When Firaxis first conceived of Civilization VII, the ambition was to boldly re-approach the series' classic structure with new mechanics rooted in a more nuanced historical perspective, while honoring and building upon the time-tested strategic gameplay that players love. Since our February 2025 launch, those same players have only helped us better achieve that initial, ambitious vision.

Today, we're thrilled to officially announce the release date for the Test of Time update for Civilization VII, free for all players when it releases on May 19.* This is much more than just another update; it's a direct result of your passion, feedback, and patience. It also wouldn't have been possible without our dedicated and invaluable Firaxis Feature Workshop participants, who were essential to shaping Test of Time's features by putting them through their paces over the past months.

Hi Civ fans - Ed Beach here, creative director for the Civilization franchise. For more than 30 years, Civilization has challenged players to build an empire to stand the test of time, offering rich, strategic gameplay that has resonated with fans across the world. That includes many of us on the Firaxis development team, who have devoted much of our lives to working on this legendary series.

One year ago, we embarked on a bold new journey with the launch of Civilization VII. Our vision was to push the boundaries of the franchise, introducing new mechanics that offered a fresh perspective for our players. The most rewarding part of the past year has been spending it with you - our community. Your passion, your ideas, and your feedback have shaped how we think about Civilization VII, and continue to guide where we're taking this game next. As we look ahead, we're committed to building on that foundation and weaving what we've heard directly into the game's DNA - so Civ VII keeps growing into something that feels great for deity veterans and new players alike. We're excited to build the future of Civilization VII together, and now we're ready to share a bit about where it's going next.

AMD has released its latest version of the AMD Software Adrenalin drivers, version 25.5.1 WHQL. The latest graphics drivers update brings official support for AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE graphics card, as well as new game support for Doom: The Dark Ages and F1 25 games. AMD also added new game support for AMD FSR 4 in several games, including Ghost of Tsushima, Frostpunk 2, Everspace 2, Fort Solis, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, The Finals, and Influx Redux, as well as expanded HYPR-RX Support to new games.

The new drivers update also added Vulkan 1.4 API support with support for several new Vulkan API extensions. AMD also fixed several issues including intermittent application crash or driver timeout in Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition and Civilization VII with Anti-Lag enabled, system crash due to a memory leak when using SteamVR on some Radeon graphics cards, including Radeon RX 9000 series, and some issues with driver installation.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 25.5.1 WHQL

Hello Civ fans, Update 1.1.0 is here—our first major update to Civilization VII! This update includes a mix of both paid and free content, with many of the free additions influenced by community feedback. For these extensive Update 1.1.0 notes, we've separated PC and Console into two separate sections so you can easily read them for your preferred platform. As part of these update notes, we're introducing a Feature Spotlight section, where the developers will dive deeper into new features or improvements being made. The Update Notes will cover all the addressed issues and improvements, including changes to both the base game and DLC. And lastly, for those who are excited about paid content additions, a Collection section will showcase the newest civs, leaders, and Wonders included in the latest paid Content Collection.

This update also brings a number of addressed issues and improvements specifically for console players. Some of these changes may already be available to PC players, but now all platforms are fully up-to-date. This also means cross-play between PC has been restored across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, so you can once again enjoy cross-platform multiplayer between PC and these consoles with the latest version of the game. For a look into what else we're planning, take a look at our recently released Update Check-in detailing some of what you can expect in our next update, and some major features being scoped out for the future. As always, we're listening closely to your feedback, so please keep sharing your thoughts on the Steam Discussion forums or our official Civilization Discord Server.

Greetings, Civ fans! Since launch, the team at Firaxis Games has been working quickly to address key areas of Civilization VII that we've prioritized and identified with the community's feedback and our own teams. Today, we wanted to provide a high-level overview of what you can expect in the next updates for Civilization VII.

Next Update Coming March 4
The next update for Civilization VII, Update 1.1.0, is coming on March 4, 2025, and will be deployed across PC & console. Cross-play between PC and consoles will be re-enabled with the deployment of this update. Please note: Update 1.1.0 release timing may differ on Nintendo Switch.

It's a match made in heaven—GeForce NOW and Warner Bros. Games are collaborating to bring the beloved Batman: Arkham series to the cloud as part of GeForce NOW's fifth-anniversary celebration. Just in time for Valentine's Day, gamers can fall in love all over again with Gotham City's Dark Knight, streaming his epic adventures from anywhere, on nearly any device. The sweet treats don't end there. GeForce NOW also brings the launch of the highly anticipated Sid Meier's Civilization VII. It's all part of the lovable lineup of seven games joining the cloud this week.

