As the all-powerful leader of a spacefaring civilization, players will seek out new star systems and discover the exciting potential of the subspace realm. With over a dozen starting civilizations to choose from – plus the ability to create unique custom civilizations from scratch - the possibilities for each playthrough are endless, leaving players with a truly unique experience every time they start up a new game.

For nearly 30 years, the Galactic Civilizations series has focused on four main pillars: a simulated universe, strong AI opponents, rich lore, and multiple paths to victory. Galactic Civilizations IV supports this approach through several new features. Galactic Civilizations IV aims to vastly increase the game’s scope and depth by introducing AI characters, star sectors, ministers, central control, a much bigger technology tree, and more.

Multi-sector maps add a new depth to the scope of Galactic Civilizations IV. While players will still be able to play a smaller map, the ability to span an adventure across an enormous map with multiple sectors gives a true feeling of galactic conquest and exploration. Each sector is connected by subspace streams that will allow the player to travel between them.

While the idea of citizens was introduced in Galactic Civilizations III, their role was not as distinct as it is now. Citizens have individual approval ratings and keeping them happy is important – a disloyal and unhappy governor might just take their planet and corresponding colonies with them and start a new empire if the player isn’t careful. The story of the game changes depending on which characters are recruited and how their various backstories manifest throughout.

Stardock Entertainment announced Expansion Pass 2 for Galactic Civilizations IV. 

The first content drop, "Tales of the Terran Alliance," will launch December 4, 2025. This new expansion focuses on humanity's tumultuous 23rd century and the formative conflicts that shaped the Terran Alliance into a galactic power.

Humanity's Defining Moment

“Tales of the Terran Alliance” takes players deep into Earth's pivotal era of interstellar expansion, exploring the political intrigue, technological breakthroughs, and military conflicts that forged humanity's place among the stars. Players will experience firsthand the events that transformed Earth from a single-world civilization into a formidable galactic presence, starting with the infamous Xendar War, which is included in the DLC as a fully playable civilization.

"This expansion is a love letter to Galactic Civilizations fans who have been asking for deeper human lore," said Brad Wardell, CEO of Stardock Entertainment. "Tales of the Terran Alliance delivers not just new gameplay mechanics, but a rich narrative experience that explores what it means to be human in a galaxy full of ancient, powerful civilizations."

Tales of the Terran Alliance Key Features:

• Play as the Xendar: Experience the civilization that shaped humanity's first interstellar war.
• New Human Technology Tree: A unique tech progression designed specifically for the Terran Alliance.
• Expanded Human Story Events: Encounter new narrative events that explore the origins, politics, and ambitions of humanity’s interstellar expansion.
• New Planetary Improvements, Weapons, and Defenses: Build and equip your worlds and fleets with Human-focused advancements.
• Additional Ship Components: Enhance your ships with new modules tailored to Human strategies.

Expansion Pass 2: Years of Galactic Adventure

“Tales of the Terran Alliance” is just the beginning. Expansion Pass 2 will deliver five substantial content drops from late 2025 to 2027, each expanding the rich universe of Galactic Civilizations IV:

• Tales of the Terran Alliance (December 2025) – Explore humanity's defining era and the rise of the Terran Alliance.
• Federations & Empires (2026) – Formation of governments, elections, agents, and more.
• Ascension (2026) – Uplift minor civilizations, genetically modify your own species, build breeding programs.
• Hegemon (2027) – Client states, United Planets, several new major civilizations uplifted from minor status.
• Underworld (2027) – Navigate the shadowy realm of criminal syndicates and black markets.

Each pack will continue to develop Galactic Civilizations IV's deep strategic gameplay while adding new lore, civilizations, mechanics, and content for both veteran players and newcomers alike.

“Tales of the Terran Alliance” will be available in December 2025 for $14.99 USD on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Stardock directly. The DLC will also be included as part of Expansion Pass 2, which will offer access to all five packs at a discounted price; this pass will be available starting December 4 alongside the release of Tales of the Terran Alliance

Galactic Achievements solve the age-old problem of a player seeing a clear trajectory to victory that is locked behind another couple hours of gameplay. Historically, many players quit at this point and don’t bother finishing their game because they “know they are going to win,” but it’s hardly a satisfactory victory. With this new feature, players can take on a challenge to earn “prestige points” that will go toward a total necessary for them to win the game. This cuts down on the “grind” of late game and allows a story to come to a much more interesting conclusion.
The concept of the Core Worlds system was introduced to reduce micromanagement. Previously, players would have to manage each world they conquered individually. When a player colonizes a subpar world, it will feed into a core world that the player has already established. With this system, players will directly oversee a lower number of worlds, but still receive the benefits of colonizing and conquering as many as possible.

To further support a unique experience for every game of Galactic Civilizations IV, players will now be able to set and update policies and issue executive orders during gameplay. Policies allow a player to shift priorities as they play by choosing between different buffs and focuses, while executive orders allow the player to spend a new resource called control to do things like print money or draft colonies.

There are many other features that comprise the Galactic Civilizations IV experience, including several new additions for helping newer players. An in-game tutorial and advisors that offer strategic and tactical advice make getting started easier than ever before. Many old and beloved features from previous games – including the ship designer and civilization creator – are also included.

Key Features:

• Explore the galaxy. Seek out new star systems and discover the exciting potential of the subspace realm.
• Meet new civilizations. The universe is teeming with civilizations both advanced and primitive. Set opponents' difficulty and technological advancement.
• Colonize new worlds. Thousands of worlds to colonize, most awful but all colonizable…if you dare.
• Discover new technologies. Invent new technologies, some are easier than others for your species to grasp.
• Recruit and mentor citizens. Each citizen is unique with their own strengths and weaknesses.
• Shape your government. Determine which citizens to place in positions of power and what planets you wish to see governed while taking care not to be defeated in a coup.
• Choose your destiny. Choose the type of civilization you want to be through your actions and choices.
• Adventure awaits you. The galaxy has a rich, ancient history that you will discover through missions and events.

Galactic Civilizations IV is available for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, or at galciv4.com)