Civilization VII has arrived, and a key question for longtime fans is: where's Gandhi? A staple of the series since 1991, his absence is notable.
Gandhi's omission from the base game of Civilization VII has sparked considerable discussion. However, Civilization VII lead designer Ed Beach offered reassurance to concerned players. In an interview, Beach stated that Firaxis hasn't forgotten past leaders and civilizations. He acknowledged the community's questions about missing civilizations like Great Britain, noting that a larger roadmap is in place for future additions. The Crossroads of the World Collection DLC, releasing in March 2025, will include Carthage and Great Britain, followed by Bulgaria and Nepal.
Beach explained that Firaxis aims to include both established and fresh civilizations in each release. He cited past instances where iconic civilizations like Mongolia and Persia were initially absent from base games (Civ V and Civ VI), emphasizing that difficult choices must be made due to the sheer number of popular options. He confirmed that Gandhi's inclusion is being considered for future DLC, offering hope for his eventual return.
While Gandhi's future is bright, Firaxis is currently addressing community feedback regarding Civilization VII's reception. Steam user reviews have been mixed, citing concerns about the user interface, limited map variety, and missing features. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback but expressed confidence that the core Civilization audience will warm to the game with continued play, describing its initial performance as "very encouraging."
For players looking to conquer the world, resources are available to assist: guides covering all victory conditions, key changes for Civ VI players, crucial mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings.
