Civilization 7 has started on some shaky footing. Out of the gate, Civilization 7's critical and fan reception has been rather mixed, but the foundations of the game are strong, and its new mechanics are intriguing. Developer Firaxis is already doing a lot to fix Civilization 7's biggest issues, though it's clear that the game is only at the start of a very long road.
Though Firaxis has stated that fixes are being prioritized over new content, Civilization 7 already has a lengthy slate of DLCs on the horizon. The first part of Civ 7's 'Crossroads of the World Collection' DLC is already out, and the second part is just days away from releasing. And there's plenty more where that came from, with the 'Right to Rule Collection' scheduled for a September 2025 launch. On top of those confirmed DLCs, Civilization 7 has suffered a few leaks, including one datamined Civ that could end up representing one of Sid Meier's oldest and most underrated ventures.
Civilization 7: What Could an Atomic Age Look Like?
It's been rumored that Civilization 7 will eventually feature a fourth, "Atomic" Age, and there are a few things that are bound to appear in it.
Civilization 7's Leaked Pirate Republic Civ Could Hearken Back to Sid Meier's Pirates!
Sid Meier's Pirates! Is A Groundbreaking But Underrated Game
Originally released all the way back in May 1987 for t he Commodore 64, Sid Meier's Pirates! Was a truly groundbreaking game for its era, delivering one of the first seamless open-worlds in gaming. In Pirates!, players create a custom privateer who's initially signed up to work for one of the world's biggest powers, those being the British Empire, the Dutch Republic, the Spanish Empire, or the French Empire.
Players are then given their own ship, and let loose upon the seven seas, or at least the seas located around South America and the Caribbean. Players are given free-rein over the map, and can complete a variety of objectives in any order they wish, living out the ultimate pirate fantasy in the process. From shooting down ships and stealing cargo, to fencing fellow pirate captains, to trading at outposts, to even dancing at a ball and marrying royalty, Sid Meier's Pirates! Had no shortage of exciting activities for players to immerse themselves in.
Pirates! Was the first simulation game from developer MicroProse that wasn't aircraft-based, predating Railroad Tycoon by three years and Civilization by four. Pirates! Was also the first game to have Sid Meier's name in the title, with MicroProse believing it would attract fans of Meier's previous works.
Sid Meier's Pirates! Received a remake in 1993 titled Pirates! Gold, which overhauled the game's graphics and added some new features. Pirates! Then received another remake in 2004, which gave the game a 3D makeover and introduced features like turn-based land combat. While Pirates! May not be as widely known nowadays as Civilization, it's certainly worth trying for any fans curious about the sim genre's early days, or for anyone interested in the setting.
How Civilization 7's Rumored Pirate DLC Could Feel Like a Throwback
As soon as Civilization 7 hit its brief early access period (available to those who purchased the deluxe edition), leaks started to hit the internet. Some anonymous sources (posted on Reddit by ManByTheRiver11) claimed that they had datamined files referencing a wealth of unreleased Leaders and Civs.
Edward Teach, best known as the infamous pirate Blackbeard, was allegedly one of the names in the file, along with the Moroccan privateer Sayyida al Hurra. These names appeared alongside alleged files for a Pirate Republic Civ. Firaxis hasn't officially confirmed or denied these leaks, but it would be great to see more out-of-left-field leaders and Civs like this in Civilization 7.
These leaked pirate-themed leaders and Civ could also find a way to reference Sid Meier's Pirates!, perhaps through their unique bonuses. For instance, Teach and Sayyida al Hurra could excel at trading and naval combat during the Exploration Age, thus encouraging players to spend most of their time at sea.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 77%
- Released
- February 11, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
