When is the Civilization 7 release date? For over 30 years, the Civilization series has captivated PC gamers with its intricate strategy, forcing players to think about more than just conquering their neighbors. Sometimes, the best victory is by being diplomatically savvy while secretly building massive cultural wonders and hoping nobody notices – especially the nuke-hungry Gandhi.
We had early confirmation from Firaxis that Civilization 7 was officially in development back in early 2023, but we didn’t get word of an official Civilization 7 release date until Gamescom this year. It’s been a long road of anticipation for Civ 7 fans, but there’s no doubt the strategy game series is worth the wait, and we’ve got all the latest news and gameplay details following its announcement.
Civilization 7 release date
The Civilization 7 release date is Tuesday, February 11, 2025. This was confirmed by developer Firaxis Games in the Gamescom Opening Night Live broadcast.
Civ 7 is coming to PC via Steam, 2K Games, and the Epic Games Store for Windows, Linux and MacOS users. It’ll also be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch consoles.
Players who pre-order the deluxe and founders editions of Civ 7 will be able to hop in five days prior to the release date thanks to an exclusive early access bonus.
The Civ 7 reveal came shortly after the sudden appearance of a Civilization 7 banner on the 2K Games official website. While it was quickly taken down, eagle-eyed fans had already distributed the logo. This accidental leak was followed by the official Civ 7 teaser trailer only hours later, which concluded with confirmation of the Civ 7 2025 release window.
Civilization 7 trailers
The Civ 7 official teaser trailer didn’t reveal too much by way of actual gameplay, instead featuring an abstract sequence that spans time periods throughout history and beyond. More concrete details came during the Gamescom ONL gameplay reveal trailer above.
A new entry in the series means an all-new narrator to bring the annals of your civilization’s history to life. Gwendoline Christie takes up the mantle as Civ 7’s new narrator in an exclusive reveal trailer. Christie follows in the momentous footsteps of Leonard Nimoy and Game of Thrones alumni Sean Bean, who both left lasting impressions as the omnipresent voice of Civilization.
Our first look at Civilization 7 gameplay arrived in conjunction with Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 20, 2024. You can watch the 25-minute gameplay showcase below.
Civilization 7 gameplay
Our Civilization 7 preview reports on how the “innovative” features revealed in the gameplay showcase above, including the “mix and match” approach to civilization leaders, the all-new concurrent three-age progression structure, and “mashups” between civilizations depending on your approach.
Civ 7’s ages are split into Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern, with new buildings and technology available as you advance through alternative history. You can also transition into different civilizations as you develop, offering unprecedented flexibility when it comes to refining your approach to war, diplomacy, and religion.
Ahead of the release date, Firaxis has now revealed the first Civ 7 civilizations available right from the Antiquity Age, which includes Egypt, Maya, and Rome. Trung Trac and Ashoka are also confirmed to appear as historical leaders poised for savvy diplomacy or all-out world domination.
While some of these changes shake the very foundations of Civilization – barbarians and workers are absent this time around – it’s still at its heart the god game we all know and love. That said, we already have a Civilization 7 wishlist for everything we’d love to see Firaxis introduce this time around, such as better AI for tense diplomatic relations.
The future is also notably free of digital clutter, as Firaxis confirms that the 2K launcher is set to be cut for Civ 7. However, a recent pre-launch update suggests that it may include ever-unpopular Denuvo DRM. If you’re concerned about how your rig will fare, the Civilization 7 system requirements should be your next stop.
That’s everything we know about Civilization 7. While we all wait for more dev insights and reveals for the latest Firaxis game, check out how you can get your hands on some Civ 7 Twitch drops, and try some of the best grand strategy games to get your Civ fix. Alternatively, if you prefer something without global or universal conquest, these turn-based strategy games are a great alternative.