Emperor Basil II had a remarkable rule. His near half-century reign coincided with a series of civil wars during his time leading Byzantium, exemplifying strength in military campaigns and expansion. In a fascinating twist, Dr. Andrew Alan Johnson, a historical consultant at Firaxis, recounts how he inadvertently replaced every entry in the extensive Civilopedia of Civilization 6 with just one entry about Basil.

Dr. Johnson, who is affiliated with Stockholm University, has contributed significantly to the Civilization series, particularly with the New Frontier Pass, where Byzantium was introduced. He recalls a momentary disaster where uploading new entries resulted in wiping the entire Civilopedia content, leaving only his focused entry on Basil II.

“I uploaded it onto the database, and it completely erased everything else. It was just my one little entry on Basil II. That’s it. All previous content disappeared,” he shares.

This amusing episode underscores the complexities and challenges of working in game development—contrasting sharply with his academic endeavors where every detail relies solely on his meticulous work. The story not only captivates those interested in gaming but also weaves in elements of history and responsibility, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of development processes. Johnson continues to contribute his expertise to future editions, including Civilization 7, aspiring to engage players with rich historical narratives.