Colonization positions players as one of four European nations vying for control of the New World. In the struggle to dominate new territory, colonists must battle with natives and rival nations alike while freeing themselves from oppressive motherlands.

The expansion was built from the ground up for the Civilization IV engine, and is described the publisher as a complete reimagining of the 1994 classic Sid Meier's Colonization (PC). The game features a brand new interface, improved diplomacy options and a new modding toolset.

Civilization IV: Colonization, which does not require any previous Civilization IV installations to play, is aimed for release this fall.