Fans of the iconic strategy series have reason to celebrate as Civilization 7 prepares to reintroduce a beloved gameplay mechanic in its next major update. Scheduled for release in late July, Update 1.2.3 will bring back the auto-explore feature that many players found indispensable in previous Civilization titles.

The announcement comes as Civilization 7 continues to expand its presence across platforms, having recently launched as a flagship title for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. While the game initially faced criticism for its streamlined interface and missing features compared to Civilization 6, developer Firaxis Games has been steadily addressing player feedback through regular updates.

The return of auto-explore promises to significantly improve the early game experience. Players will be able to assign scouts and other exploration units to automatically uncover the map, stopping only when they encounter significant discoveries or hostile civilization borders. This quality-of-life improvement eliminates much of the micromanagement traditionally associated with the exploration phase, allowing players to focus on strategic decisions like city placement and diplomatic relations.

Alongside this major gameplay enhancement, the update will introduce smoother transitions between the game's three historical Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Firaxis has implemented a 10-turn countdown system to give players adequate preparation time before each Age transition, addressing one of the community's most common complaints about the pacing of technological advancement.

The update also brings exciting new content in the form of Trung Nhi, a first-century Vietnamese military leader who will serve as a special commander for players controlling her sister, Trung Trac. This addition continues Firaxis's tradition of highlighting lesser-known historical figures while expanding the game's cultural representation.

Civilization 7's post-launch support demonstrates Firaxis's commitment to evolving the game based on player feedback. With these upcoming changes addressing both quality-of-life concerns and content depth, the game appears poised to win back fans who may have been disappointed by its initial release state.

The update is currently scheduled for release during the week of July 20, with more details expected to be revealed in the coming days through the game's official social media channels.