Civilization VII is preparing to move much closer to the present day. Firaxis Games has revealed Arc of Tomorrow, a major free update coming in 2027 that will add the Atomic Age as the game’s fourth playable Age.
The update will push Civilization VII’s timeline beyond the Modern Age and cover a period stretching roughly from the 1950s into the near future. It is more than an extra set of technologies at the end of a campaign. Firaxis is building new systems, civilizations, units and visual changes around the period.
Civilization VII Atomic Age Brings a New Endgame
The Atomic Age will introduce updated technology and civic trees, new social policies, narrative events and Triumphs. Cities will also change visually as campaigns move into a more contemporary era.
New civilizations and leaders are planned as well, with Gandhi already confirmed to return.
Nuclear weapons will become a larger part of late-game strategy. Firaxis is expanding both offensive and defensive nuclear options, while mutually assured destruction will play a role in how rival powers deal with one another.
Empire management is changing too. Players will be able to grant independence to their own settlements and turn them into City-States. This gives large civilizations another way to manage loyalty and territory without simply holding every settlement directly.
The update also introduces manufactured goods. Specific commodities can be combined through recipes to create more valuable resources, including Enriched Uranium.
One of the stranger additions involves cinema. Film Crews will be able to travel in search of suitable locations, with the quality of the finished film affecting the bonuses it provides.
Earthrise Takes Civilization VII Into Space
Arc of Tomorrow is not the only major addition planned for 2027.
Firaxis also announced Civilization VII: Earthrise, the game’s first paid expansion. Earthrise focuses on humanity’s relationship with space and the environment, with its systems developing throughout an entire campaign rather than appearing only at the end.
During earlier Ages, players will study the night sky and gradually learn more about the solar system. The Modern Age introduces early orbital missions around Earth and the Moon.
Once a civilization reaches the Atomic Age, those efforts can develop into a full space agency. Missions can then travel deeper into the solar system and uncover resources that provide benefits back on Earth.
Environmental management is another major part of Earthrise. New technologies and unit abilities will allow terrain to be altered, while civil engineering structures can help civilizations deal with increasingly severe natural disasters. Firaxis says players will even have ways to reverse global warming.
A New Earth Map Is Coming First
Civilization VII players will not need to wait until 2027 for the next update.
Update 1.5.0 is scheduled for September 2026 and will introduce the long-requested True Start Location: Earth map. Civilizations begin in locations based on their historical origins, while natural wonders appear in appropriate areas of the world.
Map generation is also being revised, alongside resource placement, diplomacy and several interface elements.
Players will gain more control over alliances as well. Influence can be used to remain allied with another civilization without automatically becoming involved in every war it starts.
Arc of Tomorrow will be free for Civilization VII owners when it arrives in 2027. Earthrise will be sold separately as the game’s first paid expansion. Firaxis has not yet announced exact release dates for either one.
