Anno 2205

Last updated

Anno 2205
Anno 2205 box cover.jpg
Developer(s) Blue Byte
Publisher(s) Ubisoft
Director(s) Dirk Riegert
Composer(s) Dynamedion
Series Anno
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release3 November 2015 [1]
Genre(s) City-building, Real-Time Strategy
Mode(s) Single-player

Anno 2205 is a city-building and economic simulation game, with real-time strategy elements, developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft. Anno2205 is the sixth game of the Anno series, and was released worldwide on 3 November 2015. As with Anno 2070 , the game is set in the future, with players having the opportunity to set up colonies on the Moon.

Contents

Gameplay

Anno 2205 is a futuristic city-building video game similar to Anno 2070 , as opposed to the previous installments which feature a historical setting. In the game, players take on the role of a leader from a corporation and must compete against other corporations in developing future technologies. [2] At the beginning of the game, players are tasked to build different metropolises on Earth. Population increases when more buildings are built, and players are tasked to satisfy and fulfill the needs of their citizens. Besides building housing, players must also produce goods and build infrastructures like robot production facilities to maintain their economy, where said buildings can be relocated or moved around by players. Similar to SimCity , different parts can be added to buildings to enhance their functions. [3] Upgrading the production structures of these buildings can also improve their efficiency. [2] When citizens' demands were satisfied, they are able to produce more goods. [4]

Eventually players are asked to develop and conduct research in arctic regions in order to find cost-efficient ways to launch rockets to the Moon and upon completion, players may colonize the Moon and build cities inside its craters. Resources of the Moon, such as helium-3, are vital to the development of the cities on Earth and can be sent back to Earth. [5] Gameplay differs when players are establishing an outpost in the arctic regions or on the Moon. In the arctic regions players must manage the heating areas of the outpost. As the Moon lacks an atmosphere and features a grimmer environment than Earth, building a city on the Moon requires erecting asteroid shields, as well as unique greenhouses to produce food. [6] Anno 2205 also includes a fully functional day and night cycle for different visuals.

The game also introduces a session mode, which allows player to control and manage their cities both on Earth and on the Moon at the same time. Resources vary in different sessions, as a result, players must set up trade routes between different colonies, so that resources and raw materials from a city can be used in another city. [7] The cities in the game are five times larger than the ones in its predecessors, and they support at least eight different sessions. Pollution, as well as the underwater gameplay featured in Anno 2070 was removed from 2205. Bridges can be built to connect cities, while buildings can be upgraded via using different modules. Upon completion, the upgraded buildings can produce more goods. [6]

Information in 2205 is presented visually instead of utilizing text like the previous installments. Citizens' demands appear as images or icons. Happiness of citizens influence their actions. If they are happy, they can be seen travelling around the city. However, if they are not, they will abandon their buildings and leave. Multiple camera angles are available for players to use. They can zoom in and zoom out, or to use pre-defined cameras to view the city. The structure of the game's story is also overhauled, in which players are not forced to complete the missions, and that players can choose to complete it during the free play. [8]

Naval battles can no longer occur near cities, instead taking take place in remote regions and are optional. It is possible for owned sectors to be blockaded and the fleet can be called to break through. Expanding computer players have also been removed.

In post update 1.6, every corporation can join the stock market. Doing so adds another layer of gameplay in the form of shares and auctions for both that player's corporation and all five rivals, corporate espionage and dominance and eventually monopolization for various industrial sectors.

Development

Blue Byte revealed that after 2070, which received critical acclaim, the franchise would move to a new direction, in which the setting of the game continues to move into the future. [8] The game is being developed by Blue Byte, primarily at its Mainz studio, the developer of Anno 1701 and Anno 1404 . The game chose not to include any online multiplayer feature because the developer hoped players could focus on their own cities, and have full control of them. The game also introduced more features, as the studio wanted to add something fresh to the franchise with 2205, and the gameplay was made more streamlined. [9]

Anno 2205 was announced during Ubisoft's Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015 conference, [10] including its Season Pass. The full game, as well as additional content, is included in the Gold Edition of 2205. Players who pre-ordered the game were to gain access to the game's closed beta. [11] [12] The closed beta was cancelled, and players who pre-ordered the game received an in-game bonus instead (a new command ship skin). [13]

Upon the game's release, it was supported with downloadable content. Wildwater Bay, a free expansion which introduces a new session, and a new sector project was included in update 1.3. Update 1.6 included the Big Five Pack, which added the option for every corporation to join that stock market, which would enable additional gameplay features, and reintroduced disasters. Two expansions, namely Tundra and Orbit were released on February 29 and July 20, 2016, respectively. [14] On October 4, the Frontiers expansion was released, containing three new sectors: Madrigal Islands, Savik Province and the Greentide Archipelago. Later this content was added to Season Pass after getting negative feedback from customers that "Frontiers" was released outside the Season Pass.

