This Month in Civ: July Update and News Recap

Hey Civ fans, welcome back to This Month in Civ! 

Summer marches along, as does our team, hard at work on the newest additions to Civilization VII! Although this is a bit of a quieter month as we gear up for some major announcements later this year, there is nonetheless some cool stuff to recap. We capped off the Brush and Blade Collection by launching a new leader, the famed admiral Yi Sun-sin, alongside new civilizations in Goryeo and Joseon.* We also released Update 1.4.2, which saw the introduction of some cool new ways to negotiate Peace Deals, more clarity and depth for Leader Agendas and Relationships, the return of individual Victory settings, and some new buffs to everyone’s favorite World Renouncer, Ashoka.

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

In June, we launched Update 1.4.1, which introduced the highly requested Hotseat multiplayer mode, a new Archipelago map, and a rework to Governments, Celebrations, and Happiness. 

Most recently, with Update 1.4.2, we went back to some of Civ VII’s fundamental Diplomacy systems to give them some development TLC. We expanded Peace Deals, so you can negotiate more creatively by offering Gold and Influence, in addition to trading Settlements. We’re also making some changes to the UI to make this system more intuitive. You’ll find that the Peace Deal screen appears more colorful and compact, and you can now dismiss a Peace Deal temporarily to survey the map before making a wise negotiation!

This patch also brings updates to Leader Relationships that allow you to have a better grasp on where you stand with your rivals—whether friend or foe! The Leader Relationship panel now displays which Leader initiated an event that changed your relationship (for example, which of the two started an Endeavor), and we’re adding new, unique messages for each Leader when their Agenda causes a significant change in your relationship. Lastly, you can now Reconcile with Unfriendly leaders before things turn Hostile.

There’s more! We’re bringing back the ability to turn on and off individual Victories, now compatible with Test of Time’s Victory overhaul. And to help spotlight our Happiness system rework from a previous update, we’re buffing Ashoka, World Renouncer! Give him a shot and lead your empire to victory!

There’s more to dig into, so if you want to read about all of the new features coming in this update, make sure to check out our Game Update Notes page.

This July, we also launched Part 2 of the Brush and Blade Collection*. After exploring Antiquity and Exploration Age Japan in Part 1, we’re taking a deep dive into the Korean history books in Part 2! If you already bought the collection last month, Part 2 content has automatically been added to your account. Otherwise, you can purchase and access the complete Brush and Blade Collection today.

Carrying the banner is new leader Yi Sun-sin, alongside two new civs, Goryeo and Joseon. Yi Sun-sin, a Militaristic and Cultural leader, is a master of naval combat. His Unique Ability, Samdo Sugun Tongjesa, allows you to train Fleet Commanders as early as the Antiquity Age, and provides Science and Gold bonuses for using your Naval Units and Fleet Commanders wisely.

Goryeo, a Cultural and Diplomatic civ whose Apex is in the Exploration Age, rewards you with increased Culture and Influence for your Unique Improvements, compounded with increased Culture from your Endeavors. It also comes with the Hwacha, a Unique Siege Unit that deals splash damage to units near the target. Joseon, a Cultural and Expansionist civ with an Apex in the Modern Age, increases your Specialist Limits and grants you access to the iconic Turtle Ship, a new Heavy Naval Unit!

Try combining Yi Sun-sin with these civs in their Apex Ages, or pick one favorite to lead throughout your campaign. To learn more about Yi Sun-sin, Goryeo, and Joseon, check out their respective Game Guides. Or, for a refresher on the complete Brush and Blade Collection, check out this recap video.

*Base game required. Each DLC will be delivered automatically in-game. Terms apply.

From July 21 to August 4, Civilization VII is 50% off on Steam!* If you’ve been waiting to dive into Civ VII, now’s the time! We’re continuing to enhance the Civ VII experience with regular content and updates, and with some awesome new additions around the corner, there’s never been a better time to start your Civ VII journey.

*Discount based on 2K’s SRP. Digital only. Offers end August 4, 2026. Terms apply.

Panels of La Caccia Al Tordo by Discord user Kunkolo

Also, be sure to check out some of our collaborations with our incredible Civilization creators! Watch as SophieQuests explores what your favorite Civ VII leader says about you, find out how UrsaRyan builds an empire on the edge of the new Fractal Continents map, or dive into Alexander the Great’s legacy with WhiteAndNerdyTV.

Now that Update 1.4.2 is in your hands, we’re eager to see how you’ll use these new features to enhance your diplomatic strategy and build something you believe in. As always, thank you for your continued support and the millions of turns taken. For now, we’ll continue to improve and build on Civ’s core systems, and in the coming months, we’ll be back with some announcements that we think herald some giant leaps forward for the game.

To stay connected, join us in our official Discord, where you can keep up with the community and discuss every update, new and forthcoming content, and all your other Civ favorites! For more info about guides, feature requests, mods, and more, check out our Steam discussions. And to stay up-to-date on all things Civ, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.

See you here next month, Civ fans!