Civilization 7's release has left many veteran players questioning the absence of a familiar face: Mahatma Gandhi. A staple of the series since its inception in 1991, Gandhi's omission is notable. This absence, however, isn't a permanent one, according to Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach.
Beach confirmed that Gandhi's inclusion is part of a larger DLC roadmap. He explained that the initial Civilization 7 launch focused on introducing new civilizations alongside some established ones, leaving out certain fan favorites like Great Britain (which, along with Carthage, is part of a March 2025 DLC). This strategy mirrors past iterations where iconic civilizations like Mongolia and Persia were initially absent from the base game. The decision to omit certain leaders reflects the need to balance established favorites with fresh additions to maintain excitement.
While Gandhi's absence is temporary, Firaxis is currently addressing community concerns surrounding Civilization 7's reception. Steam user reviews cite issues with the user interface, limited map variety, and missing features. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback but expressed confidence that the game's performance will improve and that the core fanbase will eventually embrace the new iteration.
For players seeking to conquer the world in Civilization 7, resources are available to help navigate the game's mechanics and challenges. Guides covering victory conditions, key changes for Civ 6 players, common mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings are readily accessible.