If you're like me, you can't really remember the last time you rounded up all your military forces for a good old invasion of a neighboring country, so perhaps you need to listen up - 2k Games have announced that the guys over at Fireaxis Games are currently hard at work on Civilization V, the latest addition to Sid Meir's increasingly popular turn-based society-building series.

While details are currently scarce, the official press release revealed that the game will feature a brand new graphical engine and will favor hexagonal shaped tiles on the map instead of the traditional square ones. It was also announced that the various other world leaders you bump into along your quest for global domination will now be fully voiced in their native language. All of which 2K hope will deliver superior strategic experience and added immersion for the player.

civ 5 screenshot 1

civ 5 screenshot 2

The official press release is as follows:

New York, NY - February 18, 2010 - 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that Sid Meier's Civilization V, the newest entry from the genre-defining strategy-based franchise, is currently in development at Firaxis Games for PC.

Civilization V reinvigorates the classic turn-based strategy genre with an astonishing new engine built from the ground-up for this flagship edition of the Civilization franchise. Players are introduced to an entirely new combat system, deeper diplomatic interactions and a cavalcade of expanded features that deliver a fully immersive experience providing hours of entertainment as players build and defend their empire on their quest to become the greatest ruler the world has ever known.

Civilization V takes this definitive strategy game series in new directions with the introduction of hexagon tiles allowing for deeper strategy, more realistic gameplay and stunning organic landscapes for players to explore as they expand their empire. The brand new engine orchestrates a spectacular visual experience that brings players closer to the Civ experience than ever, featuring fully animated leaders interacting with players from a screen-filling diplomatic scene and speaking in their native language for the first time. Wars between empires feel massive as armies dominate the landscape, and combat is more exciting and intense than ever before. The addition of ranged bombardment allows players to fire weapons from behind the front lines, challenging players to develop clever new strategies to guarantee victory on the battlefield. In addition to the new gameplay features debuting in Civilization V, an extensive suite of community, modding and multiplayer elements will also make an appearance.

For more information on Sid Meier's Civilization V, please visit www.civilization.com. To find out more about Sid Meier's Civilization Network visit www.facebook.com/civnetwork.

Civilization V is due to invade stores something this Fall and will be available for PC.