Firaxis, the developer behind the latest installment of the iconic strategy series, has announced a significant update for Civilization 7, version 1.1.1. This update comes at a critical time as the game's player base on Steam continues to lag behind its predecessors. Notably, Civilization 7's 24-hour peak player count on Steam stands at 16,921, which falls short of making it into the top 100 most-played games on the platform. In comparison, the 15-year-old Civilization 5 boasts a peak of 17,423 players, while Civilization 6, released in 2016, significantly outperforms with 40,676 peak players.
In a detailed post on Steam, Firaxis outlined the key enhancements and refinements coming with Update 1.1.1. These include:
- Quick Move Functionality
- New Natural Wonder Mount Everest
- Additional UI Updates & Polish
- Settlement & Commander Renaming
- And more!
Lead designer Ed Beach provided an in-depth walkthrough of these changes in a video, also pointing to the full patch notes that will soon be available.
Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:
----------------------------------------The Quick Move feature is now an optional setting that can be toggled on in the game's menu, allowing units to reach their destinations instantly, thus speeding up gameplay.
A new start position option has been added to map generation. The default setting for single-player games is now 'Standard,' which aims to emulate the continent variation and unpredictability of Civilization 6. Multiplayer games retain the 'Balanced' setting to ensure a level playing field on consistent maps.
Players can now rename settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their civilizations. Additionally, a restart option allows players to generate a new map while retaining their chosen leader and civilization, similar to features in Civilization 6.
UI improvements include a city and town panel that remains open during purchases, new notifications for city attacks, indicators for crises, and enhanced resource tooltips. Pacing changes have also been implemented to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
Alongside these updates, the paid Crossroads of the World Collection introduces new civilizations Bulgaria and Nepal, along with a new leader, Simón Bolívar, available from March 25.
Rank Every Civilization Game
Civilization 7 has stirred controversy among long-time fans due to its new mechanics, and it has struggled to maintain a strong player base on Steam. The game holds a 'mixed' user review rating on the platform and received a 7/10 from IGN's review. In an interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback but remained optimistic, suggesting that the "legacy Civ audience" would warm up to the game over time. He described Civilization 7's initial performance as "very encouraging."
For players looking to master Civilization 7, IGN offers a comprehensive guide to achieving every victory type, a breakdown of the major changes from Civilization 6, and a list of 14 crucial mistakes to avoid. Additionally, detailed explanations of all map types and difficulty settings are available to help players understand and navigate the game's complexities.
