I was a Civ kid growing up, but it’s been a moment since I’ve engaged in one of Sid Meier’s iconic strategy games. That might change soon, as at Opening Night Live we saw the gameplay reveal trailer, followed by a full showcase on the Civilization YouTube channel. The release date is February 11th, only six months away. I may have to call in sick that day, as Civ is a lifestyle choice, not just a video game.
New York, NY – August 20, 2024 – 2K and Firaxis Games today announced Sid Meier’s Civilization VII will launch on February 11, 2025. Representing a revolutionary new chapter in the storied and esteemed
strategy game franchise, which has sold-in more than 70 million copies worldwide, it will be available on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), PlayStation®4 (PS4®), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo™ Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Mac and Linux via Steam. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII will feature support for cross-play and cross-progression*, and is now available for pre-order.
Full details about Sid Meier’s Civilization VII were shared during Gamescom Opening Night Live and an ensuing gameplay showcase that highlighted the title’s innovative new features. The announcement also revealed Gwendoline Christie (“Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars” franchise) as the new narrator of the game via an enthralling live-action trailer.
In Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement.
“We’re incredibly excited to take players on a new type of journey through history in Sid Meier’s Civilization VII,” stated Ed Beach, Creative Director at Firaxis Games. “With the introduction of revolutionary new features such as Ages, the ability to select leaders and civilizations independently to mix and match gameplay bonuses, a beautiful new art style and more, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII promises to be true to our goal of being the ultimate historical strategy game.”
“Building an empire to stand the test of time has never felt more historically immersive,” stated Dennis Shirk, Executive Producer at Firaxis Games. “This is easily the biggest and most ambitious Civilization game we’ve ever made, one that we plan to support for many years to come.”
Key features include:
- Build an Empire to Stand the Test of Time. Lead your empire through distinct Ages of human history. Each Age is its own rich, nuanced journey, with unique playable civilizations, available resources, explorable land, and even entire gameplay systems, creating a deep, historically immersive strategy experience. Strive to accomplish significant scientific, cultural, militaristic, and economic milestones within each Age to unlock impactful advantages in the next!
- Evolve Your Empire as Each New Age Dawns. To build a legacy that truly stands the test of time, you must adapt. Forge your own path through history as you reshape your empire at the start of each Age, selecting from a pool of new Age-relevant civilization options determined by your prior gameplay accomplishments. Evolving your empire unlocks fresh gameplay bonuses and unique units, so your current civilization is always at the height of its power.
- Play as Visionary Leaders of Progress. Embody an illustrious leader with one of Civilization‘s most diverse rosters yet, from traditional heads of state known for their militaristic might or political prowess, to visionary leaders who made everlasting impacts in philosophy, science, human rights, and more! Each leader possesses a unique ability and can further be improved with customizable attributes earned through gameplay, empowering you to reinforce or pivot your strategy from one Age into the next. For the first time in franchise history, you can choose your leader separately from your civilization, giving you the freedom to create all-new strategies by mixing and matching gameplay bonuses.
- Explore a World Brought to Life Like Never Before. Make your mark on a gorgeously detailed world! Your empire comes to life with a vast, diverse range of cultural styles, represented across building architecture and unit design. Face-to-face interactions with other historic leaders immerse you in every act of diplomacy and declaration of war. As your territory expands and your cities continue to develop, lavishly rendered vistas of your empire seamlessly connect to create a vibrant metropolis.
- Test Your Strategic Mettle in Multiplayer. Compete against other players online and prove your prowess as a great leader. Multiplayer matches can be epic multi-Age campaigns, or take place in a single Age so you can enjoy an entire game in a single session. Cross-play is supported between PC and consoles, so you can play together with friends wherever they are.*
- An Enjoyable Strategy Experience for All. With more than 30 years of franchise legacy to draw from, Civilization VII features a vast wealth of gameplay improvements that will thrill series veterans and newcomers alike. The overhauled tutorial experience and refined gameplay systems make jumping into Civilization easier than ever, while returning players will appreciate a massive suite of gameplay improvements. Move your army as one under the leadership of a commander, unlock progression bonuses for your leaders across multiple gameplay sessions, traverse navigable rivers, and much, much more!
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII will be available in three editions: Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, and a limited-time Founders Edition. An additional limited-availability Collector’s Edition will be available, which includes physical collectibles themed around the game. A full breakdown is available on the Civilization website; edition details are as follows**:
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Standard Edition will be available for $59.99 on Nintendo™ Switch, and $69.99 on PS5®, PS4®, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Mac and Linux via Steam. It includes the base game; dual-gen entitlement is provided for digital copies on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS5®, and PS4® consoles respectively, linked to the same account. For physical copies, dual-gen entitlement is provided on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, but physical copies on PS5® do not grant dual-gen entitlement for PS4® as Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is digital-only on PS4®;
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Deluxe Edition will be available for $89.99 on Nintendo™ Switch, and $99.99 on PS5®, PS4®, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Mac and Linux via Steam. It includes Early Access to play the game early starting on February 6, 2025, the Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack, the post-launch DLC Crossroads of the World Collection, and the Deluxe Content Pack;
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Founders Edition will be available for $119.99 on Nintendo™ Switch, and $129.99 on PS5®, PS4®, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Mac and Linux via Steam. It includes Early Access to play the game early starting on February 6, 2025, the Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack, the post-launch DLC Crossroads of the World Collection, the Deluxe Content Pack, the post-launch DLC Right to Rule Collection, and the Founders Content Pack. The Founders Edition is a digital-only edition and is only available until February 28, 2025.
Players who pre-order the Standard Edition will receive the Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack***; additional content can be unlocked by creating and authenticating a 2K account****, as well as linking a 2K account to a gaming platform to play Sid Meier’s Civilization VI*****. For the latest information on Civilization VII, visit www.civilization.com and follow the game across YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok. Join the conversation using the hashtag #CivilizationVII.
Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more Civilization VII news and info!
David Burdette is a gamer/writer/content creator from TN and Lead Editor for Gaming Trend. He loves Playstation, Star Wars, Marvel, and many other fandoms. He also plays way too much Call Of Duty. You can chat with him on Twitter @SplitEnd89.
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