The Evolution of Civilization: How Civilization 7 Is Revolutionizing the Franchise

Highlights

The Civilization franchise has maintained its core essence over the course of three decades, with subsequent releases refining the established formula instead of implementing substantial breakthroughs.

To attract a wider player base, Firaxis, the creator of Civilization, aims to develop Civilization 7 as an even more innovative and groundbreaking sequel. Possibilities include introducing fresh game modes, additional leaders, units, buildings, and victory conditions. Furthermore, there will be a concerted effort to entice newcomers by offering dedicated campaign modes and enhancing the onboarding experience.

The Civilization franchise made a remarkable debut in 1991 and has maintained a consistent formula throughout its three-decade existence. In the first Civilization game, players were tasked with leading a chosen nation towards various victory conditions while managing military units and developing cities for increased efficiency. Although Civilization 7 will likely feature modern updates and enhancements, it is expected to adhere to the franchise's tried and tested formula, much like its predecessors.

The Civilization franchise is generally not known for its innovation, with most sequels following an iterative approach of building upon the existing formula rather than introducing significant changes. While this approach has been successful thus far, and many fans are content with its continuation, it may be beneficial for Civilization 7 to take bold strides forward.

Civilization 7 Could Be a Truly Innovative Sequel

Firaxis has been extremely active in recent years. Following the release of Civilization 6 in October 2016, Firaxis introduced XCOM: Chimera Squad in 2020, and most recently, Firaxis launched Marvel's Midnight Suns. These recent releases have shown Firaxis that they need to go all out with Civilization 7 in terms of presentation, gameplay, and marketing. By keeping these core principles in mind, Firaxis has the potential to create the largest and most impressive installment in the franchise, one that propels the series forward in a meaningful way.

While there is no official information on Civilization 7 at this time, besides the confirmation that it is in development, fans can expect Firaxis to fully commit to this project and deliver the most comprehensive Civilization experience thus far. This will likely include a plethora of new features. Civilization 7 could offer several new game modes, a larger roster of leaders compared to any previous base game in the series, an abundance of units, buildings, wonders, and potentially even additional victory conditions.

However, while these aspects will certainly appeal to existing fans of the franchise, they may not be enough to attract new players. This is a concern that Firaxis is likely well aware of, especially considering the disappointing performance of Marvel's Midnight Suns, which despite receiving critical acclaim, was considered a failure commercially by its publisher Take-Two Interactive. One of the primary reasons behind this was the game's inability to appeal to casual gamers, even with its Marvel branding. As a result, Firaxis will likely make a concerted effort to attract as many newcomers as possible with Civilization 7, their flagship franchise, leading to potential significant innovations.

Civilization 7 has the potential to revolutionize the familiar Civ formula. Firaxis might introduce entirely new game modes that completely subvert expectations, such as a dedicated campaign mode and a comprehensive tutorial specifically designed to engage and educate new players, similar to Anno 1800's captivating story mode. Additionally, Firaxis could substantially alter the current leader meta, giving each leader distinct traits and abilities that set them apart from one another, rather than merely offering subtle boosts that are more challenging for beginners to master.

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is currently in development.