Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI

Civilization VI’s monthly challenges continued into early 2025, ending with One More Turn. The 2K Launcher was also removed in an update during the period.

• King of the Wonder: Starting November 13, players led Theodore Roosevelt’s America in defense of the Bermuda Triangle against five rival civilizations.
• Civpocalypse: Beginning December 10, Tamar’s Georgia faced escalating natural disasters and barbarian hordes.
• One More Turn: The final monthly challenge began January 15, asking Victoria’s Age of Steam persona to achieve Diplomacy, Culture, Science and Domination victories without a turn limit.
• Challenge rewards: The scenarios offered Prince and Emperor difficulty, Hall of Fame badges for completion, and trial access to required DLC during each challenge.
• Launcher: A November update removed the 2K Launcher; a support article supplied troubleshooting guidance.

Monthly challenges gave Civilization VI players new scenarios and settings throughout the year. The 2K Launcher was also removed from the Steam version in August 2024.

• Seven Seas: The December 2023 challenge used Heroes & Legends mode, which had originally debuted with the Babylon Pack in November 2020.
• Monthly scenarios: Later challenges included Robot Revolution Redux and Know Your Enemy, offering different leaders and objectives.
• Cleopatra challenge: Lich Queen of the Nile presented a zombie defense scenario in October 2024.
• Trial access: Some challenges offered temporary access to required DLC for players who did not own it.
• Launcher removal: On August 14, 2024, the 2K Launcher was removed from Civilization VI on Steam.

Rulers of England DLC launched on March 29, 2023, marking a significant addition to the game with new leaders Elizabeth I, Harald Hardrada, and Victoria. This followed the release of the Great Builders DLC on March 14, 2023, which introduced Theodora, Sejong, and Ludwig II as new leaders. Players also welcomed the Rulers of the Sahara DLC on February 16, 2023, bringing Ramses II, Cleopatra, and Sundiata Keita into the fold.

• New Leaders: The Rulers of England DLC added Elizabeth I, Harald Hardrada, and Victoria, each with unique abilities. The Great Builders DLC introduced Sejong, Ludwig II, and Theodora, while the Rulers of the Sahara brought in Ramses II, Cleopatra, and Sundiata Keita. The Rulers of China DLC released on January 19, 2023, featured Yongle, Wu Zeitan, and Qin Shi Huang.

  • Elizabeth I: Drake's Legacy increases England's Trade Route Capacity and Gold from specialty districts.
  • Harald Hardrada: Varangian Guard provides discounts on unit maintenance and benefits for levied units.
  • Victoria: Age of Steam boosts production in cities with Industrial Zone buildings.

• Leader Pass Complete: The Civilization VI: Leader Pass concluded, adding 18 new playable leaders, enhancing the game's variety and strategic depth.

• Balance Changes: The AI yield bias was adjusted to prevent bankruptcy, while several leader abilities received updates, such as Harald Hardrada's and Abraham Lincoln's enhancements, which improved unit maintenance and loyalty bonuses.

• Gameplay Adjustments: Various gameplay mechanics were refined, including the correction of Laurier's production bonus and adjustments to leader settlement preferences.

• New Achievements: Victory achievements were added for leaders introduced in the Leader Pass, providing players with additional goals.

The July 12, 2022 patch delivered a significant fix for the 2K Launcher, resolving an issue that prevented games from launching on the Steam Deck. Other notable improvements included a new and improved user interface for playing and browsing games, introduced on March 16, 2022, alongside general performance enhancements.

• User Experience Updates:

  • Improved User Experience in the Launcher and Error Reporter on July 8, 2022.
  • Updated interface to play and browse games on March 16, 2022.
  • The 2K Launcher adopted a new logo on December 8, 2021.

• Performance Improvements:

  • An option to check for new 2K Launcher updates was added in the Application Settings on December 8, 2021.
  • Various general performance improvements were made on March 16, 2022.
  • Enhanced management for Launcher updates was introduced on March 16, 2022.

The Portugal Pack launched on March 25, 2021, expanding Civilization VI with a new civilization, leaders, and gameplay features. This update introduced new wonders, including Torre de Belém and Etemenanki, alongside a Zombies Defense Game Mode that added unique defensive structures and gameplay mechanics.

• New Civilizations:

  • Portugal: Featured unique abilities, units (Nau), and improvements (Feitoria).
  • Babylon: Introduced with unique abilities and units, led by Hammurabi.
  • Kublai Khan and Bà Triệu: New leaders added, bringing distinct abilities and gameplay strategies.

• New Game Modes:

  • Barbarian Clans Game Mode: Replaced standard Barbarian Tribes with diverse clans, each having unique preferences.
  • Zombies Defense Game Mode: Introduced new threats and defensive structures.

• New Content:

  • New Map: Wetlands, a continent map filled with rivers and marshes.
  • New City Projects: Allow players to control Zombies temporarily.
  • Seven New Barbarian Clan Types: Added various clans each with unique traits.

• Balance Changes:

  • Adjusted combat strengths for various units, including Swordsman and Infantry.
  • General balance adjustments based on player feedback.

• Performance and Bug Fixes:

  • Fixed multiple crashes during gameplay and improved AI behavior for better resource management.

New Frontier Pass launched on May 21, 2020, introducing a series of new content that included six premium add-on packs scheduled to release throughout the year. Notably, the Ethiopia Pack released on July 23, 2020, added a new civilization, leader, and several unique features, while the New Frontier Pass - September 2020 DLC launched on September 24, 2020, bringing two new civilizations, a Dramatic Ages game mode, and new World Wonders.

