2K and Firaxis have announced the second expansion coming to Civilization 6, dubbed Gathering Storm. Civ 6 Gathering Storm introduces a host of new features that will drastically change the way players engage with and create their own worlds.
In Civ 6 Gathering Storm players will build their civilisation on an “active planet” that includes geology and climatology to create an all-new and challenging experience. Gathering Storm introduces new Engineering Projects and the ability to work diplomatically to solve crises of climate and nature.
The Tech and Civics trees will be enhanced with a future era and nine new leaders from eight civilisations will also be added. Civ 6 Gathering Storm is going to add a lot for players to sink their teeth into.
Civ 6 Gathering Storm
Ed Beach, Lead Designer at Firaxis said that in Gathering Storm, “players are now faced with a changing, active planet that places new challenges and opportunities in front of them.” Adding;
Volcanoes, river floods, droughts and massive storms all await and are a part of our new Global Climate system that can cause ice sheets to melt and sea levels to rise based on players’ choices about how they want to interact with the environment.
These environmental effects include; volcanoes, blizzards, sandstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, climate change, floods and droughts. With this active environmental system, players will need to think more critically about the location of their cities as the forces of nature may not be on their side.
Owning and gathering Strategic Resources will have an enhanced role in Gathering Storm. Resources will be consumed in power plants which provide electricity to cities and will initially come from coal and oil. Over time, players will be able to unlock renewable energy technology.
The way players use resources and generate power will also have a direct impact on the world’s temperature and can contribute to the melting of ice caps and rising sea levels. To combat risi8ng sea levels, players will be able to build late-game structures like Flood Barriers.
Additionally, less than ideal land tiles can be improved through the construction of canals, dams, tunnels and railroads.
In a first for the series, players will be able to take part in diplomatic negotiations by earning Diplomatic Favour. This is earned through alliances, city-state influence, World Games and more. Diplomatic Favour can be used to secure promises from other leaders, to vote on Resolutions and call Special Sessions.
As mentioned, Gathering Storm adds new Tech and Civics, new leaders and civilisations and new scenarios. Players will also be introduced to the following new content;
- Seven New World Wonders
- Seven Natural Wonders
- 18 New Units
- 15 New Improvements
- Nine New Buildings
- Five New Districts
- Nine New Tech
- 10 New Civic
Finally, Espionage will be improved and Culture and Science victories have been changed.
Civ 6 Gathering Storm will launch for PC on February 14, 2019.
