# Civilization 7: A Daring New Chapter of Transformation
The Civilization franchise, created by Firaxis Games, has been a cornerstone of strategy gaming for many years. Since its launch in 1991, the title has enabled players to steer a nation from the beginnings of civilization up to the space age, making critical choices in diplomacy, military engagements, and technological progress. Nonetheless, with *Civilization 7* set to release on February 11, 2025, the franchise is on the verge of one of its most profound changes ever. The shift is so significant that even the creators express some trepidation about it.
## A Groundbreaking Change in Gameplay
One of the key distinctions in *Civilization 7* is the break from the conventional format where players align with a single nation and leader for the duration of the game. Instead, players will now embody as many as three different cultures in a single session, with each culture representing a distinct historical period. This innovative approach aims to mirror the evolving nature of civilizations, which develop and change over time rather than being fixed entities.
In a conversation with *TechRadar*, Civ producer Dennis Shirk provided insight into the rationale behind this shift, recognizing that it marks one of the most substantial alterations in the series’ three-decade journey. “It’s one of the biggest changes we’ve made to the game and one of the most daunting when it comes to altering *Civilization*, an entity that has consistently maintained its form,” Shirk articulated.
### The Rationale for the Change
Traditionally, *Civilization* games have enabled players to select a nation and leader from the outset, sticking with that decision through all historical ages, from Antiquity to the Modern Age. This method has functioned effectively for years, but it also came with drawbacks. One of the primary concerns was the “snowball effect,” where a player who secured an early lead could overpower others, making it challenging for opponents to keep pace.
Shirk pointed out that the new era-focused framework is crafted to tackle this concern. “In the modern era [of earlier games], you were sometimes merely skimming through the rounds to victory because you were so far ahead thanks to the snowball effect. Nobody could catch up to you,” he shared. By enabling civilizations to shift with each era, *Civilization 7* intends to foster a more level and competitive landscape, especially in multiplayer settings. “With the era system, you are consistently engaging against other civilizations at their peak strength,” Shirk continued. This implies that even if a player excels in one era, they will encounter new challenges and adversaries in the subsequent one, as other civilizations also evolve and gain unique units and capabilities.
### Mechanics of the Era System
In *Civilization 7*, gameplay is segmented into three principal eras: Antiquity, the Age of Exploration, and the Modern Era. Each era provides players with the chance to transition to a new culture representative of that time. For illustration, a player might begin with Ancient Egypt in the Antiquity era, move on to the Spanish Empire during the Age of Exploration, and ultimately take on the United States in the Modern Era.
This approach not only enhances gameplay variety but also offers a more historically accurate portrayal of how civilizations grow and decline over time. It ensures that players consistently compete against civilizations that are in their prime, rather than facing outdated foes whose unique units and abilities have become irrelevant.
### Leaders Without National Boundaries
A further significant alteration in *Civilization 7* is the separation of leaders from specific nations. Previous titles assigned a specific leader to each nation, such as Cleopatra for Egypt or George Washington for the United States. However, in *Civilization 7*, leaders can now govern any nation, leading to some intriguing and unexpected pairings. For instance, players could command Ancient Rome with Benjamin Franklin as their leader, or navigate the Mongol Empire under Marie Curie’s guidance.
This modification creates fresh gameplay opportunities, as each leader will possess their unique talent tree that players can cultivate throughout the game. These talent trees will represent the leader’s strengths and skills, whether they are military tacticians, scientific innovators, or cultural legends. Shirk clarified that this framework also allows developers to incorporate historical figures who may not have served as traditional political leaders but were nonetheless significant in their areas. “This provided the team with the opportunity to feature individuals who never led a faction historically yet were regarded as brilliant in their respective domains,” he stated.
### Ensuring Game Balance
While the new era system and adaptable leaders present thrilling opportunities, they also introduce challenges with regard to game balance. Shirk admitted that there remains the risk of snowballing, particularly if a player excels in one era. However, the development team has diligently worked to guarantee that no lead is unassailable.