• New Civilizations and Leaders:

  • Simón Bolívar led Gran Colombia, introducing unique units and abilities on May 19, 2020.
  • The Ethiopia Pack featured Menelik II as the leader, along with unique units like the Oromo Cavalry and new buildings, all launched on July 23, 2020.
  • Basil II became the leader of Byzantium, and Ambiorix led Gaul, both introduced on September 17 and 22, 2020, respectively.

• Gameplay Modes and Features:

  • The Secret Societies game mode was added on July 23, 2020, introducing new gameplay dynamics.
  • Red Death - Season 2 launched on June 25, 2020, bringing new factions and unique abilities to the multiplayer mode.
  • A new Natural Wonder Picker feature was introduced on August 27, 2020, allowing players to customize the appearance of Natural Wonders in their games.

• Balance Changes and Improvements:

  • New religious beliefs were introduced on June 25, 2020, along with adjustments to existing beliefs and Natural Wonder yields.
  • Various performance improvements were implemented, including fixes for crash issues and gameplay stability.

• Unique Abilities and Structures:

  • New districts, units, and unique abilities were added for various civilizations, enhancing strategic gameplay options throughout the year.

• Free Updates: A free update announced on May 11, 2020, promised six additional updates, including balance changes and new content for all players.

Civilization VI: Gathering Storm Expansion launched on February 14, 2019, marking a significant addition with new civilizations, gameplay mechanics, and environmental effects. The expansion introduced nine new leaders from eight new civilizations, enhancing the strategic depth and replayability. Other major highlights included the introduction of new gameplay mechanics such as engineering projects and a World Congress feature for diplomatic engagement.

• New Civilizations:

  • Phoenicia led by Dido: Offers unique abilities for trade and city placement.
  • Ottoman Empire led by Suleiman: Features unique units and abilities enhancing warfare and city management.
  • Mali led by Mansa Musa: Introduces unique abilities focused on trade and resource management.
  • Sweden led by Kristina: Emphasizes culture and diplomatic strategies.
  • Inca led by Pachacuti: Known for mountain-based strategies and improvements.
  • Hungary led by Matthias Corvinus: Focuses on rapid expansion and leveraging City-State relationships.
  • Maori led by Kupe: Unique mechanics for early game exploration and resource management.

• New Gameplay Mechanics:

  • World Congress: Players can vote on global resolutions, impacting gameplay strategies.
  • Environmental Effects: Introduced natural disasters like floods and storms that influence city management and strategy.
  • Engineering Projects: Players can build canals, dams, and railroads to enhance infrastructure.

• Balance Changes:

  • Adjustments to AI behavior, particularly in aircraft use and garrisoning tactics.
  • Various civilization abilities were nerfed or buffed to ensure more balanced gameplay.

• Multiplayer Scenario:

  • Red Death: A new competitive mode where players race to escape a deadly environment.

• Seasonal Event:

  • A Steam Winter Sale offered significant discounts on all Civilization VI content.

Civilization VI: Rise and Fall launched on February 8, 2018, marking a significant expansion for Civilization VI. This expansion introduced new gameplay mechanics, including Golden and Dark Ages, a Loyalty system, and the ability to appoint Governors to cities. Players can now experience a deeper strategic layer with the addition of nine new leaders and eight new civilizations.

• New Leaders:

  • Shaka Zulu leads the Zulu civilization, bringing unique abilities and units.
  • Lautaro heads the Mapuche, introducing fresh gameplay mechanics.
  • Robert the Bruce leads Scotland, featuring unique structures and abilities.
  • Tamar represents Georgia, with distinct advantages and gameplay features.
  • Genghis Khan returns to lead Mongolia, bringing back his unique combat-focused abilities.
  • Queen Seondeok leads Korea, enhancing gameplay with unique units and structures.
  • Chandragupta leads India, offering unique advantages during wars.
  • Poundmaker leads the Cree, introducing unique abilities related to trade and city management.
  • Queen Wilhelmina leads the Netherlands, providing cultural bonuses through trade.

• New Systems:

  • The Loyalty system allows cities to change control based on their loyalty to leaders.
  • Governors can be appointed, each with unique bonuses impacting city management.
  • The introduction of Golden Ages and Dark Ages affects civilizations based on their historic moments.

• Gameplay Enhancements:

  • The Enhanced Alliances system allows players to form different types of alliances with evolving bonuses.
  • The Historic Moments feature introduces mini-achievements that contribute to a civilization's Era Score.

• Balance Changes: Notable adjustments included a reduction in Pingala's Librarian ability from +20% to +15% Science and Culture and various other unit and policy adjustments to enhance gameplay balance.

• Cross-Platform Play: The expansion added cross-platform multiplayer functionality for PC and Mac, enhancing the game's accessibility and community interaction.

Khmer and Indonesia joined Civilization VI in the October 19, 2017 pack, alongside a religion update. Earlier additions brought Australia, Persia and Macedon into the game.

• Khmer and Indonesia: Their joint pack added leaders, unique units and improvements, including Indonesia’s Jong and Kampung and Khmer’s Domrey.
• Other civilizations: Australia arrived under John Curtin, while Persia and Macedon introduced Cyrus and Alexander; the Aztecs became free in January.
• Religion: The October update added beliefs and units including the Warrior Monk, and the Path to Nirvana scenario focused on Southeast Asia.
• Diplomacy and AI: Warmonger penalties were adjusted, and naval and unit coordination received AI improvements.
• Tools and multiplayer: Modding support and multiplayer team options expanded in February.