Firaxis has confirmed the first batch of civilizations coming to Civilization VII, their transformative fresh take on the classic 4X strategy game. Civ 7 is set to launch on February 11, 2025 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, so you can expect a steady stream of similar announcements until then.
Split into three distinct eras – Ancient, Exploring, and Modern – each civilization is confined to a specific time period, and then must evolve and transform into another at a point of crisis. Rome will eventually fall, but this could provide a historical and playable foundation to become any number of medieval empires – perhaps the Holy Roman Empire? – and from there lead to state-of-the-art European nations.
The six revealed civilizations are:
While not included in the announcement, Firaxis has already mentioned Mongolia and the prospect of China and India being represented by their dynasties.
The announcement also revealed what will make these packs stand out, detailing attributes, skills, civic trees, and more.
Take Aksum, for example, on the African coast of the Red Sea, a power whose traders brought ivory, gold, spices, and other goods from the interior of Africa to India, Persia, and the Mediterranean. Their specifics include:
Unique skill
Kingdom of Natural Wealth: Increased amount of gold in resources.
Attributes:
Citizen Trees
Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
- Level 1: Unlock Hawilt Unique Improvement. Increased resource capacity in coastal settlements or navigable rivers. Unlocks Great Stele Wonder.
- Tradition – Port of Nations: More culture and gold for each energetic trade route.
- Level 2: Increased gold on blocks adjacent to coast tiles. Unlocks the “Port of Nations” tradition.
Monument to the Adulitanians
- Level 1: Altar and Monumental buildings gain a Cultural Adjacency bonus with Hawilt’s unique upgrades. Unlocks the “Throne of my Fathers” tradition.
- Tradition – The Throne of my Fathers: Increased gold in cities adjacent to coast tiles.
Book of Himyarites
- Level 1: Dhow Unique Naval units gain the Swift keyword, allowing them to ignore enemy units’ ZOC. Unlocks the ‘May This Please the People’ tradition.
- Tradition – Let this please the people: Increased culture of resources found on or adjacent to coast tiles.
Unique infrastructure
Hawilt: Unique Improvement. Gold Base. Increased Culture for each adjacent Wonder or Hawilt. Must be built on a flat tile.
A unique civilian unit
Tanker: Unique trade ship. Cannot be plundered. Increased trade route range.
A unique military unit
Dhow: Unique naval unit. Increased combat power on coastal tiles. Has a charge to create a sea trade route.
Related miracle
Big stars: Earn Gold for an Age when you complete a Wonder in this City, including the Great Stele. Must be built on a flat field.
Initial prejudices:
You can find similar details for all revealed civilizations here.
You can also check out Civilization 7’s Gamescom preview or delve deeper into the philosophical shift of the era in our interview with Ed Beach.
