Firaxis Discusses 20th Century Leaders and Colonialism in Civ 7

Firaxis has pulled back the curtain on the design philosophy behind Sid Meier's Civilization VII, addressing a series of community questions regarding the game's portrayal of history, leadership, and the structural challenges of the 4X genre. In a recent update, the studio tackled topics ranging from the inclusion of modern-era leaders to the ethical considerations of depicting colonial expansion.

The Future of 20th Century Leaders

One of the primary questions from the community centered on the potential for more leaders from the 20th century. While some players speculated that legal hurdles regarding recently deceased figures might limit the roster, the development team confirmed that their work on this era is ongoing. “The 20th century was long, and we haven’t fully explored it. Yet,” explained Emily, a senior historian at the studio.

Handling Controversial Figures

When selecting historical figures, Firaxis is navigating a complex landscape of public legacy. Senior historian Andrew outlined the studio's criteria for inclusion, emphasizing the potential for real-world harm. The team asks if the memory of a historical figure still causes active harm or if there are contemporary movements using that person's name to justify violence today.

Andrew pointed to Genghis Khan as a specific example of this logic. While acknowledging the extensive violence associated with his conquests, he noted that the studio is not aware of anyone using the name of Genghis Khan as a current pretext for violence, which allows him to remain a part of the series.

The Challenge of Colonial Mechanics

Perhaps the most challenging area of the Q&A involved the depiction of colonialism. Players questioned whether the game could move away from a linear “progress” narrative toward more plural or non-European understandings of development. Andrew admitted that there are “competing pulls” and practical limitations when addressing these themes in a 4X framework.

“To really get into the breadth of what is possible in alt-history (including not doing colonialism) would require creating alternate systems—not gold, not expansion, not profit, not exploitation, but prestige, coexistence, sustainability, etc.,” Andrew stated.

The studio noted that replacing these core 4X pillars would essentially require designing entirely new games. For now, the team acknowledges that the genre is built upon colonial structures that reflect the world as it was built, making a complete departure from these systems a significant shift for the existing player base. The full Q&A from the developers is available for further reading on the game's official Steam page.