Reimagining Historical Progression
During our discussion, Beach elaborated on the team’s decision to reorganize the game into three distinct chapters: the Age of Antiquity, the Age of Exploration, and the Modern Age. This structural change aims to streamline late-game content, a common pain point for players in previous iterations.
The transitions between these Ages allow players to select various strategic paths and cultural identities to carry forward, enhancing the gameplay experience. The introduction of more flexible leader-civilization pairings, improved military mechanics with commander units, and a renewed emphasis on exploration and settlement promise to make the game more enjoyable for both newcomers and seasoned players alike.
Since the launch of the original Civilization game in 1991, the series has become synonymous with the 4X genre. Following Take-Two's acquisition of the franchise from Infogrames in 2004 and Firaxis in 2005, the anticipation for Civilization VII has been palpable, especially since the last full release, Civilization VI, debuted in 2016. With a release date set for February 2025, the design principles behind this new installment are particularly intriguing.
“We fundamentally restructured the game!” Beach stated emphatically. He explained that traditional 4X games often start small, gradually expanding as players build their empires. However, this expansion can lead to lengthy gameplay sessions where managing numerous units becomes cumbersome. “Playing through a turn can become a 10-minute activity,” he noted.
Beach and his team observed that while players enjoyed the early stages of exploration and empire-building, many would abandon their games before reaching the end, opting instead to restart for that initial thrill. “There’s a point where lots of our players drop out and say, ‘I’d have more fun starting a new session than trying to finish it!’” he admitted. “It’s terrific that they play it over and over again like that. But there’s a lot of content and cool history showcased at the end of our game that players are not engaging with.”
To address this, the team focused on restructuring the gameplay to create moments that re-energize and simplify the experience. “We really think about the game structure and how many clicks it takes to do anything, and also how many units you are managing,” Beach explained. Collaborating with historians, they identified natural breaks in history, allowing for a more streamlined gameplay experience as players transition through the Ages.
Embracing Historical Pathways
As players progress through the Ages, they will have the opportunity to maintain their cultural identities while exploring new strategic avenues. For instance, starting as Egypt may allow players to build iconic structures like pyramids, but they could also evolve into a new Middle Eastern or African power, adapting their strategies along the way. “The Egyptian identity you established early in the game carries forward with you,” Beach explained.
However, the game also encourages players to pursue unexpected paths. A player might begin as Egypt but focus on military technology, ultimately evolving into a society reminiscent of Mongolia. “We don’t want you to think ‘I’m playing as Egypt. All I’m going to be able to do is be really good around rivers!’” Beach emphasized. “You’ll have three or four big decisions as to where you want to move. It’s cool to let players pick what they want their civilization to become.”