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There are three available affinities to choose from in the game: Harmony, Supremacy, and Purity. In addition, some of the in-game units are only available to a certain affinity.
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Affinities, as stated in the game, are overarching philosophies on human advancement that shape players' technological advancements. Unlike previous games which featured linear tech trees, Beyond Earth has a tech "web" which branches off in several directions.īeyond Earth also has several affinities, similar to the Ideology feature in Brave New World. In Beyond Earth, players can choose from anything they want at the game startup, from the one who sponsored their expedition to anything they brought to the new world, allowing players to create a customized civilization of their own. In the previous Civilization games, players assumed control of historical empires led by historical figures, each with preset personalities and unique features. The game also features a number of significant departures from the Civilization series. Beyond Earth uses the Civ V engine (which means no stacking units, with the exception of civilian/military and orbital units and hexes). Beyond Earth is unique to the Civilization series: in contrast to the other Civilization games, apart from certain modes of Civilization II: Test of Time, which take place across the historical periods of human history, it takes place in the distant future.
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