Dawn of Discovery Announced

Today Ubisoft announced Dawn of Discovery, a real-time strategy and simulation game specifically designed for the Wii home video game system, the Nintendo DS hand held system and PC. Scheduled for release in summer 2009, Dawn of Discovery gives gamers the opportunity to explore new civilizations and build their own empire like never before through the immersive action of the Wii Remote and the DS stylus.

"Dawn of Discovery allows gamers to take the civilization-building experience to the next level of fun and interactivity," said Adam Novickas, director of marketing for Ubisoft. "We're pleased to be bringing the brand new, uniquely designed game to not only the PC and Nintendo DS, but also to Wii for the first time."

Dawn of Discovery takes place in the year 1404, when King George's land is suffering from severe droughts and brutal famine. Aware of his people's distress, the king calls on his two sons, William and Edward, to acquire new territories in order to produce enough goods to satisfy the needs of his empire's inhabitants. Whereas Edward suggests aggressive means to collect the precious resources, his brother William offers a peaceful solution, proposing to explore new and unsettled lands in the south of the kingdom. With his Father's blessing, William heads south to the mysterious Orient and returns with valuable new technologies such as the water pump that allows dry lands to be cultivated in order to produce enough food for the people. But there are still many unmet needs within the king's empire, and players are tasked with the mission of fulfilling those needs while both expanding and sustaining the vast society.

Game features include:

Build and sustain your own expansive empire


Explore the beautifully detailed world and discover new places to create your civilization

Set up trade posts in the spice mines of the Orient and explore new trade routes to keep your nation growing

Learn from other nearby cultures to expand your horizons and master the challenges of establishing a prosperous society


Developed specifically for Wii, DS and PC audiences

Unique art style and clever integration of the Wii Remote and DS stylus makes building your empire more fun and interactive than ever before

All new scalable 3-D engine ensures unmatched visuals, optimized for all PC's – from high-end to low-end desktops

Seamless user interface delivers multiple gameplay modes and faster player rewards for both long or short play sessions


Exclusive multiplayer modes across platforms

Build your civilization and make history along with a friend in the 2-player co-op mode for Wii

Integration with Ubi.com allows PC players to track achievements, climb leaderboards and challenge others online


Accessible for everyone from beginners to pros

Intelligent help system offers contextual hints for any situation

In-game encyclopedia includes illustrated tutorial filled with tips and strategies for building your civilization


Formerly known as ANNO 1404, Dawn of Discovery is the North American title of the game.