Reception

The game received mixed reviews upon launch. [15] While most reviews have praised for its graphics and animations, the disappointments were due to its over-simplistic gameplay compared to its predecessors, lack of randomly generated maps, combat only in side missions and lack of multiplayer, limiting the replay value of the game.

Related Research Articles

Ubisoft Blue Byte GmbH is a German video game holding company owned by Ubisoft. It was founded in October 1988 by Thomas Hertzler and Lothar Schmitt as a developer and was best known for developing the Anno and The Settlers series. The studio was acquired by Ubisoft in 2001. Related Designs was merged into Blue Byte in 2013, and a third studio in Berlin was established in 2018. Since 2019, Ubisoft Blue Byte acts as the parent company of Ubisoft's three German studios, which became branded as Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Mainz and Ubisoft Berlin. By 2020, the "Blue Byte" name was phased out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City-building game</span> Video game genre

A city-building game, or town-building game, is a genre of simulation video game where players act as the overall planner and leader of a city or town, looking down on it from above, and being responsible for its growth and management strategy. Players choose building placement and city management features such as salaries and work priorities, and the city develops accordingly.

<i>The Settlers: Heritage of Kings</i> 2004 real-time strategy video game

The Settlers: Heritage of Kings, released as Heritage of Kings: The Settlers in North America, is a real-time strategy video game developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft. Released in Germany for Microsoft Windows in November 2004, and in the United Kingdom, North America, and Australia in February 2005, it is the fifth game in The Settlers series. In 2005, Blue Byte released two expansions, The Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Expansion Disc and The Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Legends Expansion Disc, in March and September respectively, featuring new single-player campaign missions, new maps for both single-player and multiplayer modes, a map editor, and a random map generator. In November, The Settlers: Heritage of Kings - Gold Edition was released, containing the original game and the first expansion. In 2009, the original game was also released on GOG.com. In 2018, the game was re-released as The Settlers: Heritage of Kings - History Edition.

<i>The Settlers II (10th Anniversary)</i> 2006 city-building and real-time strategy video game

The Settlers II is a city-building game with real-time strategy elements, developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft. Released for Microsoft Windows in September 2006, it is a remake of The Settlers II (1996). In March 2007, Blue Byte released a German-language expansion, Die Siedler II: Die nächste Generation - Wikinger, featuring new single-player campaign missions, new maps for both single-player and multiplayer modes, a random map generator, and minor gameplay tweaks. In September 2008, they released Die Siedler: Aufbruch der Kulturen, a spiritual successor to Die nächste Generation. In 2013, the original 10th Anniversary game was released on GOG.com.

<i>The Settlers: Rise of an Empire</i> 2007 city-building and real-time strategy video game

The Settlers: Rise of an Empire is a city-building game with real-time strategy elements, developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft. Released for Microsoft Windows in September 2007, it is the sixth game in The Settlers series. In March 2008, Blue Byte released an expansion, The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - The Eastern Realm, featuring new single-player campaign missions, new maps for both single-player and multiplayer modes, and an enhanced map editor. In September, they released The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - Gold Edition, containing the original game plus the Eastern Realm expansion, and additional single and multiplayer maps. The Gold Edition was also released on Steam and Uplay. In 2015, it was released on GOG.com, and in 2018, it was re-released as The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition.

<i>Anno 1404</i> 2009 city-building game

Anno 1404, known as Dawn of Discovery in North America, is a city-building and economic simulation game with real-time strategy elements, part of the Anno series. Released in 2009, it was developed by Related Designs, produced by Blue Byte, and published by Ubisoft. Anno 1404 is the sequel to Anno 1701 and is followed by the futuristic sequel Anno 2070. Though the game centers on a series of fictional events, the overall concept of the storyline is based upon real life aspects of medieval and renaissance history such as the Crusades, advancements in gothic architecture, construction of cathedrals, and hanseatic trade involving the rise of patrician merchants and early forms of capitalism.

