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Sid Meier’s Civilization VI arrives on iPhone, free to existing iPad players

Some nine months after Sid Meier’s strategy game Civilization VI was ported to the iPad, Aspyr Media has gone one better and squeezed in into the iPhone.

It’s still the full game, albeit lacking the expansion content available in the console version. If you’ve already bought the iPad version, you get the iPhone one free, while there’s an introductory deal available to everyone else …

Originally created by legendary game designer Sid Meier and published by 2K Games, Civilization VI is a turn-based strategy game in which you build an empire to stand the test of time by leading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Explore a new land, research technology, conquer your enemies, and go head-to-head with history’s most renowned leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.

As it’s now a universal app, iPad players get automatic access. The full price for everyone else is $59.99 – steep for an iPad game, and even more so for an iPhone one – but you get 60 turns free and can then take advantage of a launch offer.

To celebrate the release on iPhone, the Civilization VI full game unlock is currently 60% off so new players can get their hands on it for $23.99.

This sale will end on October 16, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Prices and availability may vary by territory. Sale only available on the App Store.

You’ll need an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, iPhone 8 or 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad Air 2, iPad 2017, or any iPad Pro – running iOS 11 or 12.

Aspyr Media shared more details of what you get for your money.

EXPANSIVE EMPIRES: See the marvels of your empire spread across the map like never before. Each city spans multiple tiles so you can custom build your cities to take full advantage of the local terrain.

ACTIVE RESEARCH: Unlock boosts that speed your civilization’s progress through history. To advance more quickly, use your units to actively explore, develop your environment, and discover new cultures.

DYNAMIC DIPLOMACY: Interactions with other civilizations change over the course of the game, from primitive first interactions where conflict is a fact of life, to late game alliances and negotiations.

COMBINED ARMS: Expanding on the “one unit per tile” design, support units can now be embedded with other units, like anti-tank support with infantry, or a warrior with settlers. Similar units can also be combined to form powerful “Corps” units.

LOCAL MULTIPLAYER: In addition to traditional multiplayer modes, cooperate and compete with your friends in a wide variety of situations all designed to be easily completed in a single session.

A CIV FOR ALL PLAYERS: Civilization VI provides veteran players new ways to build and tune their civilization for the greatest chance of success. New tutorial systems are designed to introduce new players to the underlying concepts of Civilization so they can easily get started on a path to victory.

Civilization VI is a free download from the App Store, with 60 free turns. After that, it costs $24 until October 16, and then $60.


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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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