It's somehow been eight years since 2K and Firaxis released Civilization 6, and the lauded 4X developer has kept the wheels greased the entire time with a steady stream of updates. But the updates can't go on forever: it's time for a new Civ. During today's Summer Game Fest, we got our first look at Civilization 7.
It'll arrive in 2025 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, Mac and Linux via Steam, with a gameplay showcase this August. You can watch the first look below.
CIVILIZATION VII. Coming 2025.
Wishlist now & watch the full reveal this August!https://t.co/q0Hj7riVO0 | #Civ7 #SummerGameFest pic.twitter.com/hS4V0ErSWy
— Sid Meier's Civilization (@CivGame) June 7, 2024
"As the seventh mainline title in the franchise, Civilization VII is a 4X strategy game developed by the legendary team at Firaxis Games," reads the game's official synopsis. "Players establish their civilization, construct cities and architectural wonders to expand their territory, conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations in pursuit of prosperity, and explore the far reaches of the unknown world."
Civilization 7's reveal actually leaked this morning, when a banner on the 2K website accidentally went live early. Though the leak didn't reveal much beyond the existance of the game itself, it did dispel recent rumors that a planned 2K announcement at SGF would be a Mafia game or Borderlands 4. And we've known a new Civilization game was in the works since February of last year, when Firaxis boss Heather Hazen announced that a then-untitled project was in the works.
"For more than 30 years, players from around the world have shared their love and support for Civ," said Sid Meier, Founder and Director of Creative Development at Firaxis Games, in a statement today. "I'm incredibly excited for Civ fans to see Civilization VII, a game that represents the culmination of three decades of strategy innovation and refinement."
“With more than 70 million copies sold-in and over 1 billion hours played, the Civilization franchise is a crown jewel for 2K," added David Ismailer, President of 2K Games. “What the team is looking to accomplish with Civilization VII is nothing short of breathtaking, and we're confident that Firaxis Games has another hit on their hands with Civilization VII."
We loved Civilization 6 when it came out back in 2016, saying it would "go down in history as the most fully-featured launch version in the series." Though the series has changed leadership hands a number of times over the years, it remains beloved and successful. In fact, the first human equipped with a Neuralink brain implant apparently stayed up all night playing Civilization 6 with the technology.
For more, check out our round-up of everything announced at Summer Game Fest.