<i>The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom</i> 2010 city-building and real-time strategy video game

The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom is a city-building game with real-time strategy elements, developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft. Released for Microsoft Windows and macOS in March 2010, it is the seventh game in The Settlers series. Blue Byte released three DLC packs in 2010; Uncharted Land, Conquest - The Empire, and Rise of the Rebellion, released in July, September, and December, respectively. In March 2011, The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom - Deluxe Gold Edition was released, containing the original game, the three packs, an unlock code for an upcoming fourth pack, and a copy of The Settlers III. The fourth pack, The Two Kings, was released in April 2011. In 2018, the Deluxe Gold Edition was re-released as The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom - History Edition.

<i>Assassins Creed: Brotherhood</i> 2010 video game

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a 2010 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the third major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, and the second chapter in the "Ezio Trilogy", as a direct sequel to 2009's Assassin's Creed II. The game was first released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November and December 2010 and was later made available on Microsoft Windows in March and June 2011. A remastered version of Brotherhood, along with Assassins's Creed II and its sequel, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, was released as part of The Ezio Collection compilation for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 15, 2016, and for the Nintendo Switch on February 17, 2022.

<i>The Settlers</i> City-building and real-time strategy video game series introduced in 1993

The Settlers is a city-building and real-time strategy video game series created by Volker Wertich. The original game was released on the Amiga in 1993, with subsequent games released primarily on MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows: The Settlers II (1996), The Settlers III (1998), The Settlers IV (2001), The Settlers: Heritage of Kings (2004), The Settlers: Rise of an Empire (2007), and The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom (2010). There are also several spin-offs; The Settlers II (2006) is a remake of The Settlers II, The Settlers DS (2007) is a port of The Settlers II for Nintendo DS, Die Siedler: Aufbruch der Kulturen (2008) is a German-only spiritual successor to 10th Anniversary, The Settlers HD (2009) is a handheld remake of The Settlers IV, and The Settlers Online (2010) is a free-to-play online browser game. With the exception of The Settlers HD, Ubisoft Blue Byte has developed every game in the series, as well as publishing the first three titles. From The Settlers IV onwards, Ubisoft has published all titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubisoft Connect</span> Video game service by Ubisoft

Ubisoft Connect is a digital distribution, digital rights management, multiplayer and communications service developed by Massive Entertainment to provide an experience similar to the achievements/trophies offered by various other game companies. The service is provided across various platforms. Ubisoft Connect is used exclusively by first-party Ubisoft Entertainment games, and although some third-party ones are sold through the Ubisoft store, they do not use the Ubisoft Connect platform.

<i>Anno 2070</i> 2011 video game

Anno 2070 is a city-building and economic simulation game, with real-time strategy elements. It is the 5th game of the Anno series. It was released on 17 November 2011, and was co-developed by the German studios Related Designs and Blue Byte, and published by Ubisoft. Anno 2070 required Uplay to operate as an always online DRM System, later removed for receiving severe criticism from players.

<i>Tom Clancys The Division</i> 2016 video game

Tom Clancy's The Division is an online-only action role-playing video game developed by Massive Entertainment and published in 2016 by Ubisoft, for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox Series X|S. It is set in a near future New York City in the aftermath of a viral pandemic; the player, a Special Agent of the Strategic Homeland Division, is tasked with helping the group rebuild its operations in Manhattan, investigate the nature of the outbreak, and combat criminal activity in its wake. The Division is structured with elements of role-playing games, as well as cooperative and player versus player online multiplayer. This game also marks the debut of Massive and Ubisoft's Snowdrop game engine.

<i>The Crew</i> (video game) 2014 racing video game

The Crew is an online-only racing video game co-developed by Ubisoft Ivory Tower and Ubisoft Reflections and published by Ubisoft. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, with an Xbox 360 port developed by Asobo Studio in December 2014, and for Amazon Luna in November 2020. It features a persistent open world environment for free-roaming across a scaled-down recreation of the Contiguous United States and includes both role-playing and large-scale multiplayer elements.

