Civilization 7 Going Gold: The Start of a Decade-Long Journey

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Many fans have eagerly anticipated a fresh installment in the “Civilization” series, as it’s been nearly a decade since the launch of “Civilization 6”. Now, their wait is almost at an end! The creators at Firaxis have announced that “Civilization 7” has entered its final production phase before its scheduled release on February 11.

In simpler terms, “Going Gold” indicates that a game has reached its final development stages and is now prepared for release. However, any devoted Civilization series enthusiast would understand that this milestone marks only the start of an extensive development process for Civilization 7.

Civilization 7 Will Likely Follow In Civ 6’s Post-Launch Footsteps

A Brief History of Civilization 6’s Post-Launch Content

Initially launched for PC in October 2016, the game “Civilization 6” swiftly embarked on its post-release voyage starting from December 2016 up until October 2017. During this period, a grand total of six different paid expansion packs were introduced to “Civilization 6”. Each of these expansions included at least one fresh Civilization and Leader, as well as a special Scenario inspired by the Civ’s real-world history, and occasionally one or two new Wonders.

In February 2018, the game “Civilization 6” was introduced to its first significant expansion pack, named “Rise and Fall.” This update introduced a variety of new game mechanics, including Loyalty and the Dark Age mechanism. Approximately one year later, in February 2019, “Civilization 6” received another large-scale expansion, known as “Gathering Storm.” This additional content pack featured a sophisticated climate system and reintroduced the Diplomatic victory condition.

Starting May 2020, the “New Frontier Pass” for Civilization 6 rolled out, granting players access to a grand total of 9 new Leaders, 8 fresh civilizations, along with numerous new units, wonders, buildings, and game modes, distributed over a span of about ten months. Fast forward to November 2022, and Civilization 6 welcomed its second Pass, offering 12 additional Leaders to existing civilizations. In March 2023, nearly seven years after its initial release, Civilization 6 received its final piece of paid downloadable content.

Civilization 7 Is Following Suit With DLC

It appears that Civilization 7 might be taking after its forerunner in terms of post-release strategies, as Firaxis has announced two distinct DLC packages for the game. Those who buy the Deluxe Edition of Civilization 7 will gain entry to the “Crossroads of the World Collection,” a compilation of 6 separate DLCs featuring 2 new leaders, 4 unique civilizations, 4 additional wonders, and various cosmetic items.

Buying the Founders Edition of Civilization 7 grants access to two additional content sets: the Crossroads of the World Collection and the Right to Rule Collection. The former includes a series of DLC expansions set to be released by March 2025, while the latter will roll out from April to September 2025, with one pack anticipated each month. These add-ons bring new Leaders, Civilizations, and Wonders to the game, enhancing your gaming experience.

Ordering Civilization 7 ahead of time will grant players immediate access to the Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack upon release.

While Firaxis hasn’t officially revealed which Civilizations or Leaders will be featured in these DLC expansions, some enthusiasts have speculated that the Crossroads packs might include Middle Eastern civilizations like Babylon and the Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, the Right to Rule packs could potentially focus on the British Empire and Aztecs. However, it’s important to note that these are just theories at this point.

No matter who eventually signs up for the team, the already announced expansion packs for “Civilization 7” indicate that its release is merely the beginning of “Civ 7’s” voyage. If “Civ 7” maintains the longevity of its predecessor, this journey could span close to a decade.

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2025-01-27 23:35