As Civilization 7 Dataminers Discover Reference to the Atomic Age, Firaxis Says 'We're Excited for Where This Is Going'

Civilization 7: A Fourth Age on the Horizon? Dataminers and Firaxis Hint at Future Expansion

Civilization 7's current campaign spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern, each concluding with a simultaneous Age Transition for all players. This transition involves selecting a new civilization, choosing which Legacies to retain, and witnessing a world-altering evolution. This innovative system is unprecedented in the Civilization franchise.

The game's current Modern Age concludes before the Cold War, ending around the conclusion of World War II. Lead designer Ed Beach, in an interview with IGN, explained Firaxis's decision to set this boundary, highlighting the significant historical shifts that defined the end of each Age. The transition points were carefully chosen to reflect major global power shifts and the emergence of new geopolitical landscapes.

Beach emphasized the importance of historical accuracy in shaping the Age transitions, stating that the changes in gameplay mechanics (diplomacy, warfare, available commanders) within each Age needed to align with real-world events. The Cold War, with its distinct characteristics, was deemed too different to be included within the Modern Age.

Speculation about a potential fourth Age, possibly encompassing the Space Age, has been fueled by both Firaxis's cryptic comments and datamining efforts. While Executive Producer Dennis Shirk remained tight-lipped about specifics, he acknowledged the possibilities and the team's excitement for future developments. The datamining efforts, revealed by Redditor ManByTheRiver11, uncovered references to an "Atomic Age," further supporting the theory of an upcoming expansion.

This potential expansion would align with Firaxis's established DLC strategy for previous Civilization games. Currently, Firaxis is focused on addressing player feedback and improving the game based on early reviews, which have been mixed. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed confidence in the game's long-term success and the eventual acceptance by the core Civilization fanbase.

For those seeking to conquer the world in Civilization 7, numerous guides are available covering victory strategies, key differences from Civilization 6, common mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings.