"Civ 7's 1.1.1 Update Struggles to Compete with Civ 6 and Civ 5 on Steam"

Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has announced a significant update, version 1.1.1, for the recently launched strategy game. This update comes at a time when Civilization 7 is experiencing lower player counts on Steam compared to its predecessors, Civilization 6 and even the much older Civilization 5. On Steam, Civilization 7's 24-hour peak player count stands at 16,921, which falls short of the top 100 most-played games on the platform. In contrast, Civilization 5, released in 2010, boasts a 24-hour peak of 17,423 players, while Civilization 6, from 2016, has seen a peak of 40,676 players within the same timeframe, indicating a strong preference among fans for the earlier titles.

In a detailed post on Steam, Firaxis has outlined several "additions and refinements" that will be included in Update 1.1.1. These 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 walkthrough of these changes in a video, alongside a full set of patch notes that are expected to be released soon.

Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:

The Quick Move feature has been introduced as an optional setting in the game's menu, allowing units to move to their destinations instantly for a faster gameplay experience.

A new start position option related to map generation has been added. The default setting for single-player games is now "Standard," which aims to replicate the feel of Civilization 6 with more varied and less predictable continents. For multiplayer games, the "Balanced" setting continues to be used to ensure fairness on consistent maps.

Players can now rename their settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their gameplay. Additionally, a new feature allows players to restart the game with a single click to achieve the ideal first settlement. This feature, similar to one in Civilization 6, generates a new map with different seeds but retains the player's chosen leader and civilization.

User interface improvements include a persistent city and town panel when making purchases, new notifications for cities under attack, indicators for crises, and enhanced resource tooltips. The update also brings significant changes to the game's pacing.

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

Rank Every Civilization Game

Civilization 7 has stirred controversy among series veterans due to its new mechanics and has faced challenges in maintaining player engagement on Steam. The game has garnered a 'mixed' user review rating on Valve's platform and received a 7/10 from IGN. In a recent interview, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the mixed reviews but expressed optimism about the game's future, suggesting that the "legacy Civ audience" would warm up to it over time. He described Civilization 7's early performance as "very encouraging."

For those looking to master Civilization 7, our comprehensive guides cover everything from achieving every type of victory, understanding the significant changes from Civilization 6, avoiding common mistakes, to exploring the various map types and difficulty settings. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the series, these resources will help you conquer the world in Civilization 7.