From Maya to Rome, Firaxis reveals Civilization 7's first six civs and there are "many more still to come"

Civilization 7
(Image credit: Firaxis Games)

There's not much longer left before Firaxis Games' highly anticipated Civilization 7 releases now, so it's not surprising that the developers are teasing upcoming content - including the first six available in-game civilizations, from the Antiquity Age to the Exploration Age.

In a recent post, Firaxis reveals the first few civs of Civilization 7. These include five from the Antiquity Age - Aksum, Egypt, Maya, Maurya, and Rome. The final civ, the Shawnee, falls within the Exploration Age - although, unlike the others, it won't be available outside of paid DLC. The studio didn't announce any civs from the Modern Age, but devs did write that there are "many more still to come!"

Fans are already speculating about what future civs could be. A new Reddit thread discussing Firaxis' reveal post shows as much, with excited commenters suggesting everything from Greece to the Inca Empire. "Greece is very likely given we have several Wonders made by them," reads one fan's response. "Really praying for base game Incas," writes another. Further replies include suggestions of China, Japan, and more.

The civs announced so far are proving popular, too - fans seem content with Firaxis' starter six. One comments that they're "so glad to see the Maya in it from the beginning this time," while others discuss how refreshing some of the options are this time around: "Finally, an Indian civ that focuses on Military and Science." As someone who loves history and has dabbled in the series' predecessors myself, I can't wait to explore the Maurya Empire.

For more information on each of the six civs revealed in Civilization 7, fans can check the game's official website. There's not long to wait now before players can discover how all of the civs function in-game for themselves, thankfully - Firaxis' hotly anticipated strategy game is set to release next year on February 11. That leaves just five months between now and the launch - a short period indeed considering the eight years that have passed since Civ 6 first dropped.

Need even more to look forward to? Here are some new games coming this year and beyond. 

Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.