This week is another big week for betas as several online games such as Neverwinter and Marvel Heroes make their way into various phases of their beta testing. Ubisoft isn't about to get left out of the beta blitz and is joining the fray with their announcement that the closed beta for Anno Online is now underway.

Based on Anno 1404, Anno Online is a browser-based, free-to-play, strategy simulation game that allows players to explore new lands and build cities. Players can ban together to form guilds with the guild system coming in May to work together in peaceful trade or go to war with neighboring islands. During the closed beta, players will begin their adventure on a small deserted island with just two buildings at their disposal. From there they will need to make the best of their resources for further expansion and to form trading routes.

Sound like fun? Head over to the Anno Online website and sign up for your chance to join the closed beta.

UBISOFT LAUNCHES CLOSED BETA FOR ANNO ONLINE IN NORTH AMERICA





Latest Installment in Celebrated ANNO Strategy Franchise Now Available for Fans and Early Testers; New Guild Features Announced for May

SAN FRANCISCO  April 23, 2013  Ubisoft® has launched the Closed Beta phase of Anno Online, the latest installment in the award-winning PC strategy game series, for players in North America and all English speaking countries. Developed by Ubisoft Blue Byte, Anno Online is a free-to-play, browser-based world-building strategy game that challenges players to build and manage a medieval kingdom and trading empire. The Closed Beta is now available via the games official web site www.anno-online.com.

Based on the critically acclaimed Anno 1404®, Anno Online delivers the franchises proven and popular strategy-simulation gameplay along with the series highly-detailed animation and graphics, for the first time in a browser-based title. Players will build and develop great medieval cities using the detailed economic system enjoyed for years by Anno fans. As they satisfy the populations needs, they will unlock new buildings and face more demanding inhabitants, eventually needing to discover and claim additional islands and connect them with trading routes.

In Anno Online, players will start on a deserted island with only two buildings (a harbour and a warehouse) and will have to make the best of their resources to build, manage and expand their territory in order to develop a commercial empire. Trade by ships remains an essential component of the game, and will offer multiplayer possibilities that will further enhance the deep economic system of Anno Online.

GUILD SYSTEM COMING MID-MAY

Anno Online will introduce new persistent online gameplay possibilities and offer players the opportunity to cooperate with friends thanks to the Guild System, set to release in mid-May. This Guild System will allow players to create their own Guilds, choose a name and tag, and invite up to 25 members to join. The guild can then establish a larger strategy thanks to the guild chat channel. Guilds will have access to a new building, the Guild Hall building, which will allow members to gather together.

Players interested in joining the Closed Beta for Anno Online should visit the games official website at www.anno-online.com.

About BlueByte, a Ubisoft studio:

Blue Byte was established in 1988 and released its first hit game in 1991: Battle Isle. This was followed in 1993 by the development strategy game The Settlers®, which established itself as a long-lasting favorite. In 2001, Blue Byte was acquired by Ubisoft, and in 2004 the studio moved into the premises of Ubisofts German branch in Düsseldorf. The team at Blue Byte is responsible for new productions of The Settlers® and ANNO®. The studio is also active in the free-2-play genre with the web-based browser game The Settlers Online, available in several languages and currently captivating millions of players worldwide.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 26 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2010-11 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of 1.039 billion. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com

© 2012 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Produced by Blue Byte. Anno, Blue Byte and the Blue Byte logo are trademarks of Ubisoft GmbH in the US and/or other countries

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