Civilization 7 Dev Firaxis Says 'There's Hope for Gandhi, Yet'

Civilization VII has arrived, and a familiar face is missing: Mahatma Gandhi. A staple of the series since 1991, his absence has sparked considerable discussion among veteran players. This isn't just about nostalgia; Gandhi's inclusion is practically synonymous with the Civilization franchise, even giving rise to the legendary (and ultimately mythical) "Nuclear Gandhi" bug.

So, where is he? Civilization VII Lead Designer Ed Beach offered reassurance to concerned fans, hinting at Gandhi's eventual return as DLC.

Beach explained Firaxis' selection process for Civilization VII's launch roster: “We've had iconic civilizations missing from base games before. Mongolia and Persia were absent from Civ V or VI, yet both were significant historical powers. We have to make choices; there are too many popular options, and we want to include fresh, exciting civilizations. So, some get left behind, but we consider the bigger picture when adding leaders or civilizations. There’s hope for Gandhi.”

In short: Gandhi's return is planned.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Best Civ 7 Leaders

While fans await Gandhi's return, Firaxis is addressing community feedback regarding Civilization VII's mixed Steam reviews. Concerns include the user interface, limited map variety, and missing features.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, in an interview with IGN, acknowledged the negative press and player reviews but expressed confidence that the core Civilization audience will appreciate the game more with time, describing its early performance as “very encouraging.”

Need help conquering the world? Check out our guides on achieving every Civ VII victory type, the major changes for Civ VI players, and 14 crucial mistakes to avoid. We also cover all map types and difficulty settings.