The first six Civilization 7 civs have been revealed

Firaxis have officially announced the initial batch of civilizations that will be featured in Civilization VII, their innovative new take on the classic 4X strategy game. Civilization 7 is set to release on 11th February 2025 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, so fans can expect more exciting announcements leading up to the launch date.

Divided into three distinct ages – Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern – each civilization is confined to a specific time period and must evolve and transition into another era through a point of crisis. For example, Rome may eventually decline, paving the way for the rise of medieval empires like the Holy Roman Empire, which could later develop into modern European nations.

The six civilizations that have been unveiled are:

While not included in this announcement, Firaxis has also hinted at the inclusion of Mongolia, as well as the possibility of representing China and India through their respective dynasties.

This announcement has also shed light on what will set these civilizations apart, delving into their unique attributes, abilities, civic trees, and more.

Take Aksum, for instance, a powerful civilization from the African coast of the Red Sea known for its lucrative trade routes bringing ivory, gold, spices, and other goods to various regions. Some specifics about Aksum include:

Unique Ability

Kingdom of Natural Wealth: Increased Gold from resources.

Attributes:

Civic Trees

Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

• Tier 1: Unlock the Hawilt Unique Improvement. Increased Resource Capacity in Settlements on Coast or Navigable Rivers. Unlocks Great Stele Wonder.
• Tradition – Port of Nations: Increased Culture and Gold for every active Trade Route.
• Tier 2: Increased Gold on Quarters adjacent to Coast tiles. Unlocks ‘Port of Nations’ Tradition.

Monumentum Adulitanum

• Tier 1: Altar and Monument Buildings gain a Culture adjacency bonus with Hawilt Unique Improvements. Unlocks ‘Throne of my Fathers’ Tradition.
• Tradition – Throne of my Fathers: Increased Gold in Cities adjacent to Coast tiles.

Book of the Himyarites

• Tier 1: Dhow Unique Naval Units get the Swift keyword, allowing them to ignore enemy Units’ Zone of Control. Unlocks ‘May This Please the People’ Tradition.
• Tradition – May This Please the People: Increased Culture on Resources on or adjacent to Coast tiles.

Unique Infrastructure

Hawilt: Unique Improvement. Generates Gold. Increased Culture for each adjacent Wonder or Hawilt. Must be built on a Flat tile.

Unique Civilian Unit

Tankwa: Unique Trade Ship. Impervious to pillaging. Increased Trade Route range.

Unique Military Unit

Dhow: Unique Naval Unit. Enhanced Combat Strength on Coast tiles. Has a charge to establish a naval Trade Route.

Associated Wonder

Great Stele: Earn Gold per Age upon completing a Wonder in this City, including the Great Stele. Must be built on a Flat tile.

Starting Biases:

You can find similar details for all the revealed civilizations here.

Alternatively, check out our hands-on preview of Civilization 7 from Gamescom, or explore the philosophical shift towards different ages in our interview with Ed Beach.