Civilization VII: the 35th anniversary trailer and the developer preview

2K and Firaxis didn't just unsheathe patch notes this week. The official channel uploaded two videos back to back: a developer preview focused on the next big update and the first expansion, and a 35th anniversary trailer for the Civilization franchise. Two formats, two very distinct purposes.

The developer preview acts as a technical showcase: we see Firaxis's teams commenting on screen about the upcoming new features, backed by gameplay footage rather than a simple marketing slideshow. This is the format the series has used since Civilization VI to defuse community concerns ahead of a major DLC - we remember similar previews before Gathering Storm or Rise and Fall.

The anniversary trailer, on the other hand, plays on a completely different register. A look back at 35 years of a franchise that defined the modern 4X, likely a nostalgic montage blending the iconic civs and leaders that have marked each installment. A format that adds nothing on the gameplay front but serves as a reminder: Civilization VII is part of a lineage, not a vacuum. You can watch it at the very bottom of the article.

For the concrete content of update 1.5.0 and the details of the announcements about Arc of Tomorrow and Earthrise, head over to our dedicated articles. As for the timing, keep in mind above all that these two videos arrive just before PAX West 2026, where Firaxis happened to be holding a panel dedicated to the game that same week.