Civilization VII dataminers have uncovered evidence suggesting a fourth, unannounced Age is coming, a claim subtly supported by Firaxis in an IGN interview. Civilization VII’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 carry over, and witnessing a world-altering evolution. This is a unique feature unseen in previous Civilization games.
The Modern Age, based on in-game units and victory conditions, concludes before the Cold War, a point confirmed by lead designer Ed Beach in the IGN interview. Beach detailed Firaxis's meticulous historical approach to defining Age boundaries:
“We looked at history's ebbs and flows,” Beach explained. “Our senior historian, Andrew Johnson, played a key role. We observed that major empires of antiquity, including those in China and India, crumbled around the same period (300-500 CE) as Rome faced challenges. This marked a natural end to the Antiquity Age. The transition from Exploration to Modern reflects the challenges faced by established monarchies due to revolutions like the French and American Revolutions. The emergence of nations like the Americas and France then defined the Modern Age. The World Wars marked the next major global shift, providing a logical conclusion for the Modern Age, as it allows for unique gameplay systems per Age. We deliberately stopped short of the Cold War, as it felt distinctly different.”
The question of a fourth Age, potentially extending into the Space Age, was naturally raised. While Executive Producer Dennis Shirk didn't offer confirmation, he hinted at future possibilities:
“The design allows for each age to be packed with unique systems, visuals, units, and civilizations. Where we could take this… we can't discuss specifics, but we're excited.”
Further fueling speculation, dataminers, accessing the early access version, discovered references to an "Atomic Age," including new leaders, civilizations, and supporting text. This aligns with Civ VII's current ending and Shirk's comments.
Meanwhile, Firaxis is addressing community concerns that have resulted in mixed Steam reviews. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged negative feedback but expressed confidence in the game's long-term appeal, describing its early performance as "very encouraging."
Need help conquering the world? Consult our guides on achieving every Civ VII victory, understanding key changes for Civ VI players, avoiding crucial mistakes, and navigating map types and difficulty settings.
