The hit strategy game Civilization VII will be using a new map generation system to create more diverse terrain.
In the strategy game 'Civilization VII,' maps are randomly generated at the start of play, allowing for a fresh exploration experience each time you play. 'Update 1.2.5,' released on September 30, 2025 local time, added two new map types with increased randomness: 'Continents and Islands' and 'Pangaea and Islands.' Senior Graphics Engineer Ken Pruiksma explains the newly developed map generation system used in these maps.
Game Update Notes | Sid Meier's Civilization VII
Improved Map Generation | Civilization VII
https://civilization.2k.com/civ-vii/from-the-devs/map-generation/
Like previous games in the series, Civilization VII uses a system where the map is automatically generated at the start of the game. However, previous maps had problems such as being too monotonous or having too linear coastlines. To address this, Pruiksma adopted a geometric drawing method called a Voronoi diagram to generate diverse terrain.
The method for generating a map using a Voronoi diagram is as follows: First, dots are randomly placed within an arbitrary area.
Tiles the area based on the relative positions of the dots.
Next, designate any tile as the 'starting tile.'
Next, repeat the process of 'changing one of the tiles adjacent to the starting tile to the same type of tile' until the entire area has been changed to one of the tiles.
By adjusting the tile selection rule for 'changing one of the tiles adjacent to the starting tile to the same type of tile,' it is possible to adjust the land and sea areas to some extent. Also, depending on the rule settings, it is possible to control the generated map to some extent, such as 'making two large continents and multiple small islands,' or 'making a very large continent in the center and surrounding it with small islands,' while ensuring randomness.
According to Pruiksma, the map generation system has been intentionally tuned to generate normal maps 95% of the time, leaving the possibility of strange maps being generated. The Voronoi diagram-based map generation system is only applied to 'Continents and Islands' and 'Pangaea and Islands,' and the old generation system will continue to be available for other map types.
The idea of using Voronoi diagrams in map generation systems is not new. For example, the following web page explains a terrain generation system using Voronoi diagrams with code examples.
Voronoi maps tutorial
https://www.redblobgames.com/x/2022-voronoi-maps-tutorial/
Civilization VII is available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The physical version for PlayStation 5 is available on Amazon.co.jp for ¥6,527 (tax included), and the physical version for Nintendo Switch is available for ¥5,980 (tax included). Also, at the time of writing, Steam is offering a 30% off sale, making it available for ¥6,160 (tax included).
Amazon.co.jp: Sid Meier's Civilization® VII - PS5: Games
30% Off on Steam: Sid Meier's Civilization VII
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1295660/__VII/?l=japanese
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