Civilization VII will receive a major expansion Earthrise with a space theme, and a new era in a free DLC

Firaxis Games studio and publisher 2K, at a presentation as part of PAX West dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Civilization series, announced the first full paid expansion for Civilization VII called Earthrise. The release is planned for 2027, with an exact date not yet announced by the developers.

Earthrise is dedicated to the theme of the space race and the exploration of the Solar System. According to the developers, the idea of the expansion is to take the player through the entire history of human civilization: from the first observations of the night sky in the Antiquity era to launching full-fledged interplanetary missions in the future. The expansion will include:

• Antiquity and Exploration Age – players will observe celestial bodies, chart star maps, and accumulate knowledge about the structure of the Solar System.
• Modern Age – the ability to launch the first orbital missions around Earth and the Moon will appear.
• Atomic Age (new, added as a separate update) – civilizations will be able to create their own space agencies and send expeditions throughout the Solar System.
• Exploring planets – will unlock new properties of celestial bodies and previously unknown resources that can be used for developing one's civilization on Earth.

Firaxis emphasizes that the expansion is not limited to the space theme alone it also touches on the issue of protecting Earth itself, adding an ecological dimension to the space race storyline. According to the developers, Earthrise was created following the principle that inspired such iconic expansions as Brave New World for Civilization V and Gathering Storm for Civilization VI that is, an expansion with a single overarching theme that affects the entire playthrough, rather than being limited to the late game.

Alongside Earthrise, a large-scale free update called Arc of Tomorrow was also announced, which will likewise be released in 2027. It will add an entirely new, fourth era to the game — the Atomic Age, covering the period from roughly the 1950s to the 2050s. The update will bring:

• New buildings, units, visual style, and music characteristic of the era
• New civilizations and leaders, including confirmed leader Gandhi
• Expanded nuclear mechanics with new offensive and defensive capabilities, built around a balance of deterrence
• Updated technology and civic trees;expanded city-state capabilities.

Before the release of Arc of Tomorrow and Earthrise, players will receive update 1.5.0, scheduled for release in September 2026. Its main highlight will be the long-awaited True Start Location: Earth map, which generates a realistic arrangement of continents, natural wonders, and resources corresponding to the real geography of Earth. Each civilization's starting position will correspond to its historical area.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII is already available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), as well as on Mac, Linux, and via Apple Arcade.