1. Sid Meier's Civilization VI
  2. News

Sid Meier's Civilization VI News

2K removes its pointless launcher from Civilization 6, while also announcing that Civilization 7 players will never have to suffer launching the game twice for no reason




PC Gaming is beset by terrible supplementary launchers, from the rubbish EA app to the pointless Ubisoft Connect, all the way down to the digital wasteland that is the Microsoft Store. One of the most baffling examples of the form, however, is the 2K launcher. Rarely glimpsed (because it's only mandated for about seven games) the 2K launcher does basically nothing apart from force you to click a second button when you launch some (not all) 2K published games on Steam. It also occasionally causes performance problems for those games, such as slowing down superhero shenanigans in Marvel's Midnight Suns...
Read more.

Watch the Civilization VII Gameplay Showcase on August 20

After Opening Night Live, tune in here on Steam or visit Twitch.tv/FiraxisGames at 1:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM CEST to watch our official Civilization VII Gameplay Showcase! For more than 20 minutes, we'll share exclusive insights from the development team about this revolutionary new chapter in the franchise, including our vision for the game as well as its innovative new features. For a one-stop shop on everything Civilization VII, you'll definitely want to catch this one live!

Good news faff dislikers, Civilization 7 is dropping the 2K launcher as a requirement on PC, with Steam copies of Civ 6 having just done the same

You! Do you find having to have nine million different launchers installed on your PC all at once to be something that keeps you up at night? Well, if so, good news, because Firaxis has confirmed that Civilization 7 is ditching the 2K launcher as a requirement on PC, with Civ 6 having also just dropped it too, assuming you bought your copy on Steam.

While I’d argue that 2K’s launcher isn’t the worst, even if that's a very low bar, having to log into extra things in order to play a game that you’re not even trying to play via the service or storefront in question is always an annoyance, so it’s no surprise that this move has gone down to a chorus of cheers and relieved sighs.

“Alongside Challenge 10 going live on August 14, the new update also removes the 2K Launcher from Sid Meier's Civilization VI on Steam,” Firaxis confirmed in its Steam announcement of Civ 6’s latest event, “In addition, Sid Meier's Civilization VII will not use the 2K Launcher on PC.”

Read more

Civ VI Monthly Challenge: Rotating Reduxes

[h3]A NOTE ABOUT THE 2K LAUNCHER AND CIVILIZATION VI ON STEAM[/h3]

Alongside Challenge 10 going live on August 14, the new update also removes the 2K Launcher from Sid Meier's Civilization VI on Steam. In addition, Sid Meier's Civilization VII will not use the 2K Launcher on PC.

---

The new monthly challenge for Sid Meier's Civilization VI starts August 14! But this month, you're not getting just one event to take on: we're bringing back four fan favorites as week-long challenges with altered parameters! All four challenges can be played at Prince difficulty, or—if you reckon you're a certified Civ expert—the highest difficulty level of Deity.

The limited-time monthly challenges afford you an opportunity to test your skills as a specific leader in a unique scenario. The first time you successfully complete each challenge, you'll earn yourself a new in-game Hall of Fame Badge commemorating your impressive achievement. For PC players who already earned the Hall of Fame Badge for the original versions of these events, you can score a new Badge for your collection by completing the Redux version on Deity difficulty!

To play the current monthly challenge, go to the main menu in-game and click on the "Challenge of the Month" image in the rotating marquee. Note that if you don't own any of the DLC featured in the current challenge, you will be granted free trial access to it for use in the challenge so you won't miss out!

Read on for a breakdown of this month's four week-long challenges, and good luck out there!


[h3]CHALLENGE 10 PART 1: SEVEN SEAS REDUX[/h3]

Duration: August 14 - August 21

The continents have been consumed by oceans. Civilizations persist, scattered across the mountainous islands that remain, but for some it will prove nigh impossible to thrive in this unfamiliar environment.

Playing as the Norwegian leader Harald Hardrada, you find yourself at an advantage. You've already explored most of the ocean, your Viking Longships are unrivaled in naval combat, and you have the unique ability to pillage your enemies' coastal tiles. During the Seven Seas challenge, played in Heroes & Legends mode, the victory condition you pursue is entirely up to you. That sea air sure smells like Domination, though!

For some general guidance related to this challenge, check out these Norway Overview and Heroes & Legends Details video guides!

