The beloved board game Settlers of Catan is coming to consoles in 2023 with lots of new features in the recently announced CATAN - Console Edition.

The beloved board game Catan - formerly Settlers of Catan - will be given many shiny new updates when it comes to consoles next year as CATAN - Console Edition. Catan is widely considered to be one of the best board games on the market, and now has the potential to become, like Dominion, one of the best digital board games as well. For a game this renowned, hype for the release has undoubtedly already begun for many strategy game fans.

The basic premise of Catan has always been about building settlements and collecting resources. Players must not only claim land in Catan, but build connecting roads throughout their territory and work to upgrade their settlements into cities as well. A win is achieved through collecting enough victory points, which can be done both through building and through other special achievements. Although incredibly popular, Catan is also infamous for having many pieces and gameplay elements that players must balance, with some deeming the game overly complicated as a result. The Catan series came to Nintendo Switch in 2019, but it was criticized for its lack of online multiplayer and less-than-stellar graphics.

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A new trailer was released this week by the CATAN - Console Edition YouTube channel (via IGN) announcing the upcoming release of the new CATAN. The trailer shows settlements rising from the water as players populate the field, which is described as "a board that comes to life." The clip advertises that the game will offer both local and online multiplayer. According to IGN, "each game is also fully customisable, with players able to arrange the board in different ways and using different rulesets," and there will be a tutorial mode as well. Currently, the release window for CATAN - Console Edition is sometime in 2023.

Although the Catan series has somewhat forayed into the digital realm on different platforms like mobile and Nintendo Switch, no interpretation of the game has ever been particularly focused on graphics. In contrast, CATAN - Console Edition looks like an immediate contender for best digital tabletop game, joining Dorfromantik and Root - the settlements and resources shown are visually stunning, which is a welcome change. The ability for players to utilize both local and online play is also an incredibly important part of this upcoming release - the fact that any previous edition of Catan could leave out multiplayer is baffling considering the roots of the game.

The flexible settings advertised for CATAN - Console Edition are also incredibly appealing for players. Customizable matches and rulesets will allow players to adjust difficulty based on their experience level, and tutorials will undoubtedly be an excellent resource for people who want to get into the world of Catan but are intimidated by all of its different elements. This news is the first real digital development fans have seen from Catan since Niantic canceled its AR project for the series, and many fans have likely been wondering when they would see another adaptation's release. Now it seems fans of the incredible series will finally have a lot of new features and graphics to look forward to in 2023 with CATAN - Console Edition.

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Source: CATAN - Console Edition/Youtube (via IGN)

Deven McClure is a Senior Gaming Writer covering news, reviews, features, and interviews for Screen Rant, specializing in the simulation genre. A lifelong lover of video games, she began writing for Screen Rant in 2021. When she's not working, you can undoubtedly find her playing her latest video game obsession - most likely something with farming and crafting. She's been playing games since early childhood, first becoming obsessed with Animal Crossing for the Gamecube at 8 years old, and has loved learning about them ever since. Originally from California where she studied arts and child development, Deven moved to New York in 2017. After her move, she attended Gotham Writing School with a focus on article and television writing. She now lives in Brooklyn with her boyfriend and cats, Timmy and Tommy - named after the two adorable Animal Crossing characters, of course.