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

Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has announced a significant update, version 1.1.1, which comes at a critical time as the game is currently seeing fewer players on Steam compared to its predecessors, Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5. On Valve's platform, Civilization 7 has recorded a 24-hour peak player count of 16,921, which falls short of entering Steam's top 100 most-played games. In contrast, Civilization 5, released back in 2010, achieved a 24-hour peak of 17,423 players, while Civilization 6, released in 2016, boasts a significantly higher 24-hour peak of 40,676 players. It's evident that many Civilization enthusiasts are continuing to favor Civilization 6 over the latest installment.

In a detailed post on Steam, Firaxis outlined the key "additions and refinements" included in Update 1.1.1, such as:

• Quick Move Functionality
• New Natural Wonder Mount Everest
• Additional UI Updates & Polish
• Settlement & Commander Renaming
• And more!

Lead designer Ed Beach provided a comprehensive walkthrough of these changes in a video, referencing the full patch notes which are set to be released soon.

Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:

The Quick Move feature has been introduced as an optional setting that can be toggled in the game's menu. This allows units to move instantly to their destination, enhancing the game's pacing and allowing players to progress through the game more swiftly.

A new start position option for map generation has been added. For single-player games, the default setting is now Standard, which offers a more varied and less predictable continent layout, reminiscent of Civilization 6. For multiplayer games, the Balanced setting remains in place to ensure a fair and consistent map for all players.

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

Several UI enhancements have been made, including a persistent city and town panel during purchases, new notifications for cities under attack, indicators for crises, and improved resource tooltips. The update also includes significant changes to pacing, enhancing the overall flow of the game.

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

Civilization 7 has sparked mixed reactions among series veterans due to its new mechanics and has struggled to maintain player numbers on Steam. The game currently 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 remains optimistic, believing that the "legacy Civ audience" will eventually embrace the game as they become more familiar with it, describing Civilization 7's early performance as "very encouraging."

For players looking to master the game, there are comprehensive guides available on achieving every victory in Civilization 7, understanding the significant changes from Civilization 6, and avoiding common mistakes. Additionally, resources on the various map types and difficulty settings are available to help players navigate the complexities of the game.