Civilization VII has a near-term update and two larger additions on its roadmap. The replay of the PAX West 2026 panel, available through official Steam post, confirms Update 1.5.0 for later this month, followed in 2027 by the free Arc of Tomorrow content and the paid Earthrise expansion.
Update 1.5.0 will change how games are set up
The next update concerns Civilization VII owners, including players who have the Steam version of Civilization VII. It will add the Earth map, True Start locations, new procedural map modes, interface improvements and additional diplomatic options.
Those changes cover several practical parts of a campaign: selecting a starting position, generating a map, reading information on screen and managing relations between civilizations. Firaxis has not given an exact release day or time. “Later this month” is the only confirmed window, and the announcement does not establish whether every feature will arrive simultaneously.
Arc of Tomorrow will expand the game for free
Arc of Tomorrow is planned as free content for Civilization VII owners in 2027. It will introduce new civilizations, new leaders and a new Age, alongside new or reworked features.
The free access is confirmed, but the announcement leaves the content’s scale open. Firaxis has not yet revealed the names of the civilizations or explained how the revised features will work, so its effect on individual campaigns and the game’s overall balance cannot be assessed yet.
Earthrise introduces a paid space expansion
Civilization VII: Earthrise will use a different model. Described as the game’s first paid space-themed expansion, it is expected in 2027 and will require the base game. Some of its content will also be unlocked through gameplay, making access depend on both purchase and progression.
No price or exact release date has been announced, and Firaxis has not confirmed an additional platform for Earthrise. The presentation also does not yet explain the nature or scope of its space-focused content.
For players planning their next Civilization VII campaign, Update 1.5.0 is the only milestone with a near-term window. In 2027, Arc of Tomorrow will add free content to the base game, while Earthrise will offer a paid expansion whose progression is tied partly to play. Further details are available through JEU.VIDEO homepage.
