As if it was ever in doubt, a new title in the RTS franchise is in development...

Electronic Arts has finally posted the press release it alluded to at the weekend, confirming the development of Command & Conquer 4, which is due to ship sometime next year.

The new game will introduce 'new class-based gameplay, mobile bases and persistent player progression throughout all game modes' according to the release, as well as concluding the series' Tiberium saga.

Mike Glosecki, Lead Producer of Command & Conquer 4 at EA Los Angeles said: “Command & Conquer is a powerful franchise with an amazing 15-year legacy. We are thrilled to bring the dramatic Tiberium saga to a conclusion in Command & Conquer 4. This game is designed to give fans all the answers they’ve been looking for. With its objective-based multiplayer mode, persistent player progression and all-in-one mobile base, players will experience Command & Conquer like never before.”

The game will also include the usual two campaigns (GDI and Nod), the less usual co-op mode, and the downright new '5v5 objective-based multiplayer' mode. Ten-player online battles sound downright exciting to us, but will the other new features be enough to appease the RTS faithful?