With the introduction of the world congress, beginning in the Renaissance era upon one civilization discovering printing press and meeting every other civilization, proposals can be voted on that influence the conditions within the world, trade embargoes, as well as world activities such as the World's fair. The diplomatic gameplay aspect has been improved in the expansion. In addition, the Piety policy tree has been updated so that it now deals entirely with religion. Aesthetics focuses on culture while Exploration focuses on naval activities. Two new social policy trees were added to replace the old policies becoming ideologies. Each ideology has 16 unique tenets, which are unlocked and feature bonuses similar to social policies in the core game. There are three ideologies available to choose, all of which were formerly the Industrial era social policies: Order, Freedom, and Autocracy.

Once players either reach the Modern era or finish three factories, they must choose an ideology to continue the game. Social policies have been overhauled in Brave New World with the introduction of the new ideology system. Brave New World reintroduces Christianity to split into three religion branches, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism.

The expansion pack includes and expands on all of the mechanics of Gods & Kings. Thus the Great Artist has changed a lot with the features above, along with Great Musician and Great Writer. The expansion adds nine Civilizations, eight Wonders (the Parthenon, Broadway, Globe Theatre, Borobudur, the Uffizi, the Red Fort, Prora and the International Space Station ), eight buildings, twenty units, two scenarios ( American Civil War and Scramble for Africa), a new Trade Route system using Caravans and Cargo Ships trade units, Ideologies, the World Congress which expands the diplomatic aspect of the game, and an improved Cultural Victory including Tourism, Archaeology and a Great Work mechanic to the core-game.

Civilization v brave new world free