As Civilization 7 Dataminers Discover Reference to the Atomic Age, Firaxis Says 'We're Excited for Where This Is Going'

Civilization VII dataminers have uncovered evidence suggesting a fourth, unannounced Age is coming, a possibility hinted at by Firaxis in an IGN interview. Civilization VII's current campaign spans Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. Upon completing an Age, all players simultaneously transition, selecting a new civilization, retaining chosen Legacies, and witnessing a world-altering evolution—a unique system unseen in previous Civilization games.

The Modern Age, based on in-game units and victory conditions, concludes before the Cold War. Lead designer Ed Beach confirmed this in the IGN interview, explaining Firaxis' decision to end the current version with World War II. Beach highlighted the collaborative historical research that shaped the Age boundaries:

“We looked at historical ebbs and flows. Determining chapter start and end points was crucial. Our senior historian, Andrew Johnson, was instrumental, bringing a Southeast Asian perspective to balance my Western-centric views. We noticed major empires in antiquity—Roman, Chinese, Indian—faced similar external pressures around 300-500 CE. This marked a natural end to Antiquity. The Exploration to Modern transition reflects the challenges faced by established monarchies from revolutions (French, American, etc.), leading to the emergence of new nations in the Modern Age. The next major global shift, World War II, provided the Modern Age's conclusion, as it represented a significant historical pivot. New gameplay systems unique to each Age—diplomacy, warfare, commanders—require these breaks to align with real-world events. We deliberately avoided the Cold War, as its distinct nature sets it apart from the rest of the Modern Age.”

The possibility of a fourth Age, perhaps extending into the Space Age, was subtly teased by executive producer Dennis Shirk: “You can imagine the possibilities… the design allows each Age to be packed with systems, visuals, units, and civilizations specific to that era. We can't discuss specifics, but we're excited about the future.”

Dataminers, capitalizing on early access, have already discovered references to an "Atomic Age," including new leaders, civilizations, further supporting this speculation. This aligns with Civ VII's current ending and Shirk's comments.

Firaxis is currently addressing community concerns that have resulted in mixed Steam reviews. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback but expressed confidence in the game's long-term appeal, describing its early performance as “very encouraging.”

For strategies to conquer the world, consult our guides on achieving all Civ VII victories, understanding key changes for Civ VI players, avoiding crucial mistakes, and navigating map types and difficulty settings.