Monte Cristo has announced that CITIES XL will hit the store shelves in Europe on October 9th, 2009. Cities XL is a building simulation game that allows gamers to develop cities on realistic 3D maps using a collection of unique structures and monuments based on American, Asian and European-influenced architectural styles. The maps feature a variety of environments: mountains, hills, canyons, beaches and islands, all set in different climates from tropical to desert, Mediterranean to temperate. Players must create the right combinations of social services, leisure activities, special events and other job opportunities within their cities in order to feed, clothe, employ and entertain their citizens. The game's online features and services will allow players to create interconnected cities on virtual and persistent planets.