# **Civilization VII: One Month Post-Release – Progress, Hurdles, and What Lies Ahead**
## **Introduction**
A month ago, *Civilization VII* made its debut, drawing a mix of accolades and reservations from players. While numerous critics lauded the game’s daring new approach, initial player feedback on platforms like Steam and Metacritic indicated disappointment regarding absent features, UI complications, and balance issues. Nevertheless, developer Firaxis has been proactive in tackling these concerns through updates and community interaction.
In this piece, we’ll examine how *Civilization VII* has progressed since its launch, the obstacles it continues to encounter, and the prospects for the latest installment in the renowned 4X strategy franchise.
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## **A Daring New Path for Civilization**
Firaxis undertook significant risks with *Civilization VII*, implementing major alterations to the series’ traditional formula. Some of the most significant changes include:
– **Defined Ages:** The game is now segmented into distinctly recognized historical eras, each functioning as its own game.
– **Unconventional Leader Pairings:** Players can now combine leaders with civilizations in novel ways that were not feasible before.
– **Elimination of Worker Units:** The classical worker system has been superseded by a fresh method for city expansion.
Interestingly, these modifications were not the main cause of player dissatisfaction. Many fans have welcomed the new systems, valuing how they refresh the series while tackling enduring gameplay dilemmas.
Firaxis’ executive producer Dennis Shirk elaborated on the studio’s guiding principle:
> “Our guiding principle at Firaxis is the rule of thirds. We aim to keep one-third of the game consistent with earlier versions, one-third refined and enhanced, and one-third novel. Did we venture further into the last third than previously? Possibly, but it was a gamble we were eager to take to provide a distinctly new aspect of the experience.”
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## **Launch Complications and Community Input**
Despite a solid foundation, *Civilization VII* was introduced with various issues that annoyed players. The most frequent grievances included:
– **User Interface (UI) Complications:** A significant number of players experienced the UI as cumbersome and counterintuitive, making it challenging to retrieve essential information.
– **Absent Features:** Certain anticipated features, such as an expanded Civilopedia and improved AI functionalities, were either missing or inadequately developed.
– **Balance Concerns:** Various gameplay elements, such as espionage and religious conversion, appeared unbalanced or incomplete.
Firaxis has promptly reacted, deploying multiple patches to resolve these issues. For instance, the March 4 patch (1.1.0) enhanced the appearance of the technology tree and modified victory conditions in the Modern Age. An additional update (1.1.1) is planned for March 25, with further enhancements expected in April and beyond.
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## **The UI Dispute and Firaxis’ Reaction**
One of the most significant criticisms at the time of launch was the UI, which many players deemed frustrating. In response, Firaxis has been making consistent improvements and even enlisted the help of renowned modder, Sukritact, who developed a popular UI overhaul mod.
Shirk recognized the issue, stating:
> “In retrospect, our UI team required additional time and resources to elevate the UI to meet the information expectations of our players. Our team has been diligently working to rectify these issues through rapid updates, and players can anticipate ongoing support in the foreseeable future.”
The studio has also engaged actively with its community, considering feedback and incorporating suggested features. For example, a forthcoming update will introduce a “one more turn” option at the conclusion of the Modern Age, a feature that was absent at launch.
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## **Adjusting Gameplay and AI Enhancements**
Apart from UI issues, players have highlighted several gameplay balance challenges that warrant attention:
– **AI Conduct:** Some players have observed that AI civilizations often establish cities too near to player capitals, resulting in unwarranted conflicts.
– **Religion and Espionage Mechanics:** The systems for religious conversion and espionage seem underdeveloped, with players lacking viable methods to counteract enemy actions.
– **Pacing of the Game:** Certain players feel that the eras conclude too abruptly, hindering the full enjoyment of the late-game phase.
Firaxis has already initiated improvements to AI military tactics, with players noting that AI-controlled forces now demonstrate greater competence in combat. Nonetheless, there remains progress to be made, and the developers have pledged further enhancements in upcoming updates.
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## **The Challenge of Launching on Ten Platforms**
Unlike past *Civilization* titles that primarily released on PC, *Civilization VII* was launched across ten different platforms, including consoles and handheld devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. This ambitious multi-platform launch may have played a role in some of the game’s initial technical problems.
Some players speculated that the UI design was tailored with consoles in mind, resulting in a
