Summary

  • 4X fans should mark their calendars for August 20 for the world gameplay reveal of Sid Meier's Civilization 7 at Gamescom Opening Night Live.
  • Civilization 6 was a massive hit and Civilization 7 may expand on its success with new mechanics.
  • The reveal has fans excited and hoping for a showcase of new gameplay mechanics in the upcoming installment.

Fans of Firaxis Games' 4X turn-based strategy series Civilization will want to keep their schedules open on Aug 20 for the world gameplay reveal of Sid Meier's Civilization 7. The reveal of the next installment in the Civilization series will be taking place during the Opening Night Live portion of Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, and will be streaming worldwide.

Debuting in 1991, the series has become a staple of 4X strategy, combining the genre's key concepts of "explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate." With the most recent entry, Civilization 6 was a massive hit at its launch in 2016, selling more than one million copies in its first few weeks, and it's still holding down very positive reviews on Steam, with 90 percent of recent reviewers giving their approval.

News of the major gameplay reveal came from Gamescom Opening Night Live host Geoff Keighlry's official Twitter account. As listed in a post made by that account, the event will stream live on August 20 beginning at 2 PM Eastern Standard Time and 11 AM Pacific Standard Time, and the gameplay reveal will be part of that opening night program. Loyal fans of the series have likely been looking forward to a big reveal sometime this month, as a teaser announcement made at Summer Game Fest on June 7 heralded the approach of a Firaxis August Showcase. However, despite the recent announcement, it's still not clear exactly how much of the game Firaxis intends to show ahead of its 2025 release window.

A Big Civilization 7 Reveal Is Coming August 20

Early reactions to the post have indicated excitement, as well as a little trepidation, from the series' fan base. Some players are hoping to see the reveal of new gameplay mechanics for Civilization 7, anticipating that Firaxis will build on the momentum of mechanics introduced in Gathering Storm, the second expansion for Civilization 6. That expansion brought with it environmental effects such as climate change, volcanoes, floods, and droughts, as well as a slew of new modern technology discoveries and civic trees.

While fans are looking to Civilization 7 to expand the core gameplay additions of Civilization 6, the reveal is still a few weeks away, with no real indicator of what to expect just yet. Still, Firaxis has a track record for putting out some of the most beloved 4X strategy games in history, so the presentation to kick off Gamescom 2024 will likely be one that fans won't want to miss out on.

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9 /10

Sid Meier's Civilization VII
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Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 super greyscale 8-bit logo PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 77%
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Released
February 11, 2025
ESRB
Everyone 10+ // Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Firaxis Games
Publisher(s)
2K
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter. Sid Meier's Civilization® VII empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!

In Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement.

Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Pursue prosperity in an immersive solo experience or play with others in online multiplayer.

Whether you choose to follow a path rooted in history or reimagine possibilities to chart your own way forward, build something you believe in and create a legacy that echoes through the Ages in Civilization VII.

Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Sid Meier's Civilization
Genre(s)
Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X