Civ 7's Crucial 1.1.1 Update Amidst Competition from Civ 6 and Civ 5 on Steam

Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has announced a significant update, version 1.1.1, aimed at enhancing the gaming experience amidst a challenging start on Steam. The latest installment of the iconic strategy series has seen lower player counts compared to its predecessors, with a 24-hour peak of just 16,921 players. This figure falls short of making it into Steam's top 100 most-played games and is less than the concurrent peaks of both Civilization 5 (17,423 players) and Civilization 6 (40,676 players).

In a detailed post on Steam, Firaxis outlined the key features of Update 1.1.1, which 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 look at these changes in a video, accompanied by comprehensive patch notes that are set 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 on in the game's menu, allowing for faster gameplay by enabling units to move to their destinations immediately.

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

Players can now rename settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their gameplay. A new restart feature allows players to regenerate the map while keeping their selected leader and civilization, ensuring a fresh start with every attempt.

UI enhancements include a persistent city and town panel when purchasing items, new notifications for city attacks, indicators for crises, and improved resource tooltips. The update also introduces significant pacing adjustments to improve the overall flow of the game.

Alongside the update, the Crossroads of the World Collection, a paid DLC, introduces Bulgaria as a new civilization, along with Nepal and the new leader Simón Bolívar, available as of March 25.

Civilization 7 has sparked debate among series veterans due to its new mechanics and has struggled to attract players on Steam, where it currently holds a 'mixed' user review rating and received a 7/10 from IGN. In a recent interview, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the game's reception but remained optimistic about its long-term appeal to the "legacy Civ audience," describing its early performance as "very encouraging."

For players looking to master Civilization 7, IGN offers a comprehensive guide to achieving every victory type, a breakdown of significant changes from Civilization 6, and a list of 14 crucial mistakes to avoid. Additionally, resources on all map types and difficulty settings are available to help players navigate the game's complexities.