Civ 7’s Massive Free PS5 Update Feels Like a Soft Relaunch

Since its debut in February last year, Civilization VII has encountered a bumpy ride, with its distinctive feature – the necessity to switch civilizations throughout the game’s three primary eras – proving to be both innovative and contentious.

Upon my initial review, I predicted that this groundbreaking element would likely stir controversy among players. Indeed, this forecast has materialized, as numerous gamers have expressed dissatisfaction over being compelled to play different civilizations throughout the game, while others have voiced concerns about the repetitive objectives of each era, referred to as Legacy Paths. The active player count on Steam for Civilization VII has fallen short compared to previous installments in the franchise, lagging significantly behind Civ VI and even below Civ V.

In an attempt to rectify this situation, Firaxis is set to roll out the Test of Time update: a significant free overhaul designed to address player grievances. In essence, it seems more akin to a subtle relaunch of the entire game.

In a bold overhaul, the game now liberates civilizations from the rigid confines of a single era—Antiquity, Exploration, or Modern. Players can command any civilization across any age, and when an age transition triggers, they may either retain their current civilization or opt to switch to another from that era, offering unprecedented strategic flexibility.

Each civilization retains an “apex era,” the period when it was historically most powerful, granting full access to its signature units, technologies, and infrastructure. Civilizations outside their apex era can either “syncretise,” borrowing a unique unit or structure from a culturally related civilization, or “reaffirm,” bolstering their own core traits with a modest bonus.

Syncretisation is subject to cultural compatibility: the borrowed civilization must share a cultural lineage with the borrowing civilization or its leader, and the source civilization must not be active in the current game, ensuring balance and strategic depth.

Stepping into the role of ancient America, you might find yourself constructing a Roman Forum as your exclusive infrastructure, or commanding Norman Chevalier as your unique unit in Exploration. Initially, I was hesitant about the concept of building your own civilization, but the game’s abundant leader choices and strategic replay-ability make it an intriguing proposition, especially when combined with its open-ended approach.

In contrast to the previous version, Test of Time has abolished Legacy Paths (the monotonous fixed objectives) and introduced the Triumphs system instead. These optional ‘achievements’ can be earned during an era and provide minor bonuses upon completion. Some Triumphs are universally accessible, while others serve as a race against time to secure them before your opponents. You can earn Triumphs by achieving various feats such as founding numerous cities, maintaining a high population, completing the tech tree first, or constructing multiple wonders. Despite being optional, they subtly influence the game without forcing players to alter their strategies drastically.

The final victory conditions have also undergone significant improvements. Previously, the Modern era was a frenzied race to secure one victory type and disregard all others. Now, points are accumulated throughout all eras, with a sufficient score in a category necessary to claim that victory type. The number of points required depends on your primary competitor, which adds a sense of decisiveness to the victories as you will need a substantial lead over all opponents instead of merely sniping a victory condition as was possible before.

In the latest update, players can now secure a victory in the Exploration era by simply outpacing their rivals in Military, Economic, or Cultural fronts—no need for the usual endgame push. However, the coveted Science triumph still demands a Modern era push, as the franchise’s classic requirement of launching a spaceship remains in place, a nod to long‑time series fans.

The update also delivers a suite of quality‑of‑life tweaks. User interfaces have been refined across the board, and a new mechanic lets you relocate your capital to any city at the dawn of each age. A standout feature is the ability to construct walls around wonders, eliminating the old, unsightly donut‑shaped city layouts.

Additionally, the developers have introduced Alexander the Great as a free, globally available leader, expanding the roster without any extra cost.