Civilization 7's 1.1.1 Update Aims to Boost Competition Against Civ 6 and Civ 5 on Steam

Firaxis, the developer behind the iconic strategy game series, has recently unveiled the details of Civilization 7's significant Update 1.1.1. This update arrives at a critical juncture, as the latest installment in the franchise is currently experiencing lower player counts on Steam compared to its predecessors, Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5.

On Steam, Civilization 7's 24-hour peak player count stands at 16,921, which falls short of making it into the platform's top 100 most-played games. In contrast, Civilization 5, released back in 2010, boasts a 24-hour peak of 17,423 players, while Civilization 6, launched in 2016, significantly outpaces both with a peak of 40,676 players. This data indicates that a majority of the Civilization fanbase is still favoring the older titles.

In a detailed post on Steam, Firaxis outlined the key "additions and refinements" set to be introduced 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 an accompanying video, lead designer Ed Beach provided an in-depth overview of these changes, with full patch notes expected to be released 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. This functionality allows units to move to their destinations instantly, thereby enhancing the game's pacing and allowing players to progress through the game more swiftly.

A new start position option has been added to the map generation settings. For single-player games, the default setting is now "Standard," which offers more varied and less predictable continents, reminiscent of the gameplay in Civilization 6. In contrast, the "Balanced" setting remains the default for multiplayer games to ensure a level playing field with consistent maps.

Players can now rename their settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their civilizations. Additionally, a restart feature has been introduced, allowing players to regenerate the map with new seeds while retaining their chosen leader and civilization, similar to Civilization 6.

The update also brings several UI enhancements. The city and town panel will remain open during purchases, a new notification will alert players when their cities are under attack, and there are new indicators for crises along with improved resource tooltips. Furthermore, significant pacing changes have been implemented to improve the overall gameplay experience.

Alongside these updates, new civilizations Bulgaria and Nepal, as well as a new leader, Simón Bolívar, are being introduced as part of the paid Crossroads of the World Collection, available as of March 25.

Rank Every Civilization Game

Civilization 7 has sparked a range of reactions among series veterans due to its new mechanics, and it has faced challenges on Steam in terms of player engagement. 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 both press and players but remained optimistic, suggesting that the "legacy Civ audience" would eventually warm up to the game. He described Civilization 7's early performance as "very encouraging." Additionally, there is hope for the return of beloved characters like Gandhi.

For those 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 navigate the game's complexities.