[1][2] The game allowed players to play online and interact with others on massive persistent planets, and to work together by trading resources or building blueprints in order to satisfy the needs of city inhabitants.

Focus Home Interactive acquired the franchise in June 2010 and released Cities XL 2011 on October 14, 2010.

[4] Cities XL allowed players an option to play on a persistent online virtual community known as a planet which required a monthly subscription fee.

On January 27, 2010 Monte Cristo announced due to a low subscription rate they would be closing the multiplayer online service, and they did so on March 8, 2010.

A Mass Placement Tool has been announced in previews allowing players to select tags that define what categories of buildings they want to see created when outlining an area of lots.

[12] A pre-released screen shot of an Aspen map confirmed that Cities XL would include snowy landscapes.

In June 2007, a screenshot of a new city building game from Monte Cristo was posted in Philippe Da Silva's personal blog.

Prior to the game's release, both the blog and user forum were closed and removed from public view.

The company had stated that the community was not to worry, as they have "saved all of the good posts", and would continue to maintain a presence on websites such as Simtropolis.

New features included more buildings and maps, improved public transport, an enhanced tax system, and better trading options.

[25] IGN described the game as having "pushed the genre in the right direction" with its "friendlier learning curve" compared to the SimCity series.

The review praised the ability to add curved roads, and the "gorgeous" graphics, however, the multiplayer feature was described as "shallow" and the subscription cost was questioned.