Civilization 7 Director Reassures: New Ages System Actually Solves One of Series' Biggest Issues

As a long-time fan of the Civilization series, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation about Sid Meier’s Civilization 7. On one hand, the new Ages system seems like a promising solution to a problem that has plagued the series for years – the tendency for players to abandon games once they reach the modern age due to being overwhelmed by decisions and management.

As a passionate gamer diving into Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in the Ages system compared to its predecessors. Ed Beach, our creative director, has shared this optimism during an interview with Edge magazine, hinting at the promising results from the current testing of this anticipated 4X strategy title.

The original developers have often communicated that a key factor in designing the latest game’s unique feature, which involves shifting civilizations when moving onto new eras and restricting them to three, was addressing player boredom after approximately 100 turns. Frequently, players would restart the game once the era of significant geographical exploration concluded, leading to fan fatigue.

Ages without being overwhelmed by decisions and management

Additionally, Beach corroborated this finding. It appears that data gathered by the developer suggests that players seldom complete campaigns once they’ve begun.

Firaxis Games studio anticipates that the upcoming “seventh” edition of their game, Civilization, will keep players engaged with fresh discoveries even in contemporary times (the specific details are still under wraps). This design ensures fans can enjoy the game until the end without feeling overwhelmed by an excessive amount of decisions and management tasks.

What the Ages system excels at addressing is ensuring that players don’t feel swamped by an excessive number of tasks or choices during their turns, making it easier for them to progress in the game without feeling overwhelmed.

It’s commonly believed among developers, but history has shown us that ideas which initially appear brilliant in a developer’s mind can sometimes fall flat in practice, even negatively impacting the gaming experience. So, it’s not surprising that fans were apprehensive about the new Ages system, given their past experiences and similarities to a strategy game from another 4X title that didn’t fare well. This uncertainty is particularly understandable since this mechanism resembles an unsuccessful solution from another game.

Do tests confirm the positive effect of new Ages?

In light of earlier feedback from developers, it’s evident that Firaxis studio acknowledges the potential risks, particularly given the criticism surrounding similar mechanics in Humankind. Consequently, they are extensively testing what is being referred to as Civilization 7. Ed Beach has shared that regular playtesting sessions with designers and testers have led to more players successfully completing the game, and their campaigns now conclude in a more intriguing manner.

In-studio tests, involving only a limited group of individuals, might not fully ensure the game’s success once launched on the market. However, it does offer hope to fans who acknowledge that an underwhelming final act was a significant flaw in the last iteration of the series.

Players often find themselves in an overwhelmingly advantageous position too early on in Civilization VI, making victory essentially inevitable with numerous subsequent moves. Consequently, gamers who have invested hundreds or even thousands of hours into the game typically opt to start over after the initial 200 turns.

It remains to be seen if the seventh installment of the game resolves the current issue within the Civilization series, as it’s only when players get their hands on it that we can determine whether this solution works effectively under real-world play conditions and doesn’t introduce additional problems.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 will be released on February 11, 2025, on PC, PS5, and XSX/S.