"Firaxis Hints at Gandhi's Return in Civilization 7"

The release of Civilization 7 has sparked excitement and curiosity among fans of the strategy series, particularly about the absence of a familiar face—Indian leader Gandhi. A staple in every Civilization base game since 1991, Gandhi's exclusion from Civilization 7 has left many wondering about his fate. Known for spawning the legendary, albeit mythical, 'Nuclear Gandhi' bug, Gandhi's absence is keenly felt.

To shed light on this, I reached out to Civilization 7's lead designer, Ed Beach, who offered reassurance to Gandhi enthusiasts. "So I would say we haven't forgotten about anybody who's been in our game before," Beach stated. He emphasized that while some fans are also questioning the absence of Great Britain or England, Firaxis has a broader roadmap in mind. "There's sort of a big, longer picture roadmap that we have, and some pieces fit better in the long picture roadmap than they do in the short picture one," he explained.

Beach further elaborated on the selection process for Civilizations in Civ 7, noting that even iconic civilizations like Mongolia and Persia have been left out of base games in the past. "We always have to leave somebody out. There're just too many popular choices and we always want to have a few fresh ones that sound really new and exciting to people. So things are getting left behind, but we always are looking at the big picture, when we're going to bring leaders or civs into the fold. So there's hope for Gandhi, yet."

This offers a glimmer of hope for Gandhi's return, possibly as part of upcoming DLC. Carthage and Great Britain are set to join Civ 7 as part of The Crossroads of the World Collection DC in March 2025, followed by Bulgaria and Nepal, suggesting a diverse and ongoing expansion plan.

In the short term, Firaxis may focus on addressing some of the community's concerns reflected in Civilization 7's 'mixed' user review rating on Steam. These include issues with the user interface, a lack of map variety, and the feeling that the game launched without certain expected features.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, in an interview with IGN, acknowledged the negative reviews but remained optimistic. He pointed out that the "legacy Civ audience" would likely warm up to the game as they spend more time with it, describing Civilization 7's early performance as "very encouraging."

For those eager to conquer the world in Civilization 7, our comprehensive guides can help. Explore strategies for achieving every Civ 7 victory, understand the biggest Civ 7 changes for Civ 6 players, and avoid the 14 crucial Civ 7 mistakes. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the Civ 7 map types and difficulty settings to enhance your gameplay experience.