Firaxis reveals its plans for Civilization VII: major September patch, Arc of Tomorrow and Earthrise DLC coming in 2027

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Sid Meier's Civilization, Firaxis Games has outlined its plans for the future of Civilization VII. The developers are preparing a major free update, the game's first full paid expansion, and a substantial patch 1.5.0 arriving in September. Civilization VII launched in early 2025, but its reception among strategy fans has remained mixed.

Patch 1.5.0 arrives in September

The upcoming update will primarily focus on quality of life improvements and making the overall experience more convenient.

• Realistic Earth map. Players will receive a map featuring real continents, terrain and resources. Nations will begin in their historical regions, while natural wonders will be placed randomly during world generation.
• Optimization. Loading and map generation times will be improved, while resource distribution will become more varied.
• Diplomacy. Influence points can be spent to maintain allied relationships, helping players avoid unnecessary wars.
• Interface improvements. Tooltips, settlement banners and the distance ruler will be updated to make city planning more comfortable.

After patch 1.5.0 launches, smaller updates will arrive less frequently as the team shifts its attention toward long term development

Arc of Tomorrow is coming in 2027

Civilization VII will receive the major free Arc of Tomorrow update in 2027. The update will expand the game's timeline with a new Atomic Era covering the period from the 1950s through the 2050s.

• Nuclear technology. New offensive and defensive options will be introduced, including nuclear submarines. Spies will be able to sabotage rival nuclear programs, while diplomatic agreements will allow nations to pursue disarmament. Nuclear strikes will also have a one turn delay before launch, giving opponents a chance to defend themselves or launch a retaliatory attack.
• New leaders and nations. Mahatma Gandhi will return to the game.
• Government and diplomacy. Settlements can be transformed into city states, allowing players to bypass the settlement limit and participate in local conflicts without declaring an all out war.
• The film industry. Filmmakers will search for suitable shooting locations and produce movies that provide bonuses based on their quality.
• Goods production. Raw materials can be combined to create more advanced resources, such as enriched uranium.

Earthrise will be the first major paid DLC

Also arriving in 2027 is Earthrise, the first full paid expansion for Civilization VII. The expansion will focus on space exploration and environmental themes.

One of its main features will be a space race spanning multiple eras. During Antiquity and the Exploration Age, players will be able to map the night sky and the Solar System. In the Modern Age, they will launch orbital missions around Earth and the Moon, while the Atomic Era will introduce space agencies dedicated to exploring other planets and extracting resources.

The expansion will also introduce terraforming and environmental systems. New technologies and structures, including dams, will allow players to reshape the landscape, improve tiles and protect their civilizations from natural disasters and global warming.

Civilization VII is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade, as well as Meta Quest 3 and 3S VR headsets.

Until 7:00 PM CEST on September 10, Civilization VII can be played completely free on Steam. This is the full version of the game with no restrictions, and any progress made during the trial can be carried over if the player purchases the game.

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