Anno is a real-time strategy, economic simulation video game series, conceived in 1998 by Max Design. The series focuses on players establishing colonies on a series of small islands, conducting an exploration of the region, diplomacy, and trade with other civilizations and traders while managing resources and engaging in combat both on land and sea. Most games in the series take place during Renaissance and Empire-building historical periods of Earth's history, with cultures, architecture, and customs based upon real-life elements from these periods, though in-game civilizations tend to be neutral from exact nations.

<i>Tom Clancys Rainbow Six Siege</i> 2015 video game

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is an online tactical shooter video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It was released worldwide for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on December 1, 2015; the game was also released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S exactly five years later on December 1, 2020. The title received a port for Google Stadia on June 30, 2021, and one for Amazon Luna in January 2022. The game puts heavy emphasis on environmental destruction and cooperation between players. Each player assumes control of an attacker or a defender in different gameplay modes such as rescuing a hostage, defusing a bomb, and taking control of an objective within a room. The title has no campaign but features a series of short, offline missions called, "situations" that can be played solo. These missions have a loose narrative, focusing on recruits going through training to prepare them for future encounters with the "White Masks", a terrorist group that threatens the safety of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E3 2015</span> 21st annual Electronic Entertainment Expo

The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015 was the 21st E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It took place from June 16 to June 18, 2015, with 52,200 total attendees.

<i>Champions of Anteria</i> 2016 action role-playing video game

Champions of Anteria is an action role-playing video game developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows. It was released in August 2016. In October, Blue Byte released two DLC packs; The Alchemist and The Beastmaster, featuring new characters and buildings.

<i>Skull and Bones</i> (video game) Upcoming video game

Skull and Bones is an upcoming action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Singapore and published by Ubisoft. The game is set to be released during the 2023–2024 fiscal year for Amazon Luna, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A version for Google Stadia was planned before the service's shutdown. The game revolves around piracy and naval warfare with a fantastical setting during the late 17th century, the peak of the historical Golden Age of Piracy.

<i>Anno 1800</i> 2019 video game

Anno 1800 is a city-building real-time strategy video game, developed by Ubisoft Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft, and launched on April 16, 2019. It is the seventh game in the Anno series, and returns to the use of a historical setting, following the previous futuristic titles Anno 2070 and Anno 2205, taking place during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Following the previous installment, the game returns to the series' traditional city-building and ocean combat mechanics, but introduces new aspects of gameplay, such as tourism, blueprinting, and the effects of industrialisation influences on island inhabitants.

<i>The Settlers: New Allies</i> 2023 video game

The Settlers: New Allies is a real-time strategy city-building game developed by Ubisoft Düsseldorf and published by Ubisoft. It is a reboot of The Settlers series. It was released on 17 February 2023 for Windows and on 4 July 2023 for Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

References

  1. ↑ Prescott, Shaun (15 June 2015). "Anno 2205 confirmed for November". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 Griliopoulos, Dan (2 July 2015). "Colonise earth and moon in Anno 2205". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Dingman, Hayden (18 June 2015). "Anno 2205 hands-on: This city builder shoots for the moon". PC World. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (14 June 2015). "Ubisoft reveals Anno 2205 sci-fi colonization game". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Grant, Christopher (15 June 2015). "Anno 2205 takes city building to outer space". Polygon . Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 VanOrd, Kevin (17 June 2015). "Anno 2205: Stepping into the Future and Sticking to the Past at E3 2015". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Geere, Duncan (16 June 2015). "Impressions: Anno 2205 Takes City-building To The Moon". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  8. 1 2 Gates, Christopher (16 June 2015). "E3 2015: 'Anno 2205′ Impressions". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Anno 2205 - Dirk Riegert Interview". Gamereactor . 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  10. ↑ Karmali, Luke (15 June 2015). "E3 2015: Ubisoft Announces Anno 2005 Coming Later This Year". IGN . Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (16 June 2015). "Be A Part Of Anno 2205 Closed Beta". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Homles, Mike (16 June 2015). "Sci-fi strategy revealed, Anno 2205 hitting beta this year". Gamereactor . Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  13. ↑ Hillier, Brenna (3 August 2015). "Anno 2205 beta cancelled, pre-orders now receive in-game bonus". VG247 . Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "ANNO 2205™: TUNDRA DLC IS NOW AVAILABLE". Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Anno 2205 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  16. ↑ "Anno 2205 Review". www.gamespot.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "Anno 2205 Review". www.ign.com. November 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Anno 2205 review". www.pcgamer.com. 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.