Civilization 7’s Release Window Means It Will Have Its Lion’s Share

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Civilization 7's Release Window Means It Will Have Its Lion's Share

Highlights

  • Civilization franchise remains strong with Civ 7 after 30 years, promising revolutionary changes and big competition in 2025.
  • 2024 saw great strategy game releases, but upcoming titles like Ara: History Untold pose strong competition for Civ 7.
  • While Civilization 7 is a major release in 2025, it will face competition from Ubisoft’s Anno 117: Pax Romana in the strategy game market.

As a lifelong strategy game enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of this genre since the dawn of PC gaming, I can confidently say that the upcoming year of 2025 promises to be a golden era for us strategy junkies. The return of Civilization, a franchise that’s been an integral part of my gaming life for over three decades, is nothing short of exhilarating. With Civilization 7 promising revolutionary changes and a release window that seems tailor-made for it to shine, I can hardly contain my excitement.

There are plenty of big names in the world of strategy video games. Most of the biggest strategy franchises have been around for decades, releasing on early PCs and managing to remain relevant through console ports, remasters, remakes, spinoffs, and, of course, sequels. The Civilization franchise is the perfect example of that. Debuting all the way back in 1991, Civilization has remained one of the biggest and best in the strategy genre for over three decades now, and its legacy is only going to grow stronger with the launch of Civilization 7.

In nearly eight years, we’ve not seen a fresh addition to the franchise, but there’s a great deal of excitement building up about “Civilization 7”. Although the Civ series often takes time off, developer Firaxis is promoting “Civilization 7” as an exciting new phase for the series, hinting at significant changes. Interestingly, the gaming market often sees numerous titles competing simultaneously, but the release timing of “Civilization 7” might give it room to soar without much competition.

Civilization 7 Has Plenty of Room to Breathe in 2025

2024 Is Still Stacked with Strategy Game Releases

2024 has proven to be quite a successful year for the strategy genre, albeit with some constructive criticism. Despite the critique, Homeworld 3 emerged as a respectable Science Fiction strategy game. Inkulinati stood out as an exceptionally original medieval turn-based strategy title. Manor Lords exceeded expectations during its early access phase. Although it didn’t quite meet its high standards, Millennia provided a solid 4X strategy experience.

2024 is shaping up to be an extraordinary year for strategy game enthusiasts like me, with a plethora of highly anticipated releases still on the horizon. Some of these games might just challenge the dominance of the much-loved Civilization series, including Ara: History Untold. As a diehard fan of the Civ franchise, I can’t help but feel that Ara, as a first-party Xbox 4X strategy game, could have given even Civilization 7 a run for its money. With its strong ties to the Civ series and unique additions to set it apart, Ara: History Untold might very well be Civilization 7’s toughest competitor yet.

In September, a number of significant strategy games including Ara: History Untold , are being released. On the same day as Ara, the expansion pack for Crusader Kings 3, titled “Roads to Power”, will be launched. Following close behind, Frostpunk 2 is scheduled for release just a few days later. Lastly, Age of Mythology: Retold will become available on consoles and PC at the beginning of the month. Although these games vary greatly from Civilization, they would have certainly provided stiff competition for an hypothetical Civ 7. However, with a 2025 release window, it looks like Civilization 7 will easily outmaneuver all these potential contenders.

Civilization 7 Isn’t Completely Without Competition in 2025

However, it’s important to note that while Civilization 7 is anticipated to be a significant release in 2025 and the largest strategy game set for release at that time, there may be some competition. The most obvious rival could be Ubisoft’s Anno 117: Pax Romana, the latest installment in the established historical city-building series, which transports players to ancient Rome. Interestingly, Anno 117‘s release date is only tentatively set for 2025 at this point, allowing it to steer clear of Civilization 7‘s launch and providing both games ample space to thrive in the strategy game market.

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2024-08-18 16:03