Civilization 7 has officially confirmed the inclusion of local multiplayer, a feature that many fans were worried might be excluded due to initial mentions of online play only. As a staple of the franchise, competitive multiplayer is a major draw for players who enjoy strategic gameplay. The announcement, made during a recent Nintendo Direct showcase, reassured fans that they could continue to enjoy local matches in addition to online play.
Despite some concerns about performance consistency across different platforms, especially the Nintendo Switch, the return of local multiplayer has generated excitement as the game’s release approaches.
Key Takeaways
- Civilization 7 will include local multiplayer, a feature fans were concerned about due to previous mentions of online play only.
- Competitive play is a big draw for the franchise, and the return of local multiplayer has many fans excited for the game”s release.
- Concerns about consistency and performance on different platforms, particularly the Switch, have been raised by some fans.
Civilization 7 has confirmed the inclusion of local multiplayer. The long-standing franchise has had multiple entries which featured the both local and online competitive play. However, many fans have wondered if Civilization 7 would include the feature as previous previews mentioned online multiplayer only, along with the vaguely worded “local offline” play.
It”s not a secret that competitive play is one of the biggest draws of the game. While the long-requested cross-play feature for Civilization hasn”t made its way to the games yet, many gamers still enjoy playing with each other. The strategic nature of the franchise tends to work well in a multiplayer setting. With the impending release of the next entry in the franchise, fans were concerned if local multiplayer would still be part of the game.
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Civilization 7 Devs Compare New Features to Civ 6
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As confirmed during the latest Nintendo Direct, Civilization 7 will have local multiplayer. The partner showcase video provided another preview of the game which highlighted both old and new features. One focus of the video was the new playable historical figure, Queen Himiko. As the clip discussed the game”s “eras,” it was mentioned that multiple players can duke it out in both local and online play, hereby confirming the return of competitive matches.
Why is Multiplayer a Big Deal for Civilization Fans?
Multiplayer Civiilization games can last up to days in the hands of seasoned veterans. And while the majority of these games tend to be online interactions, the demand for local multiplayer is still high. Even past entries in the franchise have had some version of local multiplayer, hence fans wondered about its return in Civilization 7. The partner showcase video does not dig deep into the multiplayer functions present in the new game, but the inclusion of the feature has many fans happy about its return.Close
While the reveal trailer comes from Nintendo Direct, it is important to note that Civilization 7 will release in 2025 for other platforms. There has been some cause of concern about whether the game will keep consistency across the board, and if all features will be available everywhere. Some fans have already expressed concerns about whether the game will run smoothly on the Switch, considering the system”s obvious performance drawbacks in comparison to other consoles. The graphics may have been downgraded a little, and the FPS is said to be lower on the Switch. Still, there is hope that the gameplay experience will not be watered down compared to other versions of the game, but also in comparison to previous entries in the franchise.
Sid Meier”s Civilization VII
The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter. Sid Meier”s Civilization® VII empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!
Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history. Establish your civilization, construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations in pursuit of prosperity, and explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Will you build an empire that stands the test of time?
Sid Meier”s Civilization® VII is a 4X strategy game developed by the legendary team at Firaxis Games, developers of the Civilization and XCOM franchises.
Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
Systems
Franchise
Sid Meier”s Civilization
Platform(s)
PC
, PS4
, PS5
, Xbox One
, Xbox Series S
, Xbox Series X
, Switch
Released
February 11, 2025
Developer(s)
Firaxis Games
Publisher(s)
2K
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Engine
Gamebryo Engine
ESRB
tExpand
See at Playstation Store
See at Nintendo eShop
See at Xbox Games Store