"Civ 7 Dataminers Find Atomic Age Clue, Firaxis Excited for Future"

Exciting developments are on the horizon for fans of *Civilization 7*, as dataminers have uncovered hints of a fourth, unannounced Age, sparking speculation and anticipation among the community. In a recent interview with IGN, Firaxis provided insights into the game's structure and teased potential future expansions.

Currently, a full campaign in *Civilization 7* spans three distinct Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each Age concludes with an Age Transition, a pivotal moment where players and AI opponents simultaneously select a new civilization from the incoming Age, choose which Legacies to carry forward, and witness the evolution of the game world. This innovative system is a first for the *Civilization* series, adding a fresh layer of strategy and progression.

The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* concludes before the onset of the Cold War, specifically at the end of World War 2. Lead designer Ed Beach elaborated on this timeline during the IGN interview, explaining the rationale behind this choice. "We spent a lot of time looking at the ebbs and flows of history," Beach said. He highlighted the collaborative effort with senior historian Andrew Johnson, who brought a global perspective to the project, ensuring a comprehensive view of historical developments across different regions.

Beach detailed the reasoning behind the Age transitions: "The big empires of antiquity, not just the Roman Empire but also those in China and India, faced simultaneous challenges around the 300 to 500 CE period. This marked a fitting end for the Antiquity Age." The transition from Exploration to Modern was influenced by significant revolutions challenging established monarchies, such as the French and American Revolutions. The Modern Age ends with the World Wars, a pivotal point in global history.

The possibility of a fourth Age, possibly the Atomic Age, has been hinted at by executive producer Dennis Shirk. While not confirming specifics, Shirk expressed enthusiasm about the game's potential directions: "The way that the design team set it up so that each age is chockfull of systems, visuals, units, Civs, all specific to that age... we're excited for where this is going to go."

Dataminers, including Redditor ManByTheRiver11, have already found references to the Atomic Age within the game files, alongside mentions of unannounced leaders and civilizations. These findings align with Firaxis' historical approach to DLC, suggesting that the Atomic Age could be a significant addition to *Civilization 7*.

In the meantime, Firaxis is addressing community feedback to improve the game's reception, which currently stands at a 'mixed' rating on Steam. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remains optimistic about the game's future, believing that the "legacy Civ audience" will embrace *Civilization 7* as they become more familiar with its features.

For those eager to master *Civilization 7*, our comprehensive guides offer valuable insights. From strategies for every victory type to understanding the game's changes from *Civilization 6* and avoiding common pitfalls, we have you covered. Additionally, explore our detailed explanations of map types and difficulty settings to enhance your gameplay experience.