Civilization 7 Dev Firaxis Says 'There's Hope for Gandhi, Yet'

Civilization 7's release has left many veteran players wondering about the absence of a familiar face: Mahatma Gandhi. A staple of the Civilization series since its inception in 1991, Gandhi's omission is notable. This absence, however, doesn't signal a permanent farewell.

According to Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach, Gandhi's absence is strategic. While acknowledging player concerns about missing civilizations like Great Britain, Beach explained that Firaxis has a long-term roadmap for adding content, with some civilizations better suited for later inclusion as DLC. He cited similar situations in previous Civilization games where iconic civilizations were initially absent from the base game, such as Mongolia and Persia in Civ 5 or Civ 6. The need to include fresh, exciting civilizations necessitates leaving some out initially.

Beach confirmed that there are plans to bring Gandhi back, offering hope to fans. This aligns with the release of DLC featuring Carthage and Great Britain (part of The Crossroads of the World Collection) in March 2025, followed by Bulgaria and Nepal.

The current "mixed" user reviews on Steam, citing issues like UI, map variety, and missing features, are also being addressed. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback but expressed confidence in the game's long-term success, believing the core Civilization audience will appreciate the game more with continued play.

For players seeking guidance in their quest for world domination, resources are available covering victory strategies, key differences from Civ 6, common mistakes to avoid, map types, and difficulty settings.