Civilization 7's Unannounced Fourth Age: Datamining Reveals "Atomic Age" and Developer Teases Future Expansions
Civilization 7 dataminers have uncovered compelling evidence suggesting a fourth, currently unannounced Age is in the works. This revelation aligns with hints dropped by Firaxis Games in an interview with IGN.
Currently, a full Civ 7 campaign progresses through three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each Age concludes with a simultaneous Age Transition for all players and AI opponents. This transition involves selecting a new civilization, choosing which Legacies to carry over, and witnessing a transformation of the game world – a unique feature unseen in previous Civilization titles.
The Modern Age, as it stands, concludes before the Cold War, ending with World War II. Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach confirmed this in the IGN interview, explaining the historical reasoning behind Firaxis' decision. He highlighted the significant historical shifts that marked the end of each Age, emphasizing the need for gameplay systems to reflect these real-world turning points.
The possibility of a fourth Age, potentially encompassing the Space Age, has naturally arisen. While executive producer Dennis Shirk remained tight-lipped, he alluded to exciting future developments, emphasizing the potential for new systems, visuals, units, and civilizations specific to a new era.
Adding fuel to the speculation, datamining efforts have unearthed references to an "Atomic Age," including mentions of new leaders and civilizations. Redditor ManByTheRiver11 shared these findings, further supporting the theory of a post-World War II expansion.
In the immediate future, Firaxis is focused on addressing player feedback and improving the game based on the "mixed" Steam reviews. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative reception but expressed confidence in the game's long-term success.
For players seeking to conquer the world, IGN offers guides covering all victory conditions, key differences from Civilization VI, common mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings.
