Following widespread rumors, EA reveals the revamped version of its classic real-time strategy series will ship in 2007.

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot
Posted Apr 20, 2006 9:53 am PT

Following widespread rumors, Electronic Arts has made it official: Command & Conquer 3 is coming to PCs. When the game ships in 2007, it will be the first new installment in the venerable real-time strategy series since 2003's Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour.

However, unlike Zero Hour, the newest Command & Conquer continues the storyline of the original game. That plot put players in the midst of a fictional near-future conflict that pitted a peacekeeping alliance, the Global Defense Initiative (GDI), against an evil paramilitary organization, the Brotherhood of Nod.

Subtitled Tiberium Wars, Command & Conquer 3 picks up years after the last game in the timeline, 2002's Command & Conquer Renegade, left off. Set in the year 2047, it sees the GDI trying to stop the spread of Tiberium, a toxic extraterrestrial mineral that is spreading across the planet like a fungus. Having far less scruples, the Brotherhood of Nod begins a war to protect Tiberium, which is its prime resource of energy. (There are also unconfirmed reports of a third race being in the game, but no mention of it was made in EA's release.)

Gameplay-wise, EA promises that Tiberium Wars will have an extensive single-player campaign that will feature base-building, unit-combining, and high-tech-weaponry wielding. Multiplayer-wise, the game will offer voice over IP, integrated clan support, and several "new spectator modes" for online competitions.

GameSpot will have more information on Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars as it becomes available.