When Firaxis first conceived of Civilization VII, the ambition was to boldly re-approach the series' classic structure with new mechanics rooted in a more nuanced historical perspective, while honoring and building upon the time-tested strategic gameplay that players love. Since our February 2025 launch, those same players have only helped us better achieve that initial, ambitious vision.
Today, we're thrilled to officially announce the release date for the Test of Time update for Civilization VII, free for all players when it releases on May 19.* This is much more than just another update; it's a direct result of your passion, feedback, and patience. It also wouldn't have been possible without our dedicated and invaluable Firaxis Feature Workshop participants, who were essential to shaping Test of Time's features by putting them through their paces over the past months.
We're so excited for players to get their hands on the update soon! For now, we'll give a brief overview of what's coming, and point you toward where and when you can learn more before Test of Time's May 19 launch.
The Test of Time Update
Beyond simply being Civ VII's next major update, Test of Time is by far the biggest and most fundamentally game-changing. Our intent was to synthesize over a year's worth of listening, iteration, and playtesting into a one massive, free update that exists in tandem with the many smaller-yet-meaningful updates already released since launch.
The most substantial of these changes arrive in the form of three reworked or entirely new features:
Time-Tested Civs: By far the most-requested addition, you'll be able to play as one civ throughout an entire campaign when the Test of Time update goes live. While you'll still have the option to evolve your empire into a different civilization during Age Transitions, the ability to play as one civ across the span of history is something many players hold dear as a core component of the Civ experience. When playing as these Time-Tested civs, the new Syncretism mechanic will allow you to create all-new builds by adopting the Unique Units or Infrastructure from another civilization that's currently in its Apex Age, or double-down on what makes your civ unique with Affirmation.
A new Victories system: Through a wider range of activities, Victories have been completely reworked to reward your dominance throughout an entire game. We're committed to making sure your win in Civ VII is defined by successfully making interesting choices and giving you as many paths as possible to pursue greatness.
Triumphs: Completely replacing Legacy Paths is the new Triumphs system. Triumphs offer a wide range of optional, challenging objectives to help each game feel unique, and are tied to each of the six Attributes: Militaristic, Cultural, Scientific, Economic, Diplomatic, and Expansionist.
Alongside these three main pillars, the update also brings other improvements, including:
A new Fractal Continent map
A new Commerce screen
A new Advisor Council
Updated map generation
New Narrative Events
Updates to Specialists and Biomes
New audio and music
Numerous balance changes
A Great (and FREE) new leader!*
And more!
For a comprehensive breakdown of what Test of Time adds to Civ VII, check out our first-anniversary check-in article from back in February, with in-depth details directly from Ed Beach, creative director of the Civilization franchise.
*Base game required. This content is free for all owners of Civilization VII and will be delivered automatically in-game on release. Terms apply.