Civilization 7's Unannounced Fourth Age: Datamining and Developer Teases

Dataminers have uncovered evidence suggesting Civilization 7 will feature a fourth, currently unannounced, Age, a claim subtly supported by Firaxis in an IGN interview.

Currently, Civilization 7 campaigns encompass three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern, each concluding with a simultaneous Age Transition for all players and AI. This transition involves selecting a new civilization, choosing which Legacies to retain, and witnessing world evolution – a unique feature in the Civilization series. The Modern Age, as it stands, concludes before the Cold War, ending with World War II, a decision confirmed by lead designer Ed Beach in the IGN interview. Beach detailed Firaxis' historical research, emphasizing the global impact of events like the fall of major empires (circa 300-500 CE) and the waves of revolutions that reshaped Europe, justifying the Age divisions. The significant historical shift following World War II provided a natural endpoint for the Modern Age, allowing for distinct gameplay mechanics across each Age.

The interview hinted at the possibility of a fourth Age, potentially encompassing the Space Age, though Executive Producer Dennis Shirk remained coy, emphasizing the potential for new systems, visuals, units, and civilizations specific to such an era.

This speculation is fueled by datamining efforts revealing references to an "Atomic Age," including unannounced leaders and civilizations. Given Firaxis' DLC history, this is not unexpected, and an Atomic Age would logically follow the current game's timeline.

While addressing negative Steam reviews, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed confidence in Civilization 7's long-term success, predicting positive shifts in player reception with continued gameplay.

For players seeking to conquer the world, IGN offers various guides covering victory strategies, key differences from Civilization VI, common mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings.