Civilization 7 Leak Unveils Potential New Leaders and Additional Features

A recent effort in datamining has teased some exciting content in the pipeline for Civilization 7, hinting at new leaders, new civilizations, and a particular nautical influence. Among the rumored new leaders making waves are Whina Cooper of the 1950s Maori Women’s League, pirate queen Sayyida al Hurra from 16th-century Morocco, and perhaps most intriguingly, Edward Teach, the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard.

Civilization 7 is already creating quite a buzz with its official release pegged for February 11. However, those who snagged the Founders or Deluxe editions have enjoyed a sneak peek since February 5. Despite some mixed reviews from these early birds, the game’s innovative leader-civilization pairings have captured players’ imaginations and stand out as a beloved feature.

In the current lineup, players can choose from 21 different leaders in Civilization 7. Departing from its predecessors, this installment allows mixing and matching across civilizations, enabling more strategic freedom but sacrificing a bit of historical precision. This leads to a much broader range of gameplay possibilities. According to one Reddit user, ManByTheRiver11, who delved into the game’s files, we might soon see the introduction of Icelandic, Ottoman, Maori, and Tonga civilizations, as well as an enigmatic Pirate Republic.

Moving into future territory, it seems the game might expand even further. Speculations born from the datamining suggest the potential introduction of an Atomic Age. Currently, players traverse through the Antiquity Age, Exploration Age, and Modern Age, meeting necessary conditions to advance. The discovery of a file named “age-atomic-shell” hints at thrilling prospects for the game’s endgame phase.

These forthcoming additions of new leaders, civilizations, and a possible extra age could be the boost that Civilization 7 needs. With a “Mixed” review status on Steam, early adopters are divided on whether it’s a hit or miss. A large portion of criticism revolves around a less-than-favorable user interface and the absence of key aspects from earlier games. Yet, with the right attention from Firaxis, particularly focusing on the popular leader-civilization combinations, there’s potential to sway public opinion in their favor.