Ubisoft and one of its European subsidiaries Blue Byte announced a new title at Gamescom today: Anno 1800. The game is the newest entry in the long running Anno series, but is opting to once again go back to the past with this entry after jumping all the way to 2205. That being said, we shouldn't expect the title on PC until late 2018.

According to the developers, Anno 1800 will begin at the dawn of the industrial age, giving players the power to shape the world they control. The technological and political landscapes were rapidly evolving during this period in history, so it is up to players to keep track of the changes so their empire will survive. In addition to a story-based campaign, Anno 1800 will feature the series' staple city-building mechanics and sandbox mode.

The developers over at Blue Byte want this game to go back to the series' roots, while at the same time taking tons of fan input along the way. That is why today they also announced the Anno Union. The Anno Union will allow its members to play the game early and provide feedback on the early builds of Anno 1800; members will also be able to partake in discussions with the developers that will shape the future of Anno 1800 and the franchise as a whole. You can learn more about the Anno Union here. 

You can check out both the announcement trailer for the game and the video introducing the Anno Union below. Anno 1800 is currently set to come out in Winter 2018.