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

Civilization 7's Hidden Fourth Age: Datamining and Developer Teases

Civilization 7 dataminers have uncovered compelling evidence suggesting a fourth, unannounced Age is in the works. This revelation aligns with hints dropped by Firaxis in a recent IGN interview.

Currently, a full Civilization 7 campaign spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each Age's conclusion triggers a simultaneous Age Transition for all players and AI. This transition involves selecting a new civilization, choosing which Legacies to carry over, and witnessing a transformation of the game world – a unique feature unseen in previous Civilization titles.

The Modern Age, as it stands, concludes before the Cold War, a point confirmed by lead designer Ed Beach in the IGN interview. Beach detailed Firaxis's decision to end the current game at the conclusion of World War II, explaining the historical reasoning behind this choice. The team meticulously analyzed historical periods, aiming to create distinct chapters marked by significant global shifts. The end of Antiquity, for example, coincides with the decline of major empires around the 300-500 CE period. The transition to the Modern Age reflects the impact of revolutions in Europe and the emergence of new nations. World War II marks the final major turning point in the current game, setting the stage for potential future expansion.

While executive producer Dennis Shirk refrained from explicitly confirming a fourth Age, he tantalizingly hinted at future possibilities, emphasizing the potential for further expansion given the Age-specific systems, visuals, units, and civilizations already implemented.

Adding fuel to the speculation, datamining efforts by Reddit user ManByTheRiver11 revealed references to an "Atomic Age," along with unannounced leaders and civilizations – a pattern consistent with Firaxis's DLC strategy for previous Civilization games.

In the meantime, Firaxis is actively addressing community feedback following a mixed reception on Steam. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative reviews but expressed confidence in the game's long-term success, highlighting the potential for the "legacy Civ audience" to embrace the game with further playtime.

For those seeking to conquer the world in Civ 7, resources are available, including guides on achieving all victory types, understanding key changes from Civ 6, avoiding common mistakes, and navigating map types and difficulty settings.