This page is a compendium of information on the elements and mechanics of the latest Civilization games, assembled from screenshots, gameplay videos and online previews. 

Civilization VI

Recent News and Updates (detailed change log)

8 December 2022: 2K has announced that the release date for pack 2 of the Leader Pass is December 15.

21 November 2022: The Great Negotiators pack of the Civ VI Leader Pass (and Julius Caesar) is available now; however, contrary to earlier claims, the pass is NOT free to those who already own the content in the Anthology. See here for a way to enable the DLC in this case.

15 November 2022: Firaxis/2K have officially announced the Leader Pass.

11 November 2022: I have added a brief summary page to list the information available on the Leader Pass so far.

9 November 2022: There may be a Civ VI "Leader Pass" in the works.

22 March 2020: The April update for Civ VI is available for download now. It adds a number of civilization changes, unit strength changes, and three new units.

15 March 2020: The Portugal Pack is available now.

18 March 2020: First Look for Portugal is up.

15 March 2020: Firaxis confirmed Portugal as the final new civilization for the New Frontier Pass, and announced the new game mode: Zombie Defense.

25 February 2020: The February Patch is available now.

16 February 2020: Firaxis posted a video detailing the February update, which adds a Barbarian Clans mode.

21 January 2020: The First Look for Vietnam is up.

19 January 2020: Firaxis posted a video announcing Vietnam as the new civilization for the January update.

17 December 2020: The December Patch is available now.

19 November 2020: The Babylon Pack is available now.

12 November 2020: Firaxis posted a First Look for Babylon.

8 November 2020: Firaxis posted a developer update previewing the Babylon pack.

30 October 2020: A leaked image from Reddit suggests that Pack #4 will be the Babylon Pack, with Hammurabi leading Babylon, a new "Heroes and Legends" game mode, 6 new city-states and 24 new Great People.

22 October 2020: The October Update patch is available now.

20 October 2020: Firaxis posted a first look of the Pirates multiplayer scenario coming in Thursday's patch.

13 October 2020: Firaxis posted a video previewing the October game update patch.

23 September 2020: The Byzantium and Gaul pack is available now.

22 September 2020: The First Look for Gaul is up.

19 September 2020: It appears that the Japanese version of the Civilization website accidentally posted the text for Gaul in their First Look for Byzantium. I have updated the relevant information in the civilization list.

17 September 2020: The First Look for Byzantium is up.

14 September 2020: Firaxis posted a developer update previewing the September 24 New Frontier DLC. Byzantium and Gaul were announced as the new civilziations.

27 August 2020: The August patch is now live.

17 August 2020: Firaxis posted a video previewing the August game update patch, which is scheduled to go live August 27.

22 July 2020: Firaxis posted a developer livestream. The Ethiopia Pack releases tomorrow.

16 July 2020: Firaxis posted the First Look for Ethiopia.

13 July 2020: Firaxis posted a video previewing the Ethiopia Pack. I added most of the new information to the New Frontier page.

My recent move to a new server seems to have broken the menu system on these pages; I'll get that fixed when I have some free time.

25 June 2020: The June patch is now available.

18 June 2020: Firaxis posted a video previewing the June game update patch.

21 May 2020: The Maya & Gran Colombia pack is now available for purchase. Patch notes here.

19 May 2020: The first look for Gran Colombia is up.

14 May 2020: The first look for Maya is up.

11 May 2020: 2K/Firaxis has announced a new series of DLC called the "New Frontier Pass," which is slated to release in six installments starting this month (May 21) and continuing bimonthly through March of next year. I have added a brief summary page.

10 September 2019: The Civ VI September update is available now.

18 June 2019: The Civ VI June update is available now.

11 April 2019: The "Antarctic Late Summer Update" for Civ VI, which adds a number of balance changes and UI improvements, is available now.

30 March 2019: Firaxis have announced a forthcoming patch with some gameplay and balance changes. Here is a short announcement, and a longer gameplay stream.

13 February 2019: Gathering Storm is available now. Enjoy!

2 February 2019: The last new leader for Gathering Storm is, as expected, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

31 January 2019: There are now a number of Gathering Storm community livestreams up on YouTube.

29 January 2019: Phoenicia led by Dido is the last new civilization in Gathering Storm (there is still one new leader to be revealed).

22 January 2019: The Ottomans led by Suleiman are the next new civilization in Gathering Storm.

15 January 2019: Sweden led by Kristina is the next new civilization in Gathering Storm.

8 January 2019: The Mali led by Mansa Musa are the next new civilization in Gathering Storm.

18 December 2018: The Inca led by Pachacuti are the next new civilization in Gathering Storm.

11 December 2018: While we were hoping it was an out of season April Fools' prank, 'tis but too true: Canada is the next new civilization for Gathering Storm.

04 December 2018: The Maori led by Kupe is the next new civilization revealed for Gathering Storm.

27 November 2018: Hungary led by Matthias Corvinus is the first new civilization from Gathering Storm.

20 November 2018: Firaxis & 2K have announced a new expansion, Civilization VI: Gathering Storm, due for release February 14, 2019. I have added a stub overview page here.

8 February 2018: Civilization VI: Rise and Fall expansion is available now. Enjoy.

6 February 2018: Zulu has been confirmed as the final new civilization for Rise & Fall, which released this Thursday.

30 January 2018: Mapuche has been announced as the sixth new civilization for Rise & Fall.

24 January 2018: Scotland has been announced as the sixth new civilization for Rise & Fall.

22 January 2018: Today a number of community livestreams are being posted featuring gameplay with an R&F preview build. I will post some links to the various previews and make updates as the new information is processed.

16 January 2018: Firaxis/2K posted a New Features Explained video.

9 January 2018: Georgia has been announced as the fifth new civilization for Rise & Fall.

2 January 2018: The Cree have been officially announced as the fourth new civilization for Rise & Fall.

27 Decenber 2017: Chandragupta has been officially announced as the alternate leader for India.

19 December 2017: Mongolia has been revealed as the third new civilization for the R&F expansion.

13 December 2017: Firaxis has a developer Let's Play up showing off Korea and various Rise & Fall features.

9 December 2017: Netherlands has been revealed as the second new civilization for the expansion.

5 December 2017: Korea has been revealed as the first new civilization for the expansion.

28 November 2017: Firaxis/2K has announced the Rise and Fall expansion for Civilization 6, due February 8th of next year.

17 October 2017: Firaxis has announced the addition of Khmer and Indonesia civilizations.

26 July 2017: Firaxis has announced Nubia as a new faction.

22 March 2017: Firaxis has announced a Spring DLC adding Macedon and Persia. They also released an Australia DLC in February.