In a brief press release issued today, 2K Games announced that Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Warlords has gone gold, and that the add-on will be shipped to North American stores on July 24th. This is the first (as in first of many?) expansion pack created by Firaxis for their award-winning TBS game released last year, adding a slew of new scenarios and features - including the concept of Vassal States (you can now conquer an enemy and subjugate them to your rule).

"Developed by Firaxis Games, Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Warlords is an all-new expansion pack that pays homage to some of history's greatest military leaders, delivering eight new scenarios, giving players the chance to change the course of history with the help of their new powerful "warlord" unit. The expansion pack is loaded with new civilizations, new leaders and more units, resources and wonders that can be used in both single and multiplayer games."

It's curious how 2K's latest statement talks about eight new scenarios, while a couple of months ago there were only six of them, as listed below:

- Chinese Unification (350 BC): Take control of one of Ancient China's kingdoms in an attempt to unify the country by either the pen or the sword.

- Peloponnesian Wars (430 BC): Mighty Athens and Sparta struggle for dominance of Greece and surrounding territories.

- Alexander's Conquests (330 BC): Alexander attempts to conquer the world to the south and east of Greece, taking on the Persians, Egyptians, and Indians.

- Rise of Rome (300 BC): Battle as Rome, Carthage, Greece, Gaul, or Egypt for control of the Mediterranean.

- Vikings (800 AD): Become ruler of the Vikings and send your men out on numerous raids against Europe. Victory is decided by how much loot can be acquired.

- Genghis Khan (1206 AD): Relive the conquests of one of history's greatest military leaders and capture – or if you must, destroy – all of Asia.

What are the remaining two new scenarios? One can only imagine... Or google it.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)