"Civ 7's 1.1.1 Update Aims to Boost Steam Competitiveness Against Civ 6 and 5"

Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has recently announced a significant update, version 1.1.1, aimed at enhancing the gameplay experience of this newly released strategy game. Despite its launch, Civilization 7 has been struggling to attract players on Steam, with a 24-hour peak concurrent player count of only 16,921. This figure falls short of not only Civilization 6, which boasts a peak of 40,676 players, but also the 15-year-old Civilization 5, which managed a peak of 17,423 players within the same timeframe.

In an effort to win back fans and improve the game, Firaxis has detailed a series of "additions and refinements" in their latest Steam post. Update 1.1.1 includes:

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

Lead designer Ed Beach provided a comprehensive overview of these changes in a video, promising that full patch notes would soon be available.

Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:

One of the key features introduced in this update is the Quick Move option, which players can now toggle on or off in the game's menu. This feature allows units to reach their destinations instantly, speeding up gameplay for those who prefer a brisker pace.

The update also introduces a new start position option in map generation. For single-player games, the default setting has shifted to 'Standard', mimicking the more varied and less predictable continents found in Civilization 6. In contrast, multiplayer games retain the 'Balanced' setting to ensure fair and consistent map layouts for all players.

Players now have the freedom to rename their settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their civilizations. Additionally, a new restart button allows players to regenerate the map with new seeds while keeping their chosen leader and civilization, similar to the feature in Civilization 6.

User interface improvements include the city and town panel remaining open during purchases, new notifications for cities under attack, enhanced indicators for crises, and better resource tooltips. The update also brings significant pacing changes to improve the overall flow of the game.

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 starting March 25.

Despite these efforts, Civilization 7 has faced a mixed reception among series veterans and the broader gaming community, reflected in its 'mixed' user review rating on Steam and a 7/10 score from IGN. In a recent interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback but remained optimistic about the game's future, suggesting that the "legacy Civ audience" would eventually warm to the new title.

For players looking to master Civilization 7, IGN offers a range of guides, including tips on achieving every victory type, understanding the significant changes from Civilization 6, avoiding common mistakes, and exploring the various map types and difficulty settings available in the game.