As Civilization 7 Dataminers Discover Reference to the Atomic Age, Firaxis Says 'We're Excited for Where This Is Going'

Civilization 7's potential fourth Age: Datamining reveals hints of an Atomic Age, fueling speculation about future expansions.

Civilization 7'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 retain, and witnessing a world-altering evolution. This innovative system is unprecedented in the Civilization series.

The Modern Age, as currently implemented, concludes before the Cold War, ending with World War II. Lead designer Ed Beach explained Firaxis's decision to IGN, highlighting the historical shifts that defined the boundaries of each Age. The end of Antiquity (300-500 CE) marked the decline of major empires worldwide. The transition to the Modern Age reflected the impact of revolutions in Europe and the rise of new nations. The World Wars provided a clear turning point, justifying a new Age due to significant changes in gameplay mechanics, diplomacy, warfare, and available commanders. The Cold War's distinct nature warranted its exclusion from the Modern Age.

While Executive Producer Dennis Shirk remained tight-lipped about specifics, he hinted at future expansion possibilities, emphasizing the potential of each Age's unique systems, visuals, units, and civilizations. This fueled speculation, particularly after dataminers uncovered references to an Atomic Age, including unannounced leaders, civilizations, and the Age itself. The discovery of these elements strongly suggests a future expansion.

Currently, Firaxis is focused on addressing player feedback and improving the game based on the "mixed" Steam reviews. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed confidence in the game's long-term success, believing the core Civilization fanbase will embrace the game with continued play.

For those seeking to conquer the world in Civ 7, resources are available covering victory strategies, key differences from Civ 6, common mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings.