Civilization VII’s Huge Free ‘Test Of Time’ Update Turns Back The Clock Later This Month
Civilization VII is set to receive a major free update titled “Test of Time” on May 19th. The expansion-sized update, which has been in beta testing for several months, represents the “biggest and most fundamentally game-changing” addition to the game since its launch, according to developer Firaxis.
The centerpiece of the Test of Time update is the highly requested feature allowing players to maintain the same civilization throughout an entire campaign. In the original release, Civilization VII required players to change their civilization with each new age transition—a departure from series tradition that was one of the game’s most significant criticisms. The update restores player choice, enabling them to either stick with their chosen civilization or continue the experimental age-transition system if preferred.
The update consists of “three main pillars,” with the civilization continuity system as the flagship feature. A new Victories system represents another major improvement, though details remain limited. The Test of Time update will be released across all platforms, including Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, alongside PC versions.
Fireaxis previously announced this feature in February with a spring release window. The update addresses what has been described as “by far the most-requested addition” from the playerbase, highlighting significant player desire for traditional gameplay mechanics despite the developers’ initial ambitious redesign of the core Civilization formula.