Summary
Announced back in February 2023 via a simple press release from parent company Take-Two Interactive,Civilization 7is officially on its way. It’s already been eight years since thelast mainlineCivilizationentry, and while Firaxis has done an excellent job of keepingCiv 6updated and full of new content over the last near-decade, it’s definitely time for something new and more modern.
But it isn’t clear waters forCivilization 7. The usual king of the 4X historical strategy game market,Civilization 7might find itself in direct competition withAra: History Untold, a promising new 4X historical strategy title being developed by Oxide Games, which currently contains quite a few former Firaxis developers. Far from a rip-off or quick cash-grab,Ara: History Untoldpromises a lot of bold new features for the genre, some of which could really make the nextCivilizationfeel outdated from the get-go, but there’s one sizable marketing advantage thatCivilization 7might have over it.
Civilization 7 Could Reach a Larger Market Than Ara: History Untold
Firaxis Discovered The Benefit of Going Multi-Platform With Civilization 6
The vast majority of theCivilizationfranchise has been PC-only, with a few notable exceptions. All the way back in 1999, Activision created a PlayStation port ofCivilization 2, which worked surprisingly well on the older console. It would take another nine years before the nextCivilizationtitle landed on consoles, and that was the highly underratedcult-classicCivilization Revolution, a streamlined entry designed specifically to target the console market. But aside from that, every otherCivilizationgame has stayed as a PC exclusive. That is untilCivilization 6came along.
Released in 2016,Civilization 6performed very well upon its debut, shipping an impressive one million units within just its first month.Civilization 6actually ended up being one ofTake-Two’s highest-grossing gamesof that year, which put the publisher’s sights on the franchise in a way like never before. To capitalize on the initial success ofCivilization 6, Firaxis ported the game over to the Nintendo Switch in 2018, and following its presumed success on the handheld, Firaxis released an Xbox and PlayStation port just a year later.
Allegedly,Civilization 6’s lifetime sales as of 2023 are now 11 million copies, though the original source of this information seems a little unclear. Regardless of its official sales figures, it seems like a safe bet to assume thatCivilization 6coming to consoleswill have been a pretty lucrative venture for Firaxis and Take-Two, with the game and all of its subsequent DLC being able to reach three new markets. Presumably,Civilization 6’s gradual decision to go multi-platform proved to be a net positive for all parties involved, and if that’s true, then it seems likely that Take-Two will wantCivilization 7to release on multiple platforms as soon as possible.
Civilization 7’s Multi-Platform Approach Might Give It The Edge Over Ara: History Untold
Ara: History Untoldlooks as though it’s shaping up to be a really impressive 4X strategy title, and thanks to its general gameplay structure and penchant for history, it’s pitting itself directly against theCivilizationfranchise. It may have the edge in the end thanks to intriguing new features such as simultaneous turns and a novelPrestige scoring system.
But there’s one big marketing element that might giveCivilization 7the edge overAra: History Untold, and that’s the latter’s platform exclusivity. A game that’s being published by Xbox Game Studios,Ara: History Untoldwill be releasing only on PC at launch. WhileArawill be part of PC Game Pass on day one, it’s still only targeting one market, albeit the one that’s most associated with the 4X strategy genre.
But even ifAra: History Untolddoes come to consoles at some point in the near future, it would likely be exclusive to Xbox consoles. This could giveCivilization 7a sizable head start, so long as it is released on all platforms from the get-go. Of course, this is also assuming thatXbox’s current exclusivity plansdon’t change, which is looking increasingly likely by the day.
Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Civilization VIoffers new ways to engage with your world: cities now physically expand across the map, active research in technology and culture unlocks new potential, and competing leaders will pursue their own agendas based on their historical traits as you race for one of five ways to achieve victory in the game.Expansive empiresSee the marvels of your empire spread across the map like never before. Each district, wonder, and improvement is built on its own hex, allowing you to customize your city to your heart’s content. From the Commercial Hub to the Spaceport, every district provides unique and powerful bonuses. Pick and choose which districts to build to fit your needs! Build better than your opponents, place yourself strategically for your allies, and become the best civilization on Earth.Active ResearchBoost your civilization’s progress through history to unlock powerful bonuses before anyone else! To advance more quickly, use your units to actively explore, develop your environment, and discover new cultures. Research isn’t just limited to science. Explore the Civics tree to unlock powerful new governments and cultural policies Cultivate the civilization that fits your playstyle, or switch it up every time you play!Dynamic diplomacyAs the game progresses, so do your diplomatic relationships. From primitive first interactions where conflict is a fact of life, to late game alliances and negotiations. Carry influence with nearby city states to gain its diplomatic allegiance and earn game-changing city-state bonuses. Enlist spies to gather crucial intel on rival civilizations, steal precious resources, and even topple governments.
