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Sometimes a game announcement sounds like its real when its a fake, like a number of April Fool's jokes that hit the internet. Other times a game announcement comes around that sound totally out there but in fact is totally real.

The latter case is what's happening with today's reveal of Anno 2070, the latest game in the long running strategy-trade sim series from developer Related Designs. If you can figure out that the "2070" in the title means that this series is leaving Middle Ages Europe behind for the future, give yourself a gold star.

Yes this series takes place in an era where the sea water is rising and there's less valuable land to go around. You can take up with the techno faction the Tycoons or the green faction the Ecos in this game which will have a single player campaign, a sandbox mode and unnamed multiplayer modes. Publisher Ubisoft plans to release Anno 2070 sometime in winter 2011.

Fans of The Settlers 7 are getting a surprise early Christmas expansion pack this week. Developer Blue Byte Software and publisher Ubisoft have released a new and large downloadable expansion pack for the fantasy strategy-sim game. It's the third such DLC expansion for the game since The Settlers 7 was first released earlier this year.

The $14.99 expansion, which can be purchased and downloaded from Ubisoft's online store, has two new scenario maps (The Awakening of the Eternal City and Perils of the Coast) along with Rise of the Rebellion, a new five map mini-campaign for the game. If you don't feel like getting the entire expansion in one shot, Ubisoft has split off each of the scenario maps in separate DLC packs for $4.99 each as well as the mini-campaign for $7.99.

This manual patch for The Settlers 7 updates the game to v1.11, which includes free new content such as the Monhaim Valley map and the 'Occult Science' technology tree. A list of changes can be found after the jump, and The Settlers 7 playable demo can be found here.

Download The Settlers 7 v1.11 Full Patch (1 GB)
Download The Settlers 7 Demo (2.55 GB)
Check out all Settlers 7 downloads

This patch for The Settlers 7 updates the game to v1.1, which includes a number of bug fixes and game improvements. The patch is available in two versions: the smaller one will update the game from v1.09 while the full version has changes from all past updates, including the free multiplayer maps (like Moorach) and other content. A list of changes can be found after the jump, and The Settlers 7 playable demo can be found here.

Download The Settlers 7 v1.09+ - v1.1 Patch (87 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 v1.1 Full Patch (819 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 Demo (2.55 GB)
Check out all Settlers 7 downloads

Fans of The Settlers 7 are getting some new maps and missions to try out via a new paid download via Steam. The second paid downloadable expansion for Ubisoft's latest game in the strategy-sim series is now available to grab.

The Empire Expansion adds three new multiplayer maps to the Blue Byte-developed game. One is the water-themed level Whitewater Falls while the second is the mountain-themed Twin Peaks (we need a good cup of coffee now). The third map is the rural themed Grassland Media. The DLC costs $3.99 to purchase and download. You can also get both the DLC releases on Steam for $5.99, a $2 savings versus buying each separately.

This patch for The Settlers 7 updates the boxed retail game to v1.09. It includes bug fixes, gameplay enhancements, and two new maps. The patch is available in either a full version, or as an incremental patch that upgrades the game from v1.01 or above. Full patch notes, which include map descriptions, can be found after the jump. The Settlers 7 playable demo can be found here.

Download The Settlers 7 v1.01+ - v1.09 Patch (466 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 v1.09 Full Patch (819 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 Demo (2.55 GB)
Check out all Settlers 7 downloads

What's got this big rock creature all excited? Maybe its the fact that the game he appears in, The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom, has just given its players a new downloadable expansion pack to try out. The DLC for the latest game in the fantasy strategy-sim series is now available to purchase and download for $3.99 from publisher Ubisoft's online store. It's also available at Impulse and should be available soon at other PC game downloadable outlets.

The expansion adds three new multiplayer maps to the main game developed by Blue Byte Software; Tempest Taiga, Battle of Tanholm and Fiery Chasm. The DLC does require the new 1.07 patch for the game which can be grabbed right here at Big Download.

Download The Settlers 7 v1.01 - v1.07 Patch (242 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 v1.07 Full Patch (609 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 Demo (2.55 GB)
Check out all Settlers 7 downloads

This patch for The Settlers 7 updates the game to v1.07, which addresses a number of bug fixes and includes two new maps for skirmish and multiplayer games. Full patch notes, which include map descriptions, can be found after the jump. The Settlers 7 playable demo can be found here.

Download The Settlers 7 v1.01 - v1.07 Patch (242 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 v1.07 Full Patch (609 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 Demo (2.55 GB)
Check out all Settlers 7 downloads

This patch for The Settlers 7 updates the game to v1.05, which addresses a number of bug fixes and includes two new maps. Full patch notes can be found after the jump. The Settlers 7 playable demo can be found here.

Download The Settlers 7 v1.05 Full Patch (494 MB)
Download The Settlers 7 Demo (2.55 GB)
Check out all Settlers 7 downloads

The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom presents itself as a real-time strategy game, and in a sense it is... just not the kind that involves tactical battles. Even the tone, established by the cartoonish graphics and bedtime story sounding narrator, sets the game apart from most other RTS games. Although thecampaign's story has some slightly dark themes, they're generally mild as the game keeps an overall friendly attitude. Instead of controlling vast armies, the emphasis is placed almost entirely on resource management. The Settlers 7 has more in common with empire management games like Tropico 3 than it does with any of the Total War games.

Download The Settlers 7 Demo
Check out all The Settlers 7 downloads


*This review does not take the publisher's DRM into consideration.