Worried that his father might not live until the scheduled release of Civilization VII in February, a family made a heartfelt plea to Firaxis Games for early access to the much-anticipated strategy title.
The announcement of Civilization VII brought a mix of joy and sorrow for a fan who had shared countless gaming moments with her father. As the release date approached, she faced a heartbreaking dilemma: would her father be alive to enjoy the game? The harsh reality that the answer might be no prompted an emotional response from both the development team and the broader gaming community.
A Family’s Plea for Early Access to Civilization VII
Valerie took to Reddit to share her story, and it quickly garnered attention from the Civilization fanbase: “Is there any way we could play sooner? I don’t normally ask for things like this, but my dad has only a few months left. He’s battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer and has been a fan of Sid Meier’s games since Alpha Centauri, although he also played the original Civ. I’m just trying to get him a little playtime before he passes, as we’re unsure if he’ll make it to February. If it’s not possible yet, I understand. I’m just hoping someone can help with this small dream.”
Even before the community could rally to attract Firaxis’s attention, one of the company’s community managers responded directly on the post: “Hi, please send me a private message,” they wrote. Although brief, this response marked the first step towards granting the father’s wish to play Civilization VII ahead of its official release, a gesture warmly welcomed by fans of Sid Meier’s series.
One player shared a personal memory: “This reminds me of when my dad died on the same day SimCity was released. We played those games together for years. It was the first multiplayer game, and it came out years after I left home. Sharing it would have been so special. I wish I had thought to ask like you did.” Another user commended Firaxis’s empathy: “I’m proud to support a company that treats its customers with such compassion when they need it most.”
Firaxis has shown consistent engagement with its community in recent weeks. As part of the promotional campaign for Civilization VII, the developer posted a special message on Reddit that only community forum enthusiasts would understand: “Keep drawing, UrsaRyan! Sid Meier’s Civilization VII arrives on February 11, 2025.” This post referenced a fan (UrsaRyan) who had taken on a challenge over a year ago to share a drawing each day until the new game was released. It demonstrates the developer’s dedication to its fanbase and appreciation for their unwavering support.
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