The world of Civilization VII is about to get a major upgrade—this time, in virtual reality.
The PC and console versions of the game are available, but here’s the twist: Civilization VII is dropping a VR version just for Meta Quest 3 and 3S headsets this Spring. This marks the first full adaptation of the Civ series into virtual and mixed reality, and the excitement is hard to miss.
The decision to move Civilization VII into VR territory came as a surprise to many, especially since the flat-screen version is still fresh off the presses. But instead of just throwing the classic strategy game into VR, PlaySide Studios and Firaxis Games have come up with a whole new experience that fits the VR vibe. The game changes the interface, ditching the top-down view for something more engaging and hands-on.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Civ VII VR experience is the Command Table, a board game-inspired setup where the entire world map unfolds in front of you. The game will bring the world map into your space using Meta Quest’s passthrough cameras, so it’s like the game is right there in your living room. On top of that, players have the option to switch between mixed-reality (MR) and full VR modes whenever they like.
To fit the VR format, the gameplay has been optimized for more concise playthroughs. The game runs at a faster pace compared to the PC version, so you can wrap up the entire Ages in one session. But if taking things at a slower pace is more your thing, you can tweak the speed to match your preference.
This option makes sure Civilization VII VR stays comfy for those longer sessions, which helps with VR fatigue. The VR version introduces new features, though some are still anxious about how things will turn out. With features like life-sized leaders and the Command Table, there are concerns about how the game will manage physical space in real-world settings.
The use of MR has yet to be fully explored in Civ, and how it translates into the player’s environment might make or break the gameplay. Still, the option to seamlessly toggle between mixed-reality and traditional VR modes gives players the freedom to explore and discover the experience that suits them best. As we near the spring 2025 release, it remains unclear how the game will manage Civ’s scale alongside VR’s constraints.
But love it or hate it, this VR version has the potential to liven up the Civ series.