A Match Made in Gotham City
GeForce NOW is welcoming Warner Bros. Games to the cloud with the Batman: Arkham series, including Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition, Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition and Batman: Arkham Knight Premium. Don the cape and cowl of the world's greatest detective, bringing justice to the streets of Gotham City with bone-crushing combat and ingenious gadgets.

Civ fans—Sid Meier's Civilization VII is available now! To the entire Civ community, thank you so much for joining us on this journey. We're honored and humbled to be starting this new chapter of Civ history with you, and this is just the beginning of our years-long commitment to Civilization VII. Thanks especially to everyone who has offered feedback and support in the days since Advanced Access began for Deluxe and Founders Edition owners. As we stated in our February 6 message to the Civ community, we're actively listening to all the feedback, and work is already underway on free updates to the game including a UI rework, the addition of community-requested features, and other quality-of-life updates. We're still determining what can be delivered when, so be on the lookout for a detailed roadmap in the future. We're committed to making Civilization VII the best it can be, and your feedback is hugely helpful as we continue to make improvements.

Thank you for being a Civ fan
We can't wait for you to get into the game and start building an empire you believe in - but first, we'd like to share some heartfelt thanks to the entire Civ community from some of the people who made Civilization VII possible: "It is a monumental day for all of us at Firaxis, and we couldn't let it pass without saying a heartfelt thank you. When Sid Meier started this series over 30 years ago, his vision for Civilization wasn't just about building a great game - it was about creating a canvas where players could shape the world and write their own history. That vision remains at the heart of everything we do, and it's what makes Civilization VII a true collaboration with you, our dedicated fans. On behalf of everyone at Firaxis, thank you for your trust, excitement, and love for this series. Here's to the next chapter of Civilization!"—Heather Hazen, President of Firaxis

Sid Meier's Civilization VII was released just a few days ago, and its peak interest is seemingly below the interest recorded way back in October 2016, when Civilization VI was released. According to SteamDB analytics, the new Civilization VII game has recorded a 24-hour peak of 80,103 concurrent players. However, when its predecessor, Civilization VI, launched, the 24-hour peak concurrent player count was a whopping 162,657 players, more than double that of the newer release. In the peak 24-hour period, the older Civilization VI has seen 52,082 players concurrently, suggesting that the game has left a strong impression on many, and gamers continue to return to it to explore.

However, it's not only about peak numbers. Players of 2016 Sid Meier's Civilization VI are active throughout the year. Currently, Civilization VI players occupy 35,854 spots, while 38,201 players, a bit more, are playing the 2025 Civilization VII. To say that Civilization VII is a flop is a bit of an overstatement. However, this shows that the Civilization series hype was much stronger in 2016 than it is now and that gamers value quality gameplay so much that they continue to play their favorite games throughout the year. We have yet to see how the game progresses in the future, and we are curious if the current Civilization VI player base will migrate over to Civilization VII. If you are a Civilization series fan, let us know your opinion in the comments.

Welcome to week two of February, during which one of the oldest game franchises is launching its seventh iteration, although this time around it steps away quite a bit from its past versions, for better or worse. This is followed by some mayhem, Hollywood drama, an action co-op RPG, some classic side scrolling action with a lot of big guns and the week is rounded off with a JRPG.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII / This week's AAA release / Tuesday 11 February
In Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement. Steam link

Hackers successfully cracked the Linux version of Sid Meier's Civilization VII four days before its scheduled February 11 release. The compromise stems from the Linux build's DRM-free architecture, which contrasts its Windows counterpart's Denuvo anti-tampering protection. The cracked version, identified under the signature "Linux-Razor1911," has proliferated across multiple file-sharing networks and torrents, presenting immediate challenges for publisher 2K and developer Firaxis Games. The straightforward exploitation process utilizes standard Linux mounting protocols and executable script deployment. While the crack enables immediate access to the base game, circumventing official distribution channels could compromise essential network features and post-launch stability patches.

The persistent vulnerability of DRM-free releases on alternative operating systems potentially influences future platform support strategies among major publishers. Widespread pre-release piracy could significantly impact initial sales figures and threaten future native Linux port development. Firaxis Games and 2K, game publishers, are presumably investigating the crack, though the DRM-free nature of the Linux release limits their immediate response options. As the official launch approaches, this incident shows the ongoing challenge of balancing platform-specific security measures with maintaining broad operating system support in modern game development. While the SteamOS and Linux community represent a significantly smaller market than Windows gamers, it still has a noticeable impact on publishers relying on sales from all compatible platforms.

