Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Pokopia
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Starfield
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
New games 2026: images of Saros, GTA 6, Beast of Reincarnation, and 007 First Light with a plus sign in the middle.
Games New games 2026 and beyond: The biggest video game release dates for PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, Switch, and more
No Man's Sky
Survival Games No Man's Sky updates take "2-3x" longer on Switch 2 and Steam Deck as devs have to beat "impossible memory constraints"
The upcoming PS5 games banner image shows Wolverine from Marvel's Wolverine, Directive 8020, a woman with long hair holding a stone in Phantom Blade 0, and dual protagonists Lucia and Jason in GTA 6
Adventure Games Upcoming PS5 games: New PS5 games for 2026 and beyond
GTA 6 protagonists Lucia and Jason stand poised for a confrontation, with both of them holding a gun while Lucia also carries a briefcase
Action Games GTA 6: Everything we know so far
GTA 6 characters from trailer 2
Grand Theft Auto Wondering why GTA 6 Trailer 3 is taking so long? Rockstar answered that question 14 years ago
Elder Scrolls 6
The Elder Scrolls The Elder Scrolls 6: Everything we know so far
A character battles a goblin in Fable 4
RPGs As GTA 6 reportedly spooks Xbox into delaying Fable, Playground Games reiterates its RPG remains on track
GamesRadar+'s upcoming Switch games for 2026 banner image shows a big woman looming over another character in Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Kanan Yuki in Digimon Story Time Stranger, Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol 2, and a trainer in a battle in Pokemon Champions
Action Games Upcoming Switch games for 2026 and beyond
Cities Skylines screenshot of a cityscape showing buildings framing roads, with skyscrapers opposite a river in the background
Strategy Games The 15 best city building games to play in 2026
Beyond good and Evil 2
Action Games Upcoming Ubisoft games: Every new Ubisoft game in development
XCOM 2 screenshot showing an alien brute with a plasma gun
Strategy Games 10 years later and with no XCOM 3 in sight, I'm in love with XCOM 2 now more than ever
The Elder Scrolls 6
The Elder Scrolls No rush on The Elder Scrolls 6, Todd Howard says - Bethesda has "so many millions of people playing our other games"
Big in 2026 hero image
Games Big in 2026: The ultimate guide to the video games that will shape 2026 and beyond
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 marketing isn't starting until summer, but fans think we might get Trailer 3 early regardless
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 sleuths deduce that Rockstar North's likely spent over $2 billion making the game
  1. Games
  2. Strategy Games

After 8 years and multiple expansions, Firaxis had to make Civilization 7 because Civ 6 "was getting too big for its britches"

News
By Hirun Cryer published 21 August 2024

Civilization 7 is also solving a huge problem by dividing campaigns into three ages

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A screenshot of gameplay for the game, Civilization 6.
(Image credit: Firaxis)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Civilization 7 is coming about eight years after Civilization 6 because it was getting "too big for its britches" with new expansions, modes, scenarios, and more.

Yesterday, Firaxis finally revealed more of its new Civilization game at the Gamescom Opening Night Live showcase, including a February 11 release date that just so happened to have leaked online earlier that day. This is the first new Civilization game since Civilization 6 in 2016, and in the eight years since, it's acquired numerous expansions, modes, scenarios, and even nations.

That's what led Firaxis to make Civilization 7. "It was getting too big for its britches," Civilization series producer Dennis Shirk said of Civilization 6 to The Guardian in a new interview, hence why it was "time to make something new" in Civilization 7 instead.

Article continues below
You may like
  • Two armies clashing on a coastal region in Civilization 7 ahead of its Test of Time update One year after Civilization 7 tried to fix the strategy genre's biggest problem, Firaxis is meeting fans in the middle
  • A parade rolls down the street in the Race Day DLC for Cities: Skylines Cities: Skylines gets its first proper expansion in 3 years as its disastrous sequel again settles for smaller DLC packs
  • Elder Scrolls 6 The Elder Scrolls 6: Everything we know so far

Firaxis designer Ed Beach adds that it can be "tough to even get through the whole game" in Civilization 6. "The number of systems, units, and entities you must manage explodes after a while," Beach adds, pointing to a common problem in the predecessor that Firaxis aims to solve in Civilization 7.