Redux Parameters
  • Permanent Dark Age
  • No Cavalry Barbarian Camps
  • Naval Barbarian Camps spawn units twice as fast
  • Hero Discovery Rate x2 for all AI leaders
  • Water tiles deal 10 damage to all units


[h3]CHALLENGE 10 PART 2: ROBOT REVOLUTION REDUX[/h3]

Duration: August 21 - August 28

Do you have what it takes to ensure your civilization's survival for 100 turns in a frozen, post-nuclear future? This is your chance to prove it. Oh, and did we mention the robots?

Resources are sparse, disasters are intense, and Giant Death Robots are a constant threat. Your memory of life before the robot takeover is fading, but parts of the world are still known to you. As the Prime Minister of Canada, Wilfrid Laurier, will you scour the frozen wasteland for resources and remnants of the old world, or hunker down and hope to outlast your opponents?

For some general guidance related to this challenge, check out this Canada Overview video guide!

Redux Parameters
  • All civilian units except builders and settlers are disabled
  • Barbarian AI use of GDR is improved
  • Civics, tech, and religion no longer give score towards victory condition
  • World Congress is disabled


[h3]CHALLENGE 10 PART 3: THREE STARS EACH REDUX[/h3]

Duration: August 28 - September 4

The Babylonians were the first to record the cadence of the stars and planets in the sky. As Hammurabi, can you lead your people into space and secure a Science victory?

Technology and Civics trees are shuffled and hidden for this event, so Babylon's ability to unlock technological advancements via Eurekas is key. Adding to the unpredictability of this event, parameters including the map and other civilizations are randomized.

For some general guidance related to this challenge, check out these Babylon Overview and How to Generate Science video guides!

Redux Parameters
  • Babylon's Eureka ability applies to Civics as well as Science
  • Science and Culture yields per pop are decreased by 99%


[h3]CHALLENGE 10 PART 4: REACH FOR THE HEAVENS REDUX[/h3]

Duration: September 4 - September 11

Originally designed by Civilization streamer Potato McWhiskey, this event challenges you to lead the Khmer Empire to a Culture victory. Build sprawling cities that celebrate your faith in the Prasat temples, and drive cultural hegemony through your population's growth.

The Khmer's wondrous Angkor Wat temple complex is a magnet for visitors in modern-day Cambodia. As King Jayavarman VII, can you attract enough tourists to achieve this goal?

For some general guidance related to this challenge, check out these Khmer Overview and How to Generate Culture video guides!

Redux Parameters
  • Military units beyond warrior and spearman are disabled
  • Map type swapped to Arid
  • No Bonus Resources (rice, wheat, etc.) on map

Sid Meier's Civilization VII - Gameplay Showcase Coming August 20

Greetings Civ Fans!

Since we announced Sid Meier's Civilization VII back in June, the entire team at Firaxis Games has been delighted to see the excitement and passion shared throughout the Civ community. We promised that your first look at gameplay would be coming in August, and now we want to provide some details on what you can expect.

Civilization is a game that is as wide as it is deep, covering the span of human history as you build your empire piece by piece in the attempt to stand the test of time. We know many of you love getting into the details, and we do too - that's why we're going all-out for the gameplay reveal coming later this month.

First, mark your calendars for August 20, 2024! We're excited to be part of Gamescom Opening Night Live with Geoff Keighley, where we'll debut our gameplay trailer for Civilization VII. This will be the first time the world sees Civilization VII in motion, and you won't want to miss it. Make sure you tune-in at Twitch.tv/gamescom at 11:00 AM PT / 8:00 PM CEST to watch Opening Night Live as it airs.

After Opening Night Live, visit Twitch.tv/FiraxisGames at 1:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM CEST to watch our official Civilization VII Gameplay Showcase! For more than 20 minutes, we'll share exclusive insights from the development team about this revolutionary new chapter in the franchise, including our vision for the game as well as its innovative new features. For a one-stop shop on everything Civilization VII, you'll definitely want to catch this one live!

But that’s just the start! From August 21 to 25, attendees at Gamescom should be sure to stop by the Civilization VII booth located in Hall 6.

Finally, we'll be heading over to PAX West in Seattle and hope to see you there! On August 31, Kinda Funny Games' Greg Miller will host our developer panel, where we'll share new insights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the creation of Civilization VII. For those attending in-person, we'll be located in the Main Theater on the 5th floor of the Summit Building. Viewers at home can watch live on Twitch.tv/PAX at 11:00 AM PT. Catch you in the Emerald City!

August is just the first step in our journey. Thank you for being the best fans in the world. We can't wait to show you Civilization VII and take one more turn together.

-The Firaxis Development Team