Steam Offers Free Access to Civilization VII Alongside Major Franchise Discounts
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04.09.2026 17:49
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2 min read
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Civilization franchise, developer Firaxis Games and publisher 2K have launched a special promotion. Through September 10, any Steam user can freely play the full version of the global 4X strategy game Sid Meier’s Civilization VII. At the same time, Valve’s platform is hosting a sale on nearly all mainline entries in the series, offering discounts of up to 90%.
A Free Trial Rather Than a Permanent Giveaway
The promotion does not permanently keep the game on your account; instead, it offers a free week of access. Access ends on September 10, but all saved progress will remain in the cloud and transfer over if you purchase the game later. To encourage players to continue their campaigns, the standard edition of Civilization VII on Steam has been cut in half — down to $34.99 from its original $69.99.
This marks the first such move to reach a broader audience for the new release. Following its launch in February 2025, the strategy game received mixed reviews on Steam, with players criticizing controversial changes to the era-transition mechanics and optimization issues. Since then, the title has received a series of major patches, making this free trial an opportunity to check out the game’s current state firsthand before buying.
Past Entries Sale and PAX West Plans
Discounts across the franchise catalog will run longer than the seventh installment’s free trial — through September 17. Previous hits in the series received major price cuts:
- Civilization VI — $5.99 (90% off);
- Civilization V — $7.49 (75% off);
- Civilization IV Complete Edition dropped by 80%, while the full edition of Civilization III is 20% off.
Sid Meier’s first game about advancing civilizations debuted in 1991, and the studio plans to mark its 35th anniversary beyond digital storefronts. On September 5, Firaxis will host a panel at the PAX West gaming convention, where the team plans to look back at the franchise’s history and share future content roadmap plans for Civilization VII.
