The latest installment of the beloved strategy series, Civilization 7, has hit the gaming world, leaving fans with a noticeable absence: the iconic Indian leader, Gandhi. Since his debut in the very first Civilization game in 1991, Gandhi has become a staple of the franchise, famously remembered for the 'Nuclear Gandhi' myth, despite it being just that—a myth.
Surprisingly, Gandhi does not appear in the base game of Civilization 7. This absence sparked questions, leading to a conversation with the game's lead designer, Ed Beach. Beach offered reassurance to Gandhi enthusiasts, suggesting that fans should keep their hopes up for his eventual inclusion as downloadable content (DLC).
“So I would say we haven't forgotten about anybody who's been in our game before,” Beach stated. He acknowledged the community's concerns about missing civilizations like Great Britain or England, which, along with Carthage, will be added to the game in The Crossroads of the World Collection DLC in March 2025, followed by Bulgaria and Nepal.
Beach elaborated on Firaxis’ strategic approach to selecting civilizations for the base game. “One thing I always think about is, we've had the same situation where iconic civilizations haven't been in our base game before,” he explained. He cited examples like Mongolia and Persia, which were absent from the base games of either Civ 5 or Civ 6, despite their historical significance.
“So 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,” Beach concluded, offering a glimmer of hope to fans eagerly awaiting Gandhi's return.
While fans await Gandhi's potential arrival, Firaxis may be focusing on addressing the 'mixed' user review rating that Civilization 7 has received on Steam. Common complaints revolve around issues with the user interface, a lack of map variety, and the feeling that the game launched without several key features fans have come to expect.
In response to these reviews, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, in an interview with IGN, acknowledged the negative feedback but remained optimistic. He believes that the "legacy Civ audience" will grow to appreciate the game as they spend more time with it, describing Civilization 7’s early performance as "very encouraging."
For those looking to master the game, our comprehensive guides can help you achieve every Civ 7 victory, understand the biggest changes from Civ 6, and avoid 14 crucial mistakes. We also provide detailed explanations of all Civ 7 map types and difficulty settings to ensure you're well-equipped for your journey to world domination.
