Civilization VII–VR lands on Quest 3 next week with solo, multiplayer, and mixed-reality support

Gamers, prepare your empires. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is stepping into virtual reality for the first time, and it’s coming exclusively to Meta Quest 3 and 3S headsets on April 10th. Priced at $60, the game is already available for preorder on the Horizon Store.

Developed by Playside Studios in partnership with Meta, Civilization VII – VR transforms the legendary strategy franchise into a fully immersive experience. Fans of the classic PC and console versions will find all the hallmarks intact: pick a historical leader, build your nation through the ages, forge alliances—or break them—and shape the course of civilisation from antiquity to the modern era.

What truly sets the VR edition apart is the interactive ‘War Table’. Inspired by tabletop wargames, the War Table acts as your command centre. Players can zoom, tilt, and pan across the entire battlefield, making strategic planning feel tactile and intuitive. It’s the kind of design VR was made for, allowing for sweeping overviews of the world or up-close interactions with units and cities.

Ages of play remain a cornerstone of Civilization VII, and the VR version sticks closely to the series’ classic structure. Begin in the Antiquity Age to lay the groundwork of your empire. Explore new continents and technologies in the Exploration Age. Then shift to the Modern Age, where you’ll juggle industry, innovation, and diplomacy on a global scale.

Whether you’re playing solo against AI or in online multiplayer against other Quest users, the stakes are high. You’ll negotiate treaties, conduct espionage, build wonders, and decide the fate of your people one decision at a time. For the first time in VR, you can also go face-to-face with world leaders, using voice chat and animated avatars to settle—or inflame—conflict.

One standout feature at launch is the inclusion of both virtual reality and mixed reality modes. Mixed reality uses the Quest’s passthrough camera to anchor your empire in the real world. That means you can place your War Table right on your kitchen table or living room floor, blurring the lines between reality and strategy.

The interface has been carefully designed to accommodate the immersive format, and early glimpses from the gameplay trailer suggest an elegant UI with motion-controlled input. The developers promise a learning curve that feels natural for seasoned Civ players while remaining accessible to VR newcomers.

Meta’s exclusive deal with Playside makes this the first full-fledged VR entry in the Civilization franchise, and one of the most ambitious releases for the Quest platform this year. It’s a clear move to draw more core gamers into the VR ecosystem, especially those looking for deeper, slower-paced strategy experiences.

Civilization VII – VR launches next week on April 10, and it could mark a turning point for strategic VR gaming. If you’ve ever dreamed of commanding history from a digital war room, this is your moment. Grab your headset, gather your advisors, and prepare to rewrite the past—virtually.