Civilization 7 Drafts Treaty Banning Gandhi's Nuclear Option

The enduring legend of "Nuclear Gandhi" from the original Civilization game is a prime example of gaming folklore. This article explores the origins of this infamous bug, separating fact from fiction.

The Myth of Nuclear Gandhi:

The story goes that in the original Civilization, Gandhi, known for his pacifism, possessed a unique glitch. His aggression level, initially set low, would drastically increase after adopting democracy due to an alleged 8-bit integer overflow. This supposedly transformed him into a nuclear-obsessed warmonger.

Debunking the Legend:

However, Sid Meier, the creator of Civilization, confirmed this narrative to be false. He stated that integer variables in the original game were signed, preventing the overflow. Furthermore, government type didn't affect aggression levels. Brian Reynolds, lead designer of Civilization II, corroborated this, highlighting the limited aggression levels and the lack of coding to support such extreme behavior.

The Spread of the Myth:

Despite the debunking, the Nuclear Gandhi myth persisted, gaining traction in the mid-2010s. This was likely due to a combination of factors, including the inherent humor and the lack of readily available information about the original game's code.

The Reality: A Different Kind of Nuclear Gandhi:

Ironically, while the original game lacked this glitch, Civilization V featured a programmed high nuclear weapons preference for Gandhi's AI. This intentional design choice by Jon Shafer, the game's lead designer, likely fueled the already existing myth.

The Legacy:

Civilization VI even acknowledged the legend, giving Gandhi a high chance of having the "Nuke Happy" hidden agenda. However, with Gandhi's absence from Civilization VII, the myth might finally be laid to rest.