Civilization VII's Advanced Access Launch Receives Backlash on Steam

Civilization VII (Civ 7) launched its Advanced Access version five days ahead of its official February 11th release, but the early access period has been met with overwhelmingly negative feedback on Steam, resulting in a "mostly negative" overall rating. This contrasts sharply with the high anticipation surrounding the game's release, the first in the series since Civ VI in 2016.

The primary criticisms center around several key areas:

User Interface (UI): Many players find the UI clunky and visually unappealing compared to Civ VI, with some even describing it as resembling a "free mobile knockoff." Concerns have been raised that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, resulting in a limited and "barren" UI experience on PC.

Maps and Map Customization: Players are expressing dissatisfaction with the map system, citing difficulties in map selection, limited map size options (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five sizes), and a lack of customization features. The lack of detailed information when browsing map types is also a common complaint.

Resource Mechanics: The new resource management system, which assigns resources to cities or empires strategically rather than through direct tile collection, is another major point of contention. Players argue that the previous map-based resource system offered greater replayability.

Firaxis Games has acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly regarding the UI, stating they are investigating player concerns and committed to ongoing improvements through updates and expansions. They also encourage players to share further suggestions for map improvements. The future development of Civ 7 will likely depend heavily on addressing these criticisms.