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: A datamined revelation and developer hints.

Civilization 7 currently features 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 evolution—a unique system unseen in previous Civilization games.

The Modern Age concludes before the Cold War, ending around World War II. Lead designer Ed Beach explained Firaxis' decision to IGN, highlighting the historical shifts marking the end of each Age. The Antiquity Age's conclusion coincides with the decline of major empires around 300-500 CE. The transition from Exploration to Modern reflects the impact of revolutions in Europe. World War II marks the final significant global upheaval before the game's current endpoint. Beach emphasizes the importance of aligning Age transitions with historical turning points to support unique gameplay mechanics within each Age.

Speculation regarding a fourth Age, potentially encompassing the Space Age, has arisen. While executive producer Dennis Shirk avoided confirmation, he hinted at future expansion possibilities, emphasizing the design team's focus on distinct systems, visuals, units, and civilizations for each Age.

This speculation is fueled by datamining efforts revealing references to an "Atomic Age," including new leaders and civilizations. This aligns perfectly with the game's current ending and Shirk's comments.

Currently, Firaxis is addressing community feedback following mixed Steam reviews. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative reception but expressed confidence in the game's long-term success, emphasizing the positive response from core Civilization players.

For those seeking mastery of Civilization 7, resources are available covering victory strategies, key differences from Civilization VI, common mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings.