What Do We Know About Civilization VII: Release Date, Price, Early Access, System Requirements

After 9 years, Civilization fans have finally received a new installment of their favorite game. For many, including myself, Civilization 6 was the first game in the series, and it immediately won my heart—I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing it. Fans of Civilization 5 and earlier titles had mixed reactions to the 2016 release, but Civilization 7 is definitely the game everyone has been waiting for, both veterans and those who started with Civilization 6. Let's take a closer look at what awaits us in Civilization 7 and how much it will cost.

Civilization 7 Editions & Prices

Credit: Civilization VII, Steam

The developers have been working on this project for many years, and when I watched the trailers presenting the game, it immediately became clear where all that time was spent. Improved graphics, gameplay, and a ton of new mechanics—but how much will it all cost?

Here are the prices for different editions of the game:

• Sid Meier's Civilization VII - $69.99
• Sid Meier's Civilization VII Deluxe Edition - $99.99
• Sid Meier's Civilization VII Founders Edition - $129.99

An expansion pack titled Sid Meier's Civilization® VII: Crossroads of the World Collection will also be released alongside the game. According to the description, this expansion will add additional cosmetic effects.

I’d like to point out that prices may vary across different platforms, and the final cost also depends on your region.

Civilization 7 Release Date

Credit: Civilization VII, Steam

The game's release is just around the corner—Civilization VII will launch on Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Steam Deck, and Xbox Series X/S on February 11, 2025. However, if you purchase Sid Meier's Civilization VII Deluxe Edition or Sid Meier's Civilization VII Founders Edition, you can play the game right now, as early access began on February 6.

One of the most important updates in this new installment is the ability to play the game in VR! A virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) version of Civilization VII is set to launch in early 2025 for Meta Quest 3 and 3S. However, there is no exact release date yet. This version is being developed by PlaySide Studios.

Civilization 7 System Requirements

Civilization 7 looks truly beautiful and well-designed. The developers have put in a lot of effort to optimize the game, ensuring it runs smoothly on a variety of PC configurations—even on those that might seem quite outdated by today's standards.

Let's take a look at the system requirements.

Civilization VII Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit or newer
• CPU: Intel Core i5-10400/ AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
• Memory: 16 GB
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2060/ AMD RX 6600/ Intel Arc A750
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 20 GB

Civilization VII Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit or newer
• CPU: Intel i5-4690/ Intel i3-10100/ AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• Memory: 8 GB
• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1050/ AMD RX 460/ Intel Arc A380
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 20 GB

The minimum requirements are truly pleasing, as they allow almost all players to enjoy the game.

Civilization 7 Gameplay

Credit: Civilization VII, Steam

Just like in previous entries, Civilization 7 remains a turn-based strategy game in the 4X genre. You will be tasked with leading the development of a human civilization—from its earliest settlements to an advanced culture. An incredible journey awaits you as you take on the role of a civilization’s ruler.

You will need to use various units, including military and civilian ones, to explore the map, expand your civilization by founding new cities, advancing culture and technology, gathering resources from the environment, and countering threats from other civilizations striving for dominance. There are multiple ways to achieve victory—you can develop culturally, secure a diplomatic victory, outpace everyone in the scientific race, or declare war on the world and conquer all civilizations, becoming the sole ruler.

In Civilization VII, you can choose historical leaders and civilizations separately, with each civilization best suited to specific leaders who possess unique attributes beneficial for development.

In this new installment, the criteria for choosing "leaders" have been revised compared to previous games. Now, philosophers, religious figures, and scientists who were never heads of state can also become leaders. Additionally, the historical era system has been simplified into three periods: Antiquity, the Age of Exploration, and the Modern Era, in contrast to the more detailed divisions of previous games. During the Antiquity era, independent factions will emerge—deliberately renamed to avoid negative associations with the term "barbarians" used in earlier entries. Depending on how you interact with them, some of these factions may evolve into city-states.

Will Civilization 7 Be the Best Entry in the Series?

This installment is definitely worth your attention, even if you've never played the previous games—especially if you love strategy games.

Civilization 6 received criticism from longtime fans due to the cartoonish graphics of world leaders, which many felt didn’t suit the game’s tone. In Civilization 7, the developers addressed this concern, making the leaders more realistic and lifelike.

The gameplay has become more engaging and open-ended, giving players more paths to victory. However, some mechanical changes have confused experienced players, which some see as a downside. But Civilization has always evolved from game to game—the way you played in Civ 5 no longer worked in Civ 6, and the same applies here.

In my opinion, change is a good thing, and it's just a matter of getting used to it. That’s why I’m almost certain that, whether you've played the previous entries or not, you’ll enjoy this game!