Firaxis have confirmed the first batch of civs that will feature within Civilization VII, their transformative new take on the classic 4X strategy game. Civ 7 is coming out on 11th February 2025 across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One and Switch, so you can expect a steady drip feed of similar announcements between now and then.
Split into three distinct ages – Antiquity, Exploration and Modern – each civ is restricted to a particular time period and then has to grow and morph into another through a point of crisis. Rome will eventually fall, but that can provide the historical and gameplay foundations to become any number of medieval empires – the Holy Roman Empire, perhaps? – and from there lead into modern European nations.
The six revealed civs are:
- Aksum (Antiquity Age)
- Egypt (Antiquity Age)
- Maya (Antiquity Age)
- Maurya (Antiquity Age)
- Rome (Antiquity Age)
- Shawnee (Exploration Age)
While not included in this announcement, Firaxis has also already discussed Mongolia, and the prospect of China and India being represented by their specific dynasties.
This announcement has also revealed what will be distinct about these, digging into specific attributes, abilities, civic trees and more.
Take Aksum, for example, from the African coast of the Red Sea, which was a major power that saw its merchants bring ivory, gold, spices and other goods from the African interior to India, Persia, and the Mediterranean. Their specifics include:
Unique Ability
Kingdom of Natural Wealth: Increased Gold on resources.
Attributes:
- Cultural
- Economic
Civic Trees
Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
- Tier 1: Unlock the Hawilt Unique Improvement. Increased Resource Capacity in Settlements on Coast or Navigable Rivers. Unlocks Great Stele Wonder.
- Tradition – Port of Nations: Increased Culture and Gold for every active Trade Route.
- Tier 2: Increased Gold on Quarters adjacent to Coast tiles. Unlocks ‘Port of Nations’ Tradition.
Monumentum Adulitanum
- Tier 1: Altar and Monument Buildings gain a Culture adjacency bonus with Hawilt Unique Improvements. Unlocks ‘Throne of my Fathers’ Tradition.
- Tradition – Throne of my Fathers: Increased Gold in Cities adjacent to Coast tiles.
Book of the Himyarites
- Tier 1: Dhow Unique Naval Units get the Swift keyword, letting them ignore enemy Units’ Zone of Control. Unlocks ‘May This Please the People’ Tradition.
- Tradition – May This Please the People: Increased Culture on Resources on or adjacent to Coast tiles.
Unique Infrastructure
Hawilt: Unique Improvement. Gold base. Increased Culture for each adjacent Wonder or Hawilt. Must be built on a Flat tile.
Unique Civilian Unit
Tankwa: Unique Trade Ship. Cannot be pillaged. Increased Trade Route range.
Unique Military Unit
Dhow: Unique Naval Unit. Increased Combat Strength on Coast tiles. Has a charge to create a naval Trade Route.
Associated Wonder
Great Stele: Gain Gold per Age when you complete a Wonder in this City, including the Great Stele. Must be built on a Flat tile.
Starting Biases:
- Hill
- Grassland
You can find similar details for all the revealed civs here.
Alternatively, catch our hands on preview with Civilization 7 from Gamescom, or dig into the philosophical shift toward ages with our interview with Ed Beach.
