Publisher 2K Games today announced that Civilization IV: Colonization, an all-new entry in Sid Meier’s long-running real-time strategy series, will exclusively hit the PC in fall 2008.

Developed by Firaxis Games, the game is described as a re-imagining of the original 1994 classic, featuring improved diplomacy options, a set of all-new modding tools, and a fully revamped user interface system. Although Colonization is being built on the same engine that powered Civilization IV, 2K noted that it will not require the previous installment in order to be played.

Take a peek at the first screenshots after the jump.

Civilization IV: Colonization

2K Games Announces Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization™ for Games for Windows®

Sid Meier’s Classic Colonization is recreated as a new stand-alone title in the Civilization IV® universe

New York, NY – June 9, 2008 – 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization™, the next offering in the award-winning Civilization IV® universe, is currently in development at 2K’s world-renowned Firaxis Games development studio. Conceived from the ground up to take advantage of the Civilization IV engine, Colonization will be available fall 2008 exclusively for Games for Windows®.

“We’ve received many requests from fans over the years to bring back Colonization and now seemed to be the perfect time to do that,” said Sid Meier, director of creative development at Firaxis Games. “The Civilization IV engine provided a fantastic foundation for a new Colonization experience and allowed us to create something great for both new players and long time fans of the game.”

In Colonization, players lead one of four European nations on a quest to conquer and rule the New World. Players will be challenged to guide their people from the oppressive motherland, discover the New World, and negotiate, trade and fight with both the natives and other nations as they acquire power and fight for freedom and independence.

As a complete reimagining of the 1994 classic, Colonization is a total conversion of Civilization IV that combines Civilization’s addictive “just one more turn” gameplay with all-new graphics and features that add more depth to the franchise. New features, such as a brand-new interface, improved diplomacy options and the included modding tools ensure that Colonization will be the next great title from gaming’s premier strategy game developer.

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization for Games for Windows will be available fall 2008 and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.civilization.com

* Colonization does not require the original Civilization IV product in order to be played.

Follow this author on Twitter.