Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has announced a significant update, version 1.1.1, at a time when the game is facing challenges on Steam. The recently released strategy game has fewer concurrent players than its predecessors, Civilization 6 and the 15-year-old Civilization 5. On Valve's platform, Civilization 7's 24-hour peak player count stands at 16,921, which is not enough to rank in the top 100 most-played games. In comparison, Civilization 5, released in 2010, achieved a 24-hour peak of 17,423 players, while Civilization 6 from 2016 saw a peak of 40,676 players. This indicates that many Civilization fans are continuing to favor the older titles over the latest installment.
In a post on Steam, Firaxis detailed the "additions and refinements" that will come with Update 1.1.1. These include:
- Quick Move Functionality
- New Natural Wonder Mount Everest
- Additional UI Updates & Polish
- Settlement & Commander Renaming
- And more!
In a more detailed video, lead designer Ed Beach discussed these changes and pointed to the full patch notes, which are expected soon.
Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:
----------------------------------------The Quick Move feature is now an optional setting that can be toggled in the game’s menu, allowing units to move to their destinations immediately, speeding up gameplay.
A new start position option related to map generation has been added. The default setting for single-player games is now 'Standard', which offers varied and less predictable continents, similar to Civilization 6. For multiplayer games, the 'Balanced' setting remains, ensuring a level playing field with more consistent maps.
Players can now rename settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their gameplay. Additionally, a new feature allows players to restart the game with a single click, generating a new map with different seeds but retaining the same leader and civilization choices.
UI improvements include keeping the city and town panel open when purchasing items, new notifications for cities under attack, indicators for crises, and enhanced resource tooltips. The update also introduces significant pacing changes to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
Alongside these updates, the paid Crossroads of the World Collection introduces Bulgaria as a new civilization, along with Nepal and the new leader Simón Bolívar, available starting March 25.
Rank Every Civilization Game
Civilization 7 has sparked controversy among series veterans due to its new mechanics and has struggled to maintain player numbers on Steam. Unlike console platforms, Steam's player numbers are public, revealing Civilization 7's performance. The game currently holds a 'mixed' user review rating on Valve’s platform and received a 7/10 from IGN's review.
In a recent interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback from press and players but expressed optimism about the game's future, believing that the "legacy Civ audience" will grow to appreciate it over time. He described Civilization 7's early performance as "very encouraging." There is also hope for the return of the beloved character Gandhi.
For players seeking to master Civilization 7, IGN offers comprehensive guides on achieving every Civ 7 victory, understanding the biggest Civ 7 changes for Civ 6 players, avoiding the 14 crucial Civ 7 mistakes, and exploring the various Civ 7 map types and difficulty settings.
