In MIAMI, Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes was thrilled when Firaxis, the game studio behind some of his favorite childhood games, reached out with an exciting proposal. Growing up, Barnes had spent countless hours playing titles like *Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri*, a 1999 game where players colonize distant planets. So when Firaxis proposed including the Shawnee Tribe’s legendary leader, Tecumseh, as a playable character in the upcoming *Civilization VII*, Barnes could hardly believe it.

“I thought, ‘This can’t be real,’” Barnes said. “They actually want us to be part of the next *Civilization* game?”

Since its debut in 1991, the *Civilization* series has been a massive hit with millions of players worldwide. It’s known for letting players build and expand empires while navigating through historical events—though not always without controversy. The game’s mix of strategy, history, and empire-building has kept fans addicted for decades.

In the game, players pick famous leaders like Cleopatra or Gandhi to guide their civilization from its humble beginnings to a vast empire. Along the way, they make decisions about trade, science, religion, and diplomacy—or choose to conquer their neighbors. According to Circana, which tracks U.S. game sales, *Civilization* is the best-selling strategy video game franchise ever.

However, times have changed since the early days of *Civilization*. Both video game technology and society’s views on cultural representation have evolved. Games like *Civilization*, with its focus on exploration and resource management, have been scrutinized for their portrayal of Indigenous cultures and themes of colonization.

Firaxis faced backlash in 2010 after dropping plans to include a Pueblo leader due to tribal objections. A Cree leader was added in 2018, but that too sparked public criticism in Canada.

To avoid repeating past mistakes and properly honor Tecumseh, Firaxis knew they needed direct input from the Shawnee people. For Barnes and the tribe, this was more than just a game—it was a chance to see their culture represented in a new way.

“This was a way for us to express our culture and show our strength,” Barnes explained. “Why shouldn’t we be included in video games? Why shouldn’t our culture be reflected in media? We saw this as an opportunity to shine.”

For Firaxis, this collaboration also meant addressing past criticisms head-on and working toward a more respectful and accurate representation of Indigenous cultures. The studio wanted to ensure Tecumseh’s inclusion would be both meaningful and authentic. This involved months of discussions with the Shawnee about everything from the design of future Shawnee buildings to creating new words in the Shawnee language for futuristic concepts.

Sid Meier, the creator of the *Civilization* series, admitted that early versions of the game didn’t fully consider the historical significance of the characters they included. In past games, they featured leaders like Josef Stalin or Mao Zedong without much thought about how their brutal histories might resonate with players.

“We never imagined people would take it as seriously as they do,” Meier said. “We were thinking more along the lines of ‘What if we could rewrite history?’ But we’ve learned a lot since then.”

The upcoming *Civilization VII*, scheduled for release in February, will feature several changes based on player feedback and cultural sensitivity. For example, hostile groups that were once labeled “barbarians” will no longer be called that. Instead, players will have the option to form diplomatic relations with these groups.

As the game’s player base has expanded globally—selling over 70 million copies worldwide—so has the demand for more diverse cultures and leaders. Recent editions of *Civilization* have added music and languages from various global civilizations, including the Māori from New Zealand and the Mapuche from South America.

“It’s become an honor for nations to be included in *Civilization*,” Meier said. “We’ve even had countries lobbying us to include them.”

Adding Tecumseh to *Civilization VII* is especially meaningful for Shawnee actor Dean Dillon, who will voice the famous leader. Dillon didn’t know he’d be playing Tecumseh when he auditioned for a role speaking in the Shawnee language.

“When they told me I got the role of Tecumseh, I couldn’t believe it,” Dillon said. “It felt surreal to see Tecumseh’s face but hear my voice coming out of him.”

This collaboration between Firaxis and the Shawnee Tribe marks a significant shift in how Indigenous cultures are portrayed in video games. Through their partnership, Firaxis is also contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Shawnee language revitalization programs—a crucial effort to preserve and promote the tribe’s language for future generations.

As gaming continues to evolve, so does its responsibility to represent history and cultures thoughtfully. With *Civilization VII*, both Firaxis and the Shawnee hope to bring Tecumseh’s legacy into homes around the world while respecting the rich heritage he represents.