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

Civilization 7's Unannounced Fourth Age: Datamining Reveals "Atomic Age" and Developer Teases Future Expansions

Civilization 7, currently featuring three Ages – Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern – is poised for expansion, according to dataminers and Firaxis developers. The game's current Modern Age concludes before the Cold War, ending with World War II, a deliberate design choice by Firaxis. Lead designer Ed Beach explained to IGN that this structured approach, dividing history into distinct "chapters," allows for unique gameplay mechanics and visual changes for each Age, impacting diplomacy, warfare, and available commanders. The transitions between Ages involve selecting a new civilization, choosing which Legacies to carry over, and witnessing a world-altering evolution.

Beach highlighted the historical reasoning behind the Age divisions, emphasizing the global shifts that marked their conclusions. The end of Antiquity (300-500 CE) reflects the simultaneous decline of major empires worldwide. The shift from Exploration to Modern mirrors the challenges to established monarchies posed by revolutions. The end of the Modern Age at WWII signifies another major global turning point.

The possibility of a fourth Age, potentially encompassing the Cold War and beyond, was hinted at by executive producer Dennis Shirk, who stated that the design allows for significant expansion, hinting at future possibilities without revealing specifics.

Adding fuel to the speculation, datamining efforts by players with early access have uncovered references to an "Atomic Age," including mentions of new leaders and civilizations. This aligns perfectly with the game's current ending and Shirk's cryptic comments.

While Firaxis addresses current community feedback and strives to improve the game's reception (currently holding a mixed user review rating on Steam), the prospect of an Atomic Age expansion adds significant anticipation for the future of Civilization 7. The developer's commitment to unique Age-specific systems and visuals suggests a substantial and engaging expansion is on the horizon.

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