"Firaxis Hints at Gandhi's Return in Civilization 7"

The release of Civilization 7 has sparked a notable question among the series' dedicated fanbase: Where is Gandhi? The iconic Indian leader, a staple in every Civilization base game since its inception in 1991, is conspicuously absent from the latest installment. Gandhi's legacy in the franchise includes the infamous, yet mythical 'Nuclear Gandhi' bug, making his absence even more surprising.

Seeking clarity on this matter, I reached out to Civilization 7's lead designer, Ed Beach, who offered a hopeful message to Gandhi enthusiasts. Beach assured fans that Gandhi could make a return to the game as part of upcoming downloadable content (DLC).

“So I would say we haven't forgotten about anybody who's been in our game before,” Beach stated. “Certainly civilizations, there's a lot of consternation right now about where's Great Britain or England, why aren't they in our game?” He highlighted that Carthage and Great Britain are slated to join Civ 7 in March 2025 as part of The Crossroads of the World Collection DLC, followed by Bulgaria and Nepal.

Beach elaborated on Firaxis' strategic planning for Civilization 7's content, emphasizing the broader roadmap. “But there's sort of a big, longer picture roadmap that we have, and some pieces fit better in the long picture roadmap than they do in the short picture one,” he explained. He pointed out historical precedents where significant civilizations like Mongolia and Persia were absent from the base games of previous titles but were later introduced, showcasing the studio's approach to balancing new and returning civilizations.

“So we always have to leave somebody out. There're just too many popular choices and we always want to have a few fresh ones that sound really new and exciting to people. So things are getting left behind, but we always are looking at the big picture, when we're going to bring leaders or civs into the fold. So there's hope for Gandhi, yet,” Beach concluded, offering reassurance to fans.

In the immediate future, Firaxis may focus on addressing the 'mixed' user review ratings on Steam, which reflect community concerns about the user interface, limited map variety, and the absence of expected features at launch. In response to these critiques, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, in an interview with IGN, acknowledged the negative feedback but remained optimistic about the game's prospects, citing encouraging early performance and confidence that the "legacy Civ audience" would embrace the game with more playtime.

For those eager to conquer the world in Civilization 7, our comprehensive guides offer valuable insights. From achieving every Civ 7 victory to understanding the biggest Civ 7 changes for Civ 6 players, and avoiding the 14 crucial Civ 7 mistakes, we've got you covered. Additionally, explore our explanations of all the Civ 7 map types and difficulty settings to ensure you're fully prepared for your next campaign.