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Feb 04, 2026

GOG Platform is giving away the classic Alone in the Dark trilogy.

Michael Torres
By Michael Torres Video Game News and Features Editor
Last updated: Feb 04, 2026
Gog platform is giving away the classic alone in the dark trilogy 2

Gilgamesh, Victory System Update, and the Ability to Play as One Civilization — About the Future of Civilization VII

The first anniversary of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is approaching. On this occasion, the franchise's creative director, Ed Beach, revealed the near-term plans for supporting the game. For example, this spring will bring the ability to play as one civilization across multiple ages, and the beloved King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, will join the leader roster.

  • Patch 1.3.2 will launch very soon, containing various gameplay improvements and quality-of-life fixes. Balance will be adjusted (for example, the French Empire will be changed, Đại Việt will be strengthened, etc.), diplomacy and coastal raids will be tweaked, and a new lens showing a tile's appeal will be introduced. But the most interesting part is that Gilgamesh will be added to the available leaders. He will be given for free to all owners of Civilization VII.

  • Last fall, Firaxis conveyed that they were testing the ability to play as one civilization from start to finish. Finally, the release window for this update has been announced — spring 2026. Along with this feature, the major Test of Time update will include two other important changes: a revision of the victory system and the removal of Legacy Paths. The studio warned that the content of this update may still change.

From the perspective of game systems and functionality, these changes are comparable in scale to an expansion. They will transform the gameplay of Civilization VII from the first minute to the last. We will gather all these innovations in one mega-patch called Test of Time. Ed Beach

Below are more details about each of the innovations:

  • Firaxis listened to the part of the community that never accepted the mandatory transition from one civilization to another at the junction of ages. Therefore, Civilization VII will introduce the ability to play as one people across multiple ages — a separate button will be added for this when transitioning from one era to another. Furthermore, gamers will be able to start a game with any civilization from any age. A new parameter will be introduced — the Apex Age of a civilization, the era during which a people achieves its maximum flourishing, and the player has access to the full set of capabilities of the chosen civilization. For example, for Rome, this is Antiquity. When transitioning to the next stage, Rome will retain its key characteristics and receive a social institutions tree with perks that are more suitable for it in the new centuries.

  • Firaxis specialists will rework the victory system. The player will need to achieve undisputed supremacy in one of four directions: military, economic, cultural, or scientific. The path to victory begins already in Antiquity, and if the player achieves a confident lead, they can win incredibly early — even in the Age of Exploration. Victory can be achieved through diverse actions, not through a memorized list of a single Legacy Path. For example, an economic victory requires building the most powerful economy, where all indicators are important: stockpiles of strategic resources, profitable buildings, factories, and successful trade caravan operations. Meanwhile, a cultural victory will require building wonders of the world, collecting masterpieces, possessing natural wonders, organizing festivals, and so on.

  • "The main criticism of Legacy Paths was the feeling of constraint, or, as players often wrote, the 'railroading' of Civilization VII," the studio reported. That is why this system will be replaced by a new one — so-called Triumphs. This is a set of additional, ambitious tasks that make each game session special. Each Triumph relates to one of six development directions: military, cultural, scientific, economic, diplomatic, or expansionist. The reward for a Triumph will be an instant bonus for the player's empire or a special card that can be played at the beginning of a new age to set the strategic direction for the next segment of the game.

Firaxis is preparing to celebrate the first birthday of Civilization VII. Plans include releasing a set of plush toys, a video about the soundtrack's creation, and more. Furthermore, iPhone, iPad, and Mac owners will soon join the "party."