Skip to main content

Start scheduling time off: Civilization 7 is releasing in February

Civilization 7 - Official Reveal Trailer | gamescom 2024
Summer Gaming Marathon Feature Image
This story is part of our Summer Gaming Marathon series.

People hoping to take off time from life thanks to Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 can finally start making some plans. At Gamescom Opening Night Live, 2K Games announced that the 4X strategy game staple will be releasing on February 11, 2025.

Recommended Videos

You can preorder the game now if you’re absolutely sure you want to disappear from the world for at least a month. The standard edition will cost $70 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox, and it’s $60 on Nintendo Switch and PC (the Tecumseh and Shawnee packs are included). There’s also a deluxe edition available that’ll cost $100 on PS5 and Xbox and $90 on Switch and PC. The more expensive bundle comes with everything in the standard edition, along with five days of early access. Finally, there’s a Founders Edition for $130 on PC (other store pages haven’t been updated at the time of this writing).

Please enable Javascript to view this content

This first look at Gamescom, which will be followed by a solo presentation, also revealed the initial peek at gameplay. It looks a lot like recent Civilization releases, although the visuals have gotten an obvious overhaul. Firaxis notes in the product description on Steam that there are other gameplay improvements: the tutorial has been reworked for newcomers, and game veterans will enjoy improved progression, which includes being able to carry over across multiple rounds.

Firaxis creative director Ed Beach said this is the “biggest, most ambitious” title the company has ever developed, so we assume there will be a lot to announce over the coming months.

While Civilization 7 was announced during Summer Game Fest this year, we didn’t learn much of anything about it. The CGI cinematic teaser panned over some familiar world landmarks like the Great Sphinx of Giza, but otherwise, there was no other information revealed. However, 2K promised that there would be a full reveal in August and a release window in 2025.

Carli Velocci
Carli is a technology, culture, and games editor and journalist. They were the Gaming Lead and Copy Chief at Windows Central…
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 seems like it will be well worth the wait
Key art for Stalker 2. A character in a lit-up gas mask and a gun on their back.

Rumblings about a sequel to the cult classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R, an atmospheric, yet janky supernatural shooter set within the radioactive zone around Chornobyl, have been around since 2010. The current version of the sequel from GSC Game World has been discussed since 2020. It was initially going to launch as early as April 2022, but due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, its development has been rife with delays, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was pushed back again and again, all the way until this September.

With only a few months to go until launch, GSC Game World finally had the game playable at Summer Game Fest this year. I went hands-on with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and it's shaping up to be a brutal survival shooter that will be well worth the wait.

Read more
Alan Wake 2’s Night Springs DLC gets a surprise release tomorrow
Rose covered in blood in Alan Wake 2

Remedy Entertainment showed off a new trailer for the first Alan Wake 2 DLC titled Night Springs at Summer Games Fest. The expansion will be released tomorrow, Saturday, June 8 and be included in the expansion pass for those who purchased the Deluxe Edition or one of two physical editions of the game that will also be available starting tomorrow.

Sam Lake took the stage at Summer Games Fest to reveal a new look at Night Springs and announce that players can dive in the very next day. Night Springs will feature three episodes. each starring different characters in bizarre situations. The three characters include waitress and No, 1 Alan Wake fan Rose Merigold, real-life actor Sean Ashmore, and Control's Jesse Fayden. Gameplay was only shown in short clips, but appears to keep the same basic survival-horror roots and ethereal environments.

Read more
Civilization 7 finally announced, but you’ll have to wait for more info
The banner for Civilization 7, with highlighted text on a dark background.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII - Official Teaser Trailer

Civilization 7 will conquer your game time soon. The latest in the iconic turn-based 4X strategy franchise was announced by developer Firaxis Games during Summer Game Fest on Friday.

Read more