Civilization VII is free to try on Steam from September 3, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT until September 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT. This is a limited trial, not a switch to free-to-play: purchasing the game remains necessary to continue playing after the offer ends.
The trial requires an Internet connection and a platform account. The available information applies the offer to Steam, so it is primarily aimed at PC players who are still deciding whether to buy the seventh entry in the series.
Dates, editions and the Steam discount
- The free trial ends on September 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT.
- A 50% discount runs until September 17, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT.
- The Standard and Settler’s editions are included.
- Progress and achievements earned during the trial can carry over to the purchased version.
The official post published on September 3, 2026 connects the promotion to Civilization’s 35th anniversary and confirms the discount after the trial. Players therefore have an additional week after September 10 to purchase the game at the reduced price.
The official Steam page shows the base game at €69.99, compared with €34.99 with the discount displayed at the time of consultation. Steam presents these amounts in euros without explicitly identifying the applicable region in the available information. The final price should be checked on the relevant account, especially where local pricing differs.
Your progress carries over, but the purchase stays on Steam
To keep playing after the trial, the game must be purchased on the same platform used for the trial. Progress and achievements are not announced as transferable between platforms, so buying the game from another store may not recover the saved elements.
Progress transfer also does not extend access by itself, and it does not include expansions. Expansions already purchased can be used after the trial, while additional content that has not been purchased remains subject to its own access conditions.
Regional restrictions or other terms may apply beyond the information reproduced here. Before starting a long game, players should check the Steam offer page, the date shown by the client and the price attached to their account.
The PAX West presentation is a separate event
The anniversary promotion also includes a Civilization VII presentation on September 5, 2026 at 2 p.m. PT at the Blue Dragon Theatre in the Seattle Convention Center. A broadcast or rebroadcast is planned on Civilization’s official channels, but its content has not been confirmed. The event does not extend the trial or change the Steam discount.
For PC players, the practical choice is straightforward: start the trial before September 10, then purchase the game on Steam before September 17 if they want to continue. The offer confirms temporary Steam access, a discount and progress transfer, but not permanent free access or a guaranteed French price.
For further coverage, see our video game news and return to the JEU.VIDEO homepage for the next verified offers.
