Hello Civ fans!
It has been an incredible few weeks since we opened the doors to the Firaxis Feature Workshop. When we launched Round 1, our goal was to bring a dedicated group of players into the heart of our development process to help us refine the "Test of Time" features for Civilization VII. For a more detailed overview, check out our recent article celebrating Civ VII's first anniversary.
Round 1 Recap
We want to keep you in the loop on how development is progressing and be transparent about how we’re building the future of Civilization VII alongside our players.
As a reminder, we started the Firaxis Feature Workshop to create a collaborative space where we can test long-lead design goals in a live environment. The purpose is to give you a seat at the table, allowing us to receive and iterate on your unfiltered feedback before these features ever go live for the general public.
In Round 1, we gained valuable feedback on three major feature evolutions currently in the works:
- One Civ through all Ages: we are introducing the choice to lead the same civilization through every Age (like taking Rome or Egypt from Antiquity all the way to Modern). It’s about giving you the option to stick with your favorite identity or switch it up as history evolves.
- Victory Changes: We are taking another look at “how you win”. Victories are now front and center starting in the Antiquity Age, requiring clear dominance in Military, Science, Culture, or Economy to secure your place in the history books.
- Legacy Paths & Triumphs: Based on early feedback that Legacy Paths felt a bit too "railroady," we are exploring a new system called Triumphs—a wide range of optional, challenging objectives that allow you to strategically shape your empire’s legacy based on your actual playstyle.
With the feedback from our participants, we saw a very positive reception to these core concepts. While the reception was strong, your feedback also identified exactly where we need to sharpen the implementation, balance, and clarity.
While we are working through all of the feedback received, much of that work is still in development. However, we have made many updates to ensure Round 2 feels like a significant step forward.
Based on your input, here are a few examples of the adjustments you can experience in Round 2:
- Expanding the Roster: We are expanding the list of "Time-Tested" playable Civs from 9 to 20, including additions like Carthage, Greece, Mongolia, and the French Empire.
- A note on civ music themes: In addition to new gameplay, we’re also excited to introduce new era-specific soundtracks for these Civs. This ensures that when you take an Antiquity civ like Rome into the Exploration or Modern Ages, the music evolves authentically alongside your empire.
- More Triumphs: We’re adding 30 additional Triumphs (6 in Antiquity, 12 in Exploration, 12 in Modern) and introducing "Triumph Sets" to keep every campaign feeling fresh.
- Targeted Improvements: We’ve integrated several "quality of life" changes based on Round 1 feedback, including a brand-new Commerce Screen, refined AI behavior, adjusted victory pacing, and more!
This is just a subset of the work currently underway. We are continuing to process the discussions from the first round and look forward to sharing even more substantial updates as we continue.
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication shown by our community so far—and we are excited to extend the chance to join us in Round 2!
How to Participate
In honor of Gilgamesh’s legendary loyalty, we are empowering our current participants to recruit their allies.
As we look toward Round 2, we are opening things up a bit. Round 1 participants can now request Steam Playtest Keys directly in our Discord to share with their friends.
- If you receive a Steam Key, this is also your Discord Entry Code. Use it to unlock the private server where you share feedback with the dev team.
- Once you join the Discord and get involved, you will also gain the ability to claim keys and invite up to 3 friends to join the workshop!
Technical Requirements
PLEASE NOTE: There are still some technical requirement for participants:
- This Workshop is Steam-only.
- Players must own Civilization VII on Steam to participate.
- If a friend owns the game on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch—but not on Steam—they will not be able to access the Workshop build.
- The current build is available in English only.
Mark Your Calendars: The Round 2 Schedule
While recruitment begins today, please note the specific windows for gameplay:
- Starting Feb 13: Claim your keys, join the Discord, and get settled!
- Feb 19 at 9AM PT/12PM ET: Round 2 Goes Live. The build becomes available for download
- Feb 26 at 9AM PT/12PM ET: Round 2 Ends. The build will become inaccessible as we take the data back to the lab..
Frequently Asked Questions
Access & Invitations
Q: How do I join the Firaxis Feature Workshop?
A: For Round 2, we are growing through our Discord community. If you know a current workshop participant, ask them for a Workshop invite! Once you join the server, you’ll find instructions on how to access the Steam build (and generate your own shareable keys!). Also, keep an eye on Civ creators, who may be distributing Workshop access keys to their communities.
Q: How many people can I invite?
A: Every participant can claim up to three keys through Discord.
Q: Is there a limit to how many people can join the Workshop?
A: To ensure our team can meaningfully process feedback, we have implemented a total player cap. Once we hit that limit, the invitation system will be paused. We recommend accepting and verifying your invite as soon as possible.
Q: I was given a key; what do I do next?
A: Redeem the code on Steam when the Round begins. Use that same Steam key as your entry code to enter the private Discord and unlock the discussion channels and exclusive updates!
Technical Requirements
Q: Can I join if I play on PlayStation or Xbox?
A: No. Currently, the workshop is only compatible with the Steam platform. Even if you own the game on console, you must own the base game on Steam to access this special build.
Q: I redeemed my key, but the Workshop isn't in my Library. Why?
A: If Round 2 has officially begun and you are not seeing the Workshop in your library after you’ve redeemed your key, please ensure you are checking the Steam Library on a PC and own the base game on that account. You may also need to restart the Steam client.
Q: Is the Firaxis Feature Workshop available in my language?
A: For the duration of the Workshop, the build, UI, and all feedback tools will be in English only.
Development & Feedback
Q: When are these features coming to the main game?
A: The workshop is a laboratory for features in active development. We don't have a specific date for when these will hit the live game, as we are iterating based on your feedback.
See full FAQs on the Firaxis Feature Workshop page.
