Civilization VII's Advanced Access Launch Met with Negative Steam Reviews
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 player feedback on Steam, resulting in a "Mostly Negative" overall rating. This is despite high anticipation for the game, 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 significantly inferior to Civ VI, describing it as "janky," "ugly," and even comparing it to a free mobile game. Some speculate that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, resulting in a limited and unpolished PC UI.
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 sizes), and lack of customization. The lack of detailed map type information during selection is also a common complaint.
Resource Mechanics: The shift from Civ VI's map-based resource system to a city/empire-based strategic resource management system is a major point of contention. Players argue the older system offered more replayability.
Firaxis Games has acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly concerning the UI, stating they are actively investigating player concerns and committed to ongoing improvements through updates and expansions. They also encouraged players to provide specific feedback on desired map features. The future of Civ 7's reception remains to be seen, dependent on the developer's response to these criticisms.
