Civilization VII's Early Access Launch Met with Negative Steam Reviews
Civilization VII (Civ 7) launched its Advanced Access five days early on Steam, but the reception has been overwhelmingly negative, resulting in a "Mostly Negative" rating. While anticipation was high for the first new Civilization game since 2016, the current build has faced significant criticism.
Key complaints center around several core aspects of the game:
User Interface (UI): Many players find the UI inferior to Civ 6, describing it as "janky," "ugly," and even comparing it to a "free mobile knockoff." Some speculate that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, leading to a simplified and less customizable UI.
Maps and Map Customization: Players are unhappy with the limited map selection, size options (only small, medium, and large compared to Civ 6's five), and lack of customization. The lack of detailed map type information during selection is also a common complaint.
Resource Mechanics: The new resource system, which assigns resources to cities or empires through strategic management rather than direct tile gathering (as in Civ 6), is a major point of contention. Players feel this change reduces replayability.
Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly concerning the UI, stating they are actively investigating and working on improvements. They also indicated that future updates and expansions will address map-related concerns. The developer's response suggests ongoing development and potential improvements before the full release on February 11th.
