title. It shows a game that features beautifully crafted cities and super realistic visuals. The game will offer full 3D graphics.

In SimCity 5, players will also be charged with addressing real-life social issues. They'll have to deal with challenges related to climate change, search for renewable resources, and handle natural disasters.

As a whole, the SimCity franchise has sold more than 30 million copies since its debut in 1989. Maxis released SimCity 4 in 2003. A spin-off, SimCity Societies, was developed by Tilted Mill Entertainment and launched in 2007. Nearly a decade later, Maxis is bringing back the classic city-building game with SimCity 5, which it calls a "true rebirth of the franchise."

Are you looking forward to SimCity 5? What would you like to see in the game? Let us know in the comments.

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