Civilization 7 Introduces New Ages System, Reimagined Leaders

2K and Firaxis have announced a release date for Civilization 7, and to go along with that, as previously confirmed, they’ve also released an extended gameplay showcase. In addition to revealing Game of Thrones and Star Wars actor Gwendoline Christie as the new narrator in the upcoming 4X strategy title, the showcase also reveals extensive details about some of the biggest gameplay changes players can expect. 

One of the core changes in Civilization 7’s central loop is going to be the introduction of a brand-new system of Ages. Players have, of course, seen their empires move through different eras in Civilization titles in the past, but Civilization 7 will see each game comprising of three ages- the Antiquity Age, which is focused on agricultural societies; the Exploration Age, where empires start expanding and reaching out to trade and interact with each other; and the Modern Age, where you’ll see ra[id technological advancements, some of which will be particularly destructive. 

Each Age will come with its own unique attributes and elements, such as resources that are found on the map, technologies and civics that can be researched, units and buildings, and more. Unlike past titles, however, where moving from one era to the other would wipe the slate clean, in Civilization 7, the choices you make in one Age will have an impact on the next Age, which means your empire will dynamically grow through the ages and reflect the different choices you have made as its leader through the ages. 

In a nutshell, all of that means that civilizations are now going to change through the Ages. Rather than sticking with the civilization you start with throughout all of the Ages, your civilization will now change from Age to Age. In addition to being able to play through a single game covering all Ages, players will also have the option to play individually in each Age. 

On top of introducing Ages, Civilization 7 is also significantly changing how leaders will work. In past titles, civilizations and leaders were always a package deal, determining your policies, what units you would have, the things you’d research, and more. In Civilization 7, however, leaders and civilizations won’t be tied together, which you can choose whichever civilization you want while playing as any leader of your choosing. Additionally, players will now also be able to customize leaders with attributes earned through gameplay. Check out the showcase below for more details.

Civilization 7 launches on February 11 next year for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.