A new version of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is coming to Apple devices via the Apple Arcade game subscription.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition will see the latest entry of the 4X strategy game be playable on mobile devices. On iPad and iPhone, the Civ VII Arcade Edition features touch controls. Other than that, it’s the same game as on previously released platforms.
Civ VII Arcade Edition is developed by Behaviour Interactive in partnership with Firaxis. Behaviour also worked on the console ports of Civ VII, which are currently in parity with features and content with the main PC version.
Curiously, as stated in the game’s store page, Civ VII Arcade Edition won’t have any DLC as seen on mainline Civ VII (PC, consoles and, even more curious, Mac). At launch, it also won’t have multiplayer.
That means Civ VII Arcade Edition doesn’t have feature parity with the version you’d have to pay for.
You can just get regular Civ VII on Mac, but you have to get the Arcade Edition to play Civ VII on a mobile device, and if you are already an Apple Arcade subscriber, you’re getting this for “free.”
It’s a curiously lesser version of the game that Civ fans themselves aren’t quite fond of just yet (Steam user reviews are still Mixed). But it’s quite the feat to see a game with this fidelity on a mobile device. Civ VII’s graphics skew more realistic and demanding-looking compared to the more stylised and cleaner look of its predecessor, Civ VI.
Civilization VII Arcade Edition releases on Mac, iPhone and iPad on February 5 via Apple Arcade. Check out our review of the game here.