Exciting news for fans of Civilization 7: dataminers have uncovered hints of a fourth, unannounced Age in the game, and Firaxis has tantalizingly teased their future plans in an interview with IGN. A standard campaign in Civilization 7 spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. As players transition between these Ages, they select a new civilization to represent their empire, choose which Legacies to carry forward, and witness the game world evolve—a unique system not seen in previous Civilization titles.
Currently, the Modern Age in Civilization 7 concludes before the Cold War, with the game ending at the close of World War 2. In an insightful interview with IGN, Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach discussed the reasoning behind this timeline. "We spent a lot of time looking at the ebbs and flows of history," Beach explained. He highlighted the importance of historical transitions in defining the Ages, working closely with senior historian Andrew Johnson to ensure a global perspective. The Antiquity Age ends around the 300 to 500 CE period, marking the fall of major empires across the world. The transition from Exploration to Modern Age is pegged to the era of revolutions challenging established monarchies, and the Modern Age ends with the significant historical pivot of the World Wars in 1945.
When asked about potential expansions, executive producer Dennis Shirk hinted at exciting possibilities without confirming specifics. "You can imagine the possibilities with this, honestly," Shirk said, suggesting that future Ages could introduce new systems, visuals, units, and civilizations tailored to each era. Following this tease, eager players with advanced access have already datamined the game, uncovering references to an Atomic Age, along with mentions of unannounced leaders and civilizations.
In the immediate future, Firaxis is focused on addressing community feedback to improve Civilization 7's reception, which currently sits at a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remains optimistic, suggesting that the "legacy Civ audience" will warm up to the game over time, and described its early performance as "very encouraging."
For those looking to master Civilization 7, be sure to check out our comprehensive guides. From strategies to complete every victory type, to understanding the significant changes from Civilization 6, and avoiding common mistakes, we have you covered. Additionally, delve into our explanations of the various map types and difficulty settings to enhance your gameplay experience.
