SimCity update 4.0 adds a new park and a new region - but doesn't increase the city size

SimCity update 4.0 launches today and it adds a host of new features and fixes - but it doesn't extend the city size or add an offline mode.

With the patch developer Maxis has added the SimCity Launch Park, which is a new park for "dedicated fans who were early adopters".

A new region, Edgewater Bay, is added. It includes seven city sites in a cluster around a bay with one great work site.

Elsewhere, your current server will now be shown in the options menu and you'll get more detailed information when you rollover buildings, for example if your Sims received happiness from a park or shopping.

Meanwhile, update 4.0 re-enables some features. Global Market prices now dynamically change during gameplay. Leaderboards are now active on EU West 3, Pacific 1 and Pacific 2, and others will be enabled throughout today. Region filters are now enabled on all SimCity servers, so you'll be able to search for open games by Map Name, Sandbox Mode and Abandoned Cities.

Now for fixes. Maxis has fixed an issue where some cities would not have rain clouds to replenish their water table. Fire truck response times have been improved, as has the time it takes for a fire signal to reach a fire station.

And happiness has been tuned so Sims will lose a small amount of happiness if they don't have a place to shop. This means cities without places to shop will see complaints. Maxis wants to emphasise the importance of commercial zones.

Patch notes in full are on the EA forum.