Space strategy game Galactic Civilizations 4 is getting five new expansions, including some iconic systems from past entries

Stardock Entertainment has just revealed a new Galactic Civilizations 4 DLC roadmap, with five expansions beginning in December and carrying the strategy game all the way into 2027. Kicking off with the events of humanity's first interstellar war against the Xendar, Galactic Civilizations 4 Expansion Pass 2 includes overhauls for government and electoral systems, the ability to genetically modify your civilization, and even a dive into the criminal underworld. It sounds like even the mighty Stellaris is going to have some serious competition for my time.

It's astonishing to think that it's now been more than two years since Galactic Civilizations 4 came out, yet here we are, and this latest announcement confirms that we've got at least two more ahead of us. Stardock's schedule for the space game starts with the launch of 'Tales of the Terran Alliance' in early December, then is followed by 'Federations and Empires' and 'Ascension' in 2026, and finally 'Hegemon' and 'Underworld' in 2027. That first pack hails back to GalCiv 3 expansion Rise of the Terrans, focusing on Earth's foundational first steps into an interstellar powerhouse.

Tales of the Terran Alliance follows the events that transformed the Earth from a single-world civilization into a full spacefaring presence. Stardock CEO Brad Wardell calls it "a love letter to Galactic Civilizations fans who have been asking for deeper human lore." At the center is the Xendar War, and this time you'll have the option to play as the Xendar Brood, the swarm race of sentient arachnids secretly elevated to power by the nefarious Drengin Empire and sent to test the resilience of the rapidly expanding humans.

The expansion also includes a new technology tree designed specifically for the Terran Alliance, along with a range of fresh narrative events, planetary improvements, weapons, and ship components. Wardell says the story of this DLC "explores what it means to be human in a galaxy full of ancient, powerful civilizations." Expect to be pushed into some tough choices; when should you pursue diplomatic resistance, and when is responding with force the only way to secure your peoples' future?

Coming in 2026, Federations and Empires will expand systems around the formation of governments, elections, agents, and other related aspects of building and running a thriving population. It'll be followed by the Ascension DLC, which enables you to genetically modify your species and build breeding programs. There will also be larger updates designed to uplift several minor civilizations to more full-fledged status.

Moving into 2027, Hegemon will introduce client states, a popular aspect of many grand strategy games that allow you to establish a state as subordinate to your own, essentially functioning as a vassal for specific purposes. We'll also see the return of the United Planets from past GalCiv games, a collective group acting as a shared council between all member civilizations that meets periodically to propose and vote on grand policies. Stardock is also planning to uplift some more minor civs with this DLC.

Rounding out the roadmap, the Underworld expansion (also set for 2027) will delve into "the shadowy realm of criminal syndicates and black markets." As with the first expansion pass for GalCiv 4, you'll have the option to buy each piece of DLC separately as you choose, but will get a discount on them if you buy the full collection of five. Whatever aspect of the 4X game you enjoy most, you're likely to find something to suit your tastes.

Galactic Civilizations 4 DLC Tales of the Terran Alliance will launch on Thursday December 4 via Steam and the Epic Games Store, priced at $14.99 (or regional equivalent). It will also be available as part of Expansion Pass 2, which will be made available on the same day and includes all five pieces of planned DLC for a discounted price. Find it here if you're eager to see where humanity's journey began.