Civilization VII has officially opened its early access phase, but the reception is proving less than stellar, especially on Steam where the game currently holds mostly negative reviews. Players who purchased the Deluxe or Founders Edition have embarked on their journeys, only to find themselves vocalizing concerns about the game’s various performance issues and graphical interface.
Set to launch officially on February 11, 2024, Civilization VII was intended to be the next big installment in the popular strategy game franchise. While many players were eager to jump in, the immediate feedback highlights significant dissatisfaction, particularly with the user interface (UI). A staggering 39% positive review score on Steam reflects the frustrations being voiced across the platform.
“The UI looks and feels like it was created in the alpha stage of development and was never refined or improved. The game’s new mechanics are pretty interesting but having to slog through this terrible interface makes it not worth the effort,” one user lamented, echoing the sentiments of many disappointed players.
Further criticisms have pinpointed problematic graphics and limited map sizes, as players expressed discontent about the overall feel of the game. “A couple of minutes in, and it’s just… so blatantly unfinished, especially by Civ standards. The UI is total slop, everything looks super janky,” remarked another frustrated player.
Interestingly, this player dissatisfaction stands in stark contradiction to the game’s more favorable reviews from critics. Civilization VII boasts an 81% score on Metacritic, showcasing reviews from various outlets praising its mechanics and gameplay. “Civilization VII has completely surprised me. [...] it fills me with a warm fuzzy feeling,” wrote Harry Alston from TheGamer, highlighting how the game evokes nostalgia among long-time players.
The discrepancy raises questions about the potential longevity of Civilization VII, particularly as the franchise typically maintains dedication from its fanbase, who invest hundreds of hours of gameplay. Players are particularly worried about the unfinished feel of the UI, which they argue is central to their user experience when engaging with such complex strategy systems.
While players launch their virtual empires, many have noted performance issues as well, particularly high demands on their systems. A thorough performance test on the M1 MacBook Pro reported smooth gameplay, especially compared to Civilization VI, which struggled on similar hardware. Initial hiccups seen during the opening cinematic notwithstanding, various users noted satisfying scrolling mechanics, streamlined loading times, and impressive graphics when the game ran smoothly.
Despite the positive performance reports on some hardware, community members are still deeply concerned about the game's overall polish. A report indicated maximum usage statistics for CPU and GPU, raising questions about the game's efficiency at higher stages. “The increased GPU activity definitely put a strain on