Civilization VII global release timing—from Early Access to launch, find your Civ VII start time on our global release map! Sid Meier's Civilization VII is almost here! Check out when you can start playing. Whether you're jumping in for early access or waiting for launch, use this map to find your Civilization VII release time around the globe. Are you ready for one more turn?

The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter. Sid Meier's Civilization VII is a turn-based strategy game that empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known! In Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement.

Intel has released its latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers, version 101.6557 Beta. The latest update brings Game On Driver support for a couple of new games as well as improves performance in F1 24 and Sid Meier's Civilization VII games. The new driver update also fixes a single issue where the Intel Graphics Software may incorrectly report number of Xe Cores on certain Intel Arc B-series graphics cards.

According to Intel's release notes, the new driver update adds Game On driver support on Intel Arc B-series and A-series GPUs, and Intel Core Ultra CPUs with integrated Intel Arc GPUs, for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Sid Meier's Civilization VII games. It also improves performance on Intel Arc B-series GPUs in F1 24 game (DX12) at High Settings by up to 15.1 percent at 1080p and by up to 12.1 percent at 1440p resolution. The performance uplift also comes to Intel Core Ultra Series 2 CPUs with integrated Intel Arc GPUs in F1 24 (DX12), by up to 12.3 percent at 1080p with Medium Settings, and in Sid Meier's Civilization VII (DX12) by up to 7.7 percent at 1080p with Medium Settings.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6557 Beta

Intel and 2K Games are teaming up to launch the Intel Builder Bundle, featuring the highly anticipated Sid Meier's Civilization VII. Starting today, gamers who purchase qualifying Intel Core Ultra processors (series 2) or Intel Core desktop processors (14th Gen) from participating sellers will be eligible to receive a digital copy of Civilization VII to play when the game launches on February 11, 2025.

"It's hard to come up with franchises in the PC gaming industry more iconic than Sid Meier's Civilization, and Intel is thrilled to continue its years-long partnership with 2K Games and Firaxis on the series' latest installment. Whether it's a marathon session with friends or just 'one more turn' before logging off, gamers around the world can depend on Intel Core and Core Ultra processors to deliver the best Civilization experience on a PC."

• Roger Chandler, VP and GM, Enthusiast and Workstation PC, Intel

The Firaxis team is happy to announce that Sid Meier's Civilization VII is officially Steam Deck Verified! Whether you're at home or on the go, get ready to take one more turn when Civilization VII launches on February 11, 2025! The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter. Sid Meier's Civilization VII empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!

In Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement. Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Pursue prosperity in an immersive solo experience or play with others in online multiplayer.

Firaxis Games has published full PC system requirements for the upcoming Sid Meier's Civilization VII strategy game that will be launched on February 11th next year, and it looks like it won't need a powerful hardware, at least unless you want to run it at 4K/UHD resolution and with high graphics preset. Unfortunately, Firaxis Games has not revealed any details regarding support for NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR, at least not yet.

According to details, you'll need at least an Intel Core i3-10100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and either an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, AMD Radeon RX 460, or an Intel Arc A380 graphics card. Of course, these are minimum requirements so expect the game to run at 1080p resolution at 30 FPS and Low graphics preset. The game will also need 20 GB of SSD storage and Windows 10/11 64-bit OS. The recommended requirements, which should run the game at Medium graphics preset, 1080p resolution, and 60 FPS, include an Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, AMD Radeon RX 6600, or an Intel Arc A750 graphics card.

2K and Firaxis Games today announced Sid Meier's Civilization VII will launch on February 11, 2025. Representing a revolutionary new chapter in the storied and esteemed strategy game franchise, which has sold-in more than 70 million copies worldwide, it will be available on PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Mac and Linux via Steam. Sid Meier's Civilization VII will feature support for cross-play and cross-progression, and is now available for pre-order.

Full details about Sid Meier's Civilization VII were shared during Gamescom Opening Night Live and an ensuing gameplay showcase that highlighted the title's innovative new features. The announcement also revealed Gwendoline Christie ("Game of Thrones," "Star Wars" franchise) as the new narrator of the game via an enthralling live-action trailer.