Civilization VII update adds option to keep one civ across Ages

Firaxis will release the free Test of Time update for Civilization VII on May 19. The update lets players keep a single civilization through every Age instead of swapping at each Age transition.

Firaxis says the update focuses on three main pillars: the fixed-civ option, a reworked Victories system intended to reward a broader range of strategies and dominance, and the replacement of Legacy Paths with Triumphs, which introduce new objectives for campaigns.

The update has been available in beta for several months and will be delivered automatically in-game to all owners of Civilization VII. The base game is required and standard terms apply. Test of Time will arrive across platforms, including Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, though some map types may be restricted on Nintendo Switch hardware.

Ahead of the full release, Firaxis will publish developer diaries and update notes. The studio will host a live playthrough of the update on May 13 at 7pm BST / 2pm ET / 11am PT on Twitch and YouTube.

Additional changes include a new Fractal Continent map, a redesigned Commerce screen, an Advisor Council feature, updated map generation, new narrative events, adjustments to specialists and biomes, new audio and music, numerous balance tweaks, and a new free leader for all players.

Test of Time follows paid expansions such as last year’s Tides of Power Collection. Firaxis has applied patches, balance updates and new content since launch, and the Switch 2 build will offer a Mouse Mode control option plus support for 4K resolution and 60 frames per second.