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 nostalgia; Gandhi is intrinsically linked to Civilization, even spawning 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.

He explained Firaxis' selection process: "We've had iconic civilizations missing from base games before—Mongolia and Persia, for instance, were absent from Civ V or VI. There are too many popular choices, and we want to include fresh, exciting options. So, some get left behind, but we consider the bigger picture when adding leaders or civilizations. There's hope for Gandhi, yet."

Hope for Gandhi indeed!

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Best Civ 7 Leaders

In the meantime, Firaxis is likely addressing the mixed Steam reviews for Civilization VII. Criticisms include the user interface, limited map variety, and a perceived lack of expected features. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback in an IGN interview, but expressed confidence that the core Civilization audience will appreciate the game more with time, deeming its initial performance "very encouraging."

Need help conquering the world? Consult our guides on achieving every victory type in Civ VII, understanding the key changes for Civ VI players, and avoiding crucial mistakes. We also cover Civ VII map types and difficulty settings.