Civilization VII's Advanced Access Launch Receives Overwhelmingly Negative Steam Reviews
Civilization VII (Civ 7), released five days early via Steam's Advanced Access, has garnered a "mostly negative" rating from players. 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 on 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 knockoff." Some speculate that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, resulting in a limited and visually unappealing UI for the PC version.
Maps and Map Selection: Concerns have been raised about map selection, limited size options (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five sizes), and a lack of customization. Players also report insufficient information provided when browsing map types.
Resource Mechanics: The new resource system, which assigns resources to cities or empires through strategic management rather than direct tile collection, has drawn criticism. Players argue that Civ VI's map-based resource system offered greater replayability.
Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly regarding the UI, promising ongoing improvements and future updates to address player concerns. They also indicated that maps and features will evolve with future updates and expansions. The developer's response, however, hasn't appeased the largely negative player sentiment.
