Civilization 7: 1.1.1 Update Aims to Boost Competitiveness Against Civ 6 and Civ 5 on Steam

Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has released details about the game's significant Update 1.1.1, which arrives at a time when the recently launched strategy game is seeing fewer players on Steam compared to 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, a number insufficient to rank within Steam's top 100 most-played games. In contrast, Civilization 5, released back in 2010, boasts a 24-hour peak of 17,423 players. Meanwhile, the majority of Civilization fans appear to be loyal to Civilization 6, released in 2016, which achieved a 24-hour peak of 40,676 players.

In a Steam post, Firaxis outlined the "additions and refinements" slated for Update 1.1.1, which include:

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

In a comprehensive video, lead designer Ed Beach detailed these changes and highlighted the forthcoming full patch notes.

Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:

The Quick Move feature is now an optional setting that players can toggle in the game's menu, allowing units to reach their destinations instantly for a faster gameplay experience.

A significant update involves the new start position option for map generation. The default for single-player games is set to Standard, offering more varied and less predictable continents, reminiscent of Civilization 6. For multiplayer, the Balanced setting remains, ensuring consistent maps for a fair competition.

Players can now rename their settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their game. Additionally, restarting the game with a single click allows players to find the perfect initial settlement. This feature recreates the map with new seeds while retaining the player's chosen leader and civilization.

UI improvements include a persistent city and town panel during purchases, new notifications for cities under attack, crisis indicators, and enhanced resource tooltips. The update also introduces significant pacing adjustments.

Alongside these updates, the paid Crossroads of the World Collection, launching today, March 25, introduces Bulgaria as a new civilization alongside Nepal and the new leader, Simón Bolívar.

Rank Every Civilization Game

Civilization 7 has sparked controversy among series veterans due to its new mechanics and has struggled to retain players on Steam. The game currently holds a 'mixed' user review rating on the 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 the press and players but remains optimistic, suggesting that the "legacy Civ audience" will grow to appreciate Civilization 7 with more playtime. He described the game's early performance as "very encouraging," and hinted at potential future developments, including the possibility of featuring Gandhi.

For those looking to master the game, check out our comprehensive guides on achieving every Civ 7 victory, understanding the biggest Civ 7 changes for Civ 6 players, and avoiding the 14 crucial Civ 7 mistakes. Additionally, delve into our explanations of Civ 7 map types and difficulty settings to enhance your strategic gameplay.