Dataminers for Civilization 7 have uncovered intriguing hints that the game may soon introduce a fourth, unannounced Age. This speculation is further fueled by comments from Firaxis, the game's developer, in a recent interview with IGN. Currently, a full campaign in Civilization 7 progresses through three distinct Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each Age concludes with an Age Transition, a pivotal moment where players select a new civilization from the incoming Age, choose which Legacies to carry forward, and witness the evolution of the game world. This innovative system marks a significant departure from previous entries in the Civilization series.
The Modern Age in Civilization 7 concludes before the onset of the Cold War, a decision confirmed by lead designer Ed Beach in the IGN interview. Beach elaborated on the historical reasoning behind this choice, stating, "We spent a lot of time looking at the ebbs and flows of history." He explained that the game's narrative is structured into chapters, with each Age's end corresponding to significant historical shifts. Antiquity ends around the 300 to 500 CE period, reflecting the decline of major empires worldwide. The transition from Exploration to Modern is marked by revolutionary upheavals, such as the French and American Revolutions. The Modern Age wraps up post-World War II, a time Beach described as a major pivot in history, suitable for introducing new gameplay mechanics tailored to each Age.
When asked about potential expansions, executive producer Dennis Shirk hinted at exciting future developments without confirming specifics. He emphasized the game's modular design, which allows for rich, age-specific content, and expressed enthusiasm for the game's future direction. This tease aligns with datamined evidence from players with advanced access to the game, who discovered references to an "Atomic Age" and unannounced leaders and civilizations. These findings suggest that Firaxis may indeed be planning to extend Civilization 7 into new historical periods, possibly including space exploration and modern-day units.
In the meantime, Firaxis is actively addressing community feedback, responding to the 'mixed' user review rating on Steam. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, in an interview with IGN, acknowledged the initial negative reception but remains optimistic about the game's long-term appeal to the "legacy Civ audience." He described Civilization 7's early performance as "very encouraging."
For players eager to dominate the world of Civilization 7, our comprehensive guides offer valuable insights. From strategies to achieve every victory type to understanding the significant changes from Civilization 6, and avoiding common pitfalls, we've got you covered. Additionally, explore our detailed explanations of all map types and difficulty settings to enhance your gameplay experience.
