Civilization 7: Cross-Play and Cross-Progression Features Revealed

Sid Meier’s legendary turn-based strategy series Civilization ushers in a new chapter with Civilization VII, now available across virtually all major modern gaming platforms. As fans dive into this expansive world of empire-building and historical conquest, two key features come into focus: cross-play and cross-progression.

Does Civilization 7 Have Cross-Play?

Image Source: Firaxis

Yes, Civilization VII supports cross-play, but with important limitations that affect the overall experience depending on the platforms involved.

To participate in cross-play, players must have an active 2K account—publisher of the Civilization series—and link it to their preferred gaming platforms. This account acts as the backbone for enabling multiplayer connectivity across systems. For most platforms, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, macOS, and Linux, cross-play functions smoothly. These versions support the full range of map sizes and player counts across all historical ages.

However, complications arise when a Nintendo Switch player joins the match. Due to hardware limitations, the Switch version of Civilization VII does not support map sizes labeled as Standard or larger. Additionally, multiplayer matches involving Switch users are restricted in player count: up to four players during the Antiquity and Exploration Ages, and up to six in the Modern Age.

In short, while cross-play is fully supported among most platforms, any online session that includes a Switch user will default to these reduced settings. This ensures fairness and performance stability but may limit the depth of gameplay for others. While the Switch remains a viable option for enjoying Civilization VII, players should be aware of these constraints when joining or hosting cross-platform multiplayer games.

Related: Civilization 7 Roadmap 2025 (Civ 7)

Does Civilization 7 Have Cross-Progression?

Cross-progression in Civilization VII is significantly more straightforward—and highly functional—compared to its cross-play system.

As long as players are logged into a linked 2K account, their game progress syncs seamlessly across all supported platforms. Whether you're playing on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck, or Nintendo Switch, your saves, achievements, and campaign progress are preserved and accessible wherever you continue your game.

This feature was clearly designed with modern gaming habits in mind. Recognizing that players often switch between devices, developer Firaxis Games has built cross-progression directly into Civilization VII from launch—unlike Civilization VI, which received the feature through a later update. Now, you can start a campaign on your console at home and continue it on the go, without losing a single turn.

With robust cloud-based syncing powered by your 2K account, Civilization VII ensures that your journey through history remains uninterrupted, no matter the device.

Civilization VII releases on February 11.