Firaxis wants players to finish a game of Civilization 7

Fans of the Civilization series know all too well the allure of sinking countless hours into the game—often without ever finishing a single campaign. Recognizing this common issue, Firaxis Games is determined to address it with Civilization 7.

Creative Director Ed Beach revealed in a recent interview with Game Developer that less than half of the players completed a game of Civilization 6. The drawn-out pacing, which many players found frustrating, was a significant factor. As tasks became increasingly complex and time-consuming, players found themselves overwhelmed by the expanding demands of empire-building. Firaxis has responded by implementing several key changes.

“One of our primary goals was to divide the game into chapters, which we’re referring to as Ages,” Beach explained. “There are three distinct Ages to progress through, each involving significant map restructuring between transitions. This approach allows us to reset the game board, simplify gameplay, and adjust rules as players advance.”

Additionally, Firaxis has reworked the game’s pacing to ensure exploration remains engaging throughout the entire campaign, rather than just at the start. For instance, players will begin in the Antiquity Age, which limits exploration to land-based territories initially.

Sticking to their Rule of Threes, Firaxis plans to incorporate familiar elements from previous titles, refine some aspects, and introduce entirely new features. The upcoming game will bring several innovations, including the new Age system and revamped leader mechanics. This week’s Gamescom 2024 gameplay reveal highlighted the significant changes, giving us our clearest look yet at how Civilization 7 will evolve from its predecessors. There will also be a new tutorial system designed to ease new players into the game, alongside updated leader options that promise to add fresh strategic dimensions.

Civilization 7 is scheduled for release on February 11, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.