Mahatma Gandhi, a beloved character in the Civilization gaming series since 1991, is notably absent from the recently released Civilization 7. This unexpected omission has sparked discussions among longtime fans of the strategy game franchise.
Ed Beach, the lead designer of Civilization 7, addressed this concern in a recent interview with IGN. According to Beach, the development team hasn't forgotten about iconic leaders from previous games. He explained that the selection process for civilizations involves careful consideration of both new and returning elements, keeping in mind a broader long-term vision for the game.
The development team at Firaxis faces challenging decisions when choosing which civilizations to include at launch. As Beach pointed out, even major historical empires like Mongolia and Persia were initially absent from previous base games in the series. "We always have to leave somebody out. There're just too many popular choices," Beach explained, while emphasizing their commitment to introducing fresh, exciting options to players.
Some relief may come to players soon, as new civilizations are planned for release. The Crossroads of the World Collection DLC, scheduled for March 2025, will introduce Carthage and Great Britain, followed by Bulgaria and Nepal.
The game's reception has been mixed since its launch, particularly on Steam, where users have expressed concerns about various aspects. Players have highlighted issues with the user interface, limited map variety, and the absence of certain features that were present in previous iterations.
However, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remained optimistic about the game's future, describing its early performance as "very encouraging." He expressed confidence that dedicated Civilization players would grow to appreciate the new installment as they spend more time with it.
For Gandhi fans, Beach's comments suggest that the beloved Indian leader might return in future downloadable content. This approach aligns with Firaxis' strategy of gradually expanding the game's civilization roster through post-launch updates and expansions.
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