Civilization VII Announces Free ‘Arc of Tomorrow’ Major Update and First Expansion ‘Earthrise’

Publisher 2K and developer Firaxis Games have revealed the post-launch roadmap for Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, including quality-of-life Update 1.5.0 releasing later this month, alongside the Arc of Tomorrow free update and the Earthrise paid expansion scheduled for 2027.

Update 1.5.0 introduces the True Start Location: Earth map, map generator updates using Voronoi algorithms, and expanded diplomatic options allowing players to stay aligned without committing to allies’ wars.

The free Arc of Tomorrow update will add a fourth playable timeline – the Atomic Age – spanning from the 1950s into the near future. It introduces period-specific civilizations, the return of leader Gandhi, enriched uranium manufacturing, film crews for Great Works, and mechanics to release settlements as independent City-States.

Launching alongside the Atomic Age, the paid Earthrise expansion focuses on space exploration and environmental adaptation. Players will chart celestial bodies in early ages, launch orbital missions in the Modern Age, and conduct interplanetary operations in the Atomic Age to extract resources. The expansion also adds terrain-altering civil engineering options to combat and reverse rising global temperatures and natural disasters.

Update 1.5.0 launches in September 2026, with the Arc of Tomorrow update and Earthrise expansion following in 2027. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Apple Arcade.