With just one week until it goes sale and millions of the global populace become committed hermits in the name of interplanetary colonisation, 2K has released the cinematic intro to Firaxis's Civilization: Beyond Earth, dubbed “The Chosen”.

The trailer from Civilization: Beyond Earth's introduction sets up some context as to how Ghandi ended up stranded on alien planet, dropping orbital nukes with gleeful abandon. Of course every galactic wars needs some humanisation, so Firaxis has constructed personal connection for the viewer by depicting a brief story from the point of view of a young woman who makes it off Earth by chance alone.

It’s a well made cinematic piece, opening with a brief glimpse of a dying world, with only a select few able to make the journey on a cluster of huge ships embarking on a voyage to make a new start on a different world. But a feeling of hope, and new beginnings culminates with a stunning view of Earth’s refugees looking down on their new planet, waiting for colonisation.

Beyond Earth will mark the first time a Civilisation game has concerned itself only with the future of mankind. Fans of the games will be more familiar with working their way through the ages, although misty-eyed Firaxis fans will remember its 1999 effort Alpha Centauri. They'll no doubt be looking forward to the developers producing a game that feels in many ways like a long overdue spiritual successor to the game.

The gameplay of Civ: Beyond Earth will retain the hexagonal-based grid system introduced in Civilization V. Whereas initial options in previous Civ games would be based on historical empires, players opening choices in Beyond Earth will be based on multiple decisions such as what company backed their mission to the new planet, what kind of ship they arrived in and what people they had on the ship. Thus allowing for a wide variety of options and different scenarios in which players can begin crafting their own society.

Civilization: Beyond Earth is released on October 24 for PC. Are you looking forward to the futuristic starting point for the latest installment of the series, or will you continue to smite barbarians in Civilization V? Let us know!