Civilization VII’s Random Noises and Coughs Leave Players Questioning Their Sanity

While navigating the age transition screen in Civilization VII, players reported hearing various background noises, including random grunting and coughing sounds. Other players reported hearing sounds resembling clashing swords.  

“I thought maybe I’d left a stream on or was somehow in a discord call but I double checked and no. You can really hear a person clearing their throat and coughing throughout the music,” the founder of the now viral bug shared on Reddit. 

The initial post lacked video proof – causing skepticism from the community regarding the legitimacy of the claim. Some believed the user was farming karma, since the bug sounded too goofy and unpolished to be true. But it was not long after the initial post when videos of the bug flooded the internet, showcasing a myriad of unintended sound effects polluting the soundtrack. 

In one of the videos shared on the thread, a “hmm, hmmm. Huh. Hmmm,” can be very evidently heard. The video was part of a no mic stream, indicating that it was not the player that was making the grunting noises.

“This is likely due to the audio from the Main Menu being played over Age Transition screens,” 2k Games said in their official response to the bug. 

Civilization VII, developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K, is the latest entry in the long-running strategy series, allowing players to lead a civilization from its earliest days to global dominance. The game, featuring cross-platform multiplayer, is set for full release on Feb. 11, though early access players have already begun exploring its mechanics. Priced at $69.99, Civilization VII has received mixed early feedback, currently holding a 57% positive rating on Steam.