As such, Civilization 7's campaign has been broken down into three major ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. "Breaking the game into chapters lets people get through history in a more digestible fashion," Beach says, adding that each significant age culminates in one huge crisis.

So Civilization 7 aims to streamline the entire process by not only dividing a campaign into three major ages but also getting better at giving you just enough aspects to manage without it feeling overwhelming. 

Civilization 7 will finally be with us on February 11, 2025, as the Gamescom trailer confirmed following the leak yesterday. Across PC and current-gen consoles, the new strategy game will cost $69.99 as standard, except for on the Nintendo Switch, where it'll retail for $59.99. There's also a $99.99 deluxe edition that'll get you five days of early access.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Take a look over our new games 2024 guide for an overview of all the other titles arriving before Civilization 7 drops early next year.

CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PS5 Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch Platforms PlayStation Xbox Nintendo
PRODUCTS
Gamescom 2024 Civilization VII
Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Two armies clashing on a coastal region in Civilization 7 ahead of its Test of Time update
Strategy Games One year after Civilization 7 tried to fix the strategy genre's biggest problem, Firaxis is meeting fans in the middle
 
 
A parade rolls down the street in the Race Day DLC for Cities: Skylines
City Builder Games Cities: Skylines gets its first proper expansion in 3 years as its disastrous sequel again settles for smaller DLC packs
 
 
Elder Scrolls 6
The Elder Scrolls The Elder Scrolls 6: Everything we know so far
 
 
New games 2026: images of Saros, GTA 6, Beast of Reincarnation, and 007 First Light with a plus sign in the middle.
Games New games 2026 and beyond: The biggest video game release dates for PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, Switch, and more
 
 
The Elder Scrolls 6
The Elder Scrolls No rush on The Elder Scrolls 6, Todd Howard says - Bethesda has "so many millions of people playing our other games"
 
 
Big in 2026 hero image
Games Big in 2026: The ultimate guide to the video games that will shape 2026 and beyond
 
 
Latest in Strategy Games
Three of the Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era Skills.
Strategy Games Best Heroes Olden Era Skills and how to reach elite class
 
 
Whispering Stones, where Heroes can increase their maximum mana in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.
Strategy Games How to increase your mana in Heroes Olden Era
 
 
A big hero v hero fight in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era between a Schism and Necropolis faction
Strategy Games Original Heroes of Might and Magic creator's "Fun AI" approach helps Olden Era devs balance PvE mode
 
 
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
Strategy Games Strategy fans have spoken – Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era's fae faction has been renamed after "not meeting expectations"
 
 
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era key art showing a knight charging across a field, with a dragon swooping in the distance
Strategy Games Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is leveraging player feedback to deliver the strategy RPG I've longed for since 2005
 
 
Princess Leia in Star Wars: Rebellion
Strategy Games Disney delists 14 Steam games without warning, including a Star Wars strategy game whose scale has never been duplicated
 
 
Latest in News
no rest for the wicked respec
Action RPGs After 2 years in Steam Early Access and almost 2 million copies sold, ARPG No Rest for the Wicked is "not slowing down"
 
 
A player shooting at two robots during one of the best Steam Spring Sale games, Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout Fallout: New Vegas dev says don't hold your breath for a remaster because Bethesda lacks "the engineering knowhow"
 
 
Slay the Spire 2 classes
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 avoids becoming "Sloppy Spire 2" by keeping the roguelike's roadmap light on dates
 
 
The Last of Us Part I
The Last of Us The Last of Us Part 3 could explore "a whole congregation" of immune survivors, according to former Naughty Dog dev
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 was canceled at Obsidian "because of an accounting error," says former dev
 
 
Pragmata screenshot taken on PS5
Action Games Pragmata is already one of the best-rated Capcom games on Steam, just 3% behind king of kings Resident Evil 4
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Ahsoka
    1
    Ahsoka season 2 is dealing with a "higher level" of Star Wars than The Mandalorian and Grogu
  2. 2
    Spider-Noir showrunner says there are other unannounced Spider-Man variant projects in the works
  3. 3
    The Mandalorian season 4 scripts set up Ahsoka season 2, but Jon Favreau had to "start from scratch" for the movie
  4. 4
    After surprise Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 explosion, Daredevil actor's next game is "in the very early stages"
  5. 5
    10 Best Turn-based RPGs of all time

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...