'Civilization 6' release date, gameplay news 2016: Queen Tomyris is a blood-thirsty conqueror; Sean Bean voices tech tree quotes

The latest installment in the "Civilization" 4X video game series is still a couple of months away, but gameplay footage from the highly anticipated game has already hit the internet.

Several outlets recently posted lengthy gameplay footage from "Civilization 6," and they show that the upcoming installment will introduce a slew of new characters, mechanics, and game features.

As Polygon noted, "Civilization 6" features a new research system and brings back customizable governments. In the game, cities are divided into districts occupying their own hexes. As for the combat, players will be able to accumulate support units and stack them up like battering rams, which keeps them better secured as the enemy's castle walls are approached.

In addition, "Civilization 6" introduces some new historical elements including the Scythian culture, which is based on an actual ancient nomadic group from the central Eurasian steppes. In the game, the Scythians are led by Queen Tomyris, a fearsome warrior based off an actual queen who lived during the sixth century BCE.

According to PC Gamer, the Scythians, the first all-new civ announced for "Civilization 6," have incredible staying power thanks to their ability to heal after defending an enemy unit. They also deal bonus damage to injured enemies. Another unique feature of the Scythians is their ability to get two Saka Horse Archers or light cavalry units for the price of one.

Meanwhile, PC Gamer also reports that "Game of Thrones" alum Sean Bean provided the voice for the tech tree quotes in "Civilization 6." The actor also narrated the "Civilization 6" trailer that debuted at E3 this year.

According to the outlet, Bean's voice can be heard reading out the historical quotations that pop out every time a player completes a new technology or new civics.

The late "Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy, who passed away in February 2015, narrated "Civilization 4," while veteran British actor Morgan Sheppard lent his voice to "Civilization 5."

"Civilization 6" arrives on the PC this Oct. 21.