Firaxis Games has released Civilization VII Update 1.2.5, the most substantial balance and content overhaul since launch. This update introduces two new map types, fresh City-State categories, and expands the Right to Rule DLC with new leaders and civilizations. Map generation has been redesigned for more varied terrain, while Diplomatic and Expansionist City-States add new layers of strategy.
The patch also delivers sweeping gameplay rebalancing, removing percentage-based bonuses and focusing on flat yields to slow down snowballing. Building costs, unit maintenance, and City-State stacking mechanics have been reworked, alongside major civilization adjustments such as significant nerfs to the Abbasids. UI enhancements improve clarity in settlement management, while performance, AI decision-making, and stability also receive notable improvements.
Full Patch Notes
New Content
- Map Generation:
- Complete overhaul of base map generation algorithm
- New map types: Continents and Islands, Pangaea and Islands
- More varied, less predictable terrain generation
- No “Balanced” start option for new map types
- City-States:
- Two new types: Diplomatic and Expansionist
- Diplomatic: Happiness and diplomacy focus, unique improvements
- Expansionist: Food and empire expansion focus, population bonuses
- Existing City-States reassigned to new categories
- Right to Rule DLC – Part Two:
- New leader: Lakshmibai (Diplomatic/Militaristic)
- New Antiquity civ: Silla (Economic/Diplomatic)
- New Modern civ: Qajar (Diplomatic/Expansionist)
Major Gameplay Overhauls
- Strategic Balance Pass:
- Removed all percentage-based yield bonuses, replaced with flat per-Age bonuses
- New building cost scaling: +5% per non-Warehouse building, +10% per city beyond Capital
- Increased base building yields across Ages
- Unit maintenance significantly adjusted, higher in Exploration and Modern Ages
- City Halls in Towns no longer provide base Production
- City-State bonuses require multiple City-States of the same type for stacking
- Resource Rebalancing:
- Gold and Silver redesigned: now flat yields, no purchasing discounts
- Wine and others adjusted to remove percentage bonuses
UI Improvements
- Redesigned settlement management menus
- Production Menu shows yields, adjacency, warehouse impacts
- Placement previews show yield changes before/after
- Growth events use consistent visual trade-offs
- New yield gain/loss indicators
Leader Changes
- Napoleon: Complete rework with new sanctions and military effects
- Catherine the Great: Great Work slots now apply to Wonders
Civilization Changes
- Abbasid (Nerfed):
- Specialist requirement lowered from 8 to 5
- Round City bonus reduced to +20% Production
- Al-Jabr bonus reduced to +10% Science
- Compendious Book now +2 Science and Happiness in Towns
- Sales and Trade reduced to +1 Gold and Science per Resource
Victory Pacing Adjustments
- Cultural: Explorer movement reduced, Artifact availability adjusted
- Scientific: Late-game Tech costs reduced 10–40%
- Economic: Factory, Rail Station, and Port costs reduced
Quality of Life
- Advanced options available in Multiplayer
- Updated Pause Menu with DLC/Mod info and map seed copying
- Stability and performance improvements
- Intel XeSS 2 support added
- Improved AI decision-making
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is a 4X turn-based strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. It launched on February 11, 2025, for Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and on June 5, 2025, for Nintendo Switch 2. Players guide civilizations through millennia, aiming for dominance through military, scientific, cultural, or economic victories.
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