If you’ve been waiting to dive into Firaxis’ next entry in the iconic turn-based strategy franchise on console, you’ve probably already seen the Civilization 7 Deluxe Edition PS5 listing pop up on store pages. As someone who’s sunk thousands of hours into every Civ game since Civ 3 on PC, I was curious if the console deluxe edition was worth the extra cash over the standard version, especially since PS5 players get exclusive controller optimization and faster load times that make the gameplay loop way smoother than older console ports. I spent two weeks testing both versions side by side to break down exactly what you get, who the deluxe edition is for, and whether you should spring for the higher price tag or stick to the base game.
What’s Included in the Civilization 7 Deluxe Edition PS5?
The first thing you’ll notice when comparing the two versions is the $20 price difference, but that extra cash gets you a lot more than just a fancy digital skin for your game library. First, you get the full base game, which already includes all the core civs, leaders, and game modes that make Civ 7 the most innovative entry in the franchise in over a decade. The PS5 version also comes with haptic feedback support that triggers subtle vibrations when you declare war, complete a wonder, or hit a new era, which adds a surprising amount of immersion to long play sessions.
- Exclusive first-year leader pass with 6 new playable civilizations and 12 unique leaders, including three fan-favorite legacy leaders that haven’t been in a Civ game since Civ 5
- Digital art book with 120 pages of concept art for new civs, wonders, and unit designs, plus developer commentary for every major new feature
- Digital original soundtrack with 35 exclusive tracks that play during specific era transitions and civilization-specific events, plus 10 remixed classic Civ tracks
- Pre-order bonus content (if you buy before launch) including a unique Aztec civilization pack and three exclusive wonder skins for the Great Pyramid, Hanging Gardens, and Sydney Opera House
- PS5-exclusive custom theme and avatar pack for your PSN profile, only available to deluxe edition buyers
None of the deluxe edition content is pay-to-win, so you won’t be at a disadvantage in multiplayer if you stick to the base game, but you will miss out on a lot of fun new playstyles if you skip the leader pass. All new civs are balanced to match the base game roster, and none of the skins or soundtrack content impacts gameplay at all. That means you can still have just as much fun with the standard edition if you don’t care about extra civs or cosmetic content.
How the PS5 Version Differs From PC and Other Consoles
I’ve played both the PC and PS5 versions of Civ 7 extensively, and I was shocked by how well the console port holds up, even during late-game sessions with 12 AI civs and hundreds of units on the map. The PS5 SSD cuts load times between turns by up to 70% compared to the PS4 version, and even beats mid-range PC load times if you’re running the game off a hard drive. The controller optimization is also way better than previous Civ console ports: you can cycle between units and cities with one click, and the UI has been completely redesigned to be readable from a couch without squinting.
The only real downside to the PS5 version compared to PC is the lack of mod support, at least at launch. Firaxis has said they’re working on bringing curated mod support to PS5 in a future update, but for now, you’re stuck with the official content. That’s less of a problem if you buy the Civilization 7 Deluxe Edition PS5, though, since the extra civs and leader content gives you almost as much extra playtime as most popular mod packs for older Civ games. For casual players who don’t want to mess with mod installs anyway, the PS5 version is actually the more user-friendly option.
Crossplay is also supported across all platforms, so you can play with your friends who own the game on PC, Xbox, or Switch without any issues. I tested crossplay with a friend on PC last week, and we didn’t run into any lag or desync issues even during a 6-hour marathon session. The only catch is that if you own the deluxe edition and your friend doesn’t, you won’t be able to use the exclusive civs in crossplay lobbies unless everyone in the lobby owns the leader pass. That’s a minor annoyance, but it’s standard for franchise games with DLC these days.
Who Should Buy the Deluxe Edition, and Who Should Skip It?
This is the question I get asked most often by fans who are on the fence about which version to pick up, and the answer really depends on how much time you plan to sink into the game. If you’re a casual player who only plays a few Civ matches a year, or you’re new to the franchise and aren’t sure if you’ll like it, the standard edition is more than enough. The base game has 18 playable civs and 24 leaders, which gives you hundreds of hours of content even without any extra DLC.
On the other hand, if you’re a hardcore Civ fan who sinks 100+ hours into every entry, the Civilization 7 Deluxe Edition PS5 is an absolute no-brainer. The 6 extra civs add completely new playstyles: the Maori civ’s passive ocean movement bonus lets you colonize entire continents before other civs even unlock sailing, and the new Inca leader’s mountain bonus makes high-altitude starts way more viable than they’ve ever been before. I’ve already put 40 hours into just the new civs, and I haven’t even gotten around to trying half of the new leader abilities yet.
You should also consider the deluxe edition if you plan to play a lot of multiplayer with friends who already own it. As I mentioned earlier, you can’t use the deluxe edition civs in lobbies where not everyone owns the content, so if most of your playgroup has the deluxe edition, you’ll be stuck picking from the base civs every time if you skip it. That’s not the end of the world, but it can get boring if you’re playing multiple matches a week with the same group.
One thing to note: you can always upgrade to the deluxe edition later if you buy the standard version first, but you’ll end up paying $5 more than if you bought the deluxe edition upfront. If you think there’s even a chance you’ll want the extra content down the line, it’s cheaper to buy it all at once when you first pick up the game.
Common PS5 Deluxe Edition Issues to Watch For
I ran into a few minor issues during my testing of the Civilization 7 Deluxe Edition PS5 that you should be aware of before you buy, though none of them are dealbreakers. First, some users have reported that the digital art book and soundtrack don’t show up in their PS5 library immediately after download. If that happens, you just need to restart your console and refresh your library, and the content should pop up. Firaxis has already confirmed they’re working on a patch to fix this issue for all users in the next few weeks.
Another small issue is that the haptic feedback can be overly intense during late-game wars, when you have dozens of units fighting at once. You can easily turn down the haptic intensity in the game’s settings, though, so that’s a quick fix. I also noticed that the PS5 activity card quick resume feature doesn’t work perfectly with large save files, so if you’re playing a match with 12 civs that’s 500+ turns in, you might run into a crash if you resume from an activity card instead of loading the save from the main menu. That’s a rare issue, but it’s something to keep in mind if you rely on quick resume for most of your games.
The last thing to watch for is fake deluxe edition listings on third-party store pages. A lot of resellers are selling the standard edition with a random PSN theme and calling it a deluxe edition, so make sure you only buy from the official PlayStation Store or an authorized retailer. The official deluxe edition will clearly list the leader pass and all extra content in the product description, so double check before you hand over your cash.
At the end of the day, the Civilization 7 Deluxe Edition PS5 is a great value for anyone who loves the franchise and plans to spend dozens of hours exploring all the new civs and features. If you’re on the fence, you can always start with the standard edition and upgrade later, but you’ll save money by picking up the deluxe version upfront if you know you’ll want the extra content. Either way, the PS5 port of Civ 7 is one of the best console strategy game ports I’ve ever played, and it’s well worth picking up even if you’ve only ever played the franchise on PC before.