'Civ VII' Launch Hits Snag: User Backlash on Steam

Civilization VII's Advanced Access Launch Receives Overwhelmingly Negative Steam Reviews

Civilization VII (Civ 7), released five days early via Steam's Advanced Access program, has been met with a deluge of negative player feedback, resulting in a "Mostly Negative" overall rating on the platform. This is despite high anticipation for the game, the first main entry since Civ VI in 2016.

The primary criticisms center around several key areas:

User Interface (UI): Many players find the UI significantly inferior to Civ VI's, describing it as "janky," "ugly," and even comparing it to a "free mobile knockoff." Concerns have been raised that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, resulting in a limited and visually unappealing UI for the PC version.

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

Resource Mechanics: The new resource system, which assigns resources to cities or empires through strategic management rather than direct collection from map tiles, has been criticized for reducing replayability compared to Civ VI's map-based resource generation.

Firaxis Games has acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly concerning the UI, and assures players that improvements are underway. They also indicate that future updates and expansions will address map-related concerns. However, the overwhelmingly negative initial reception raises significant questions about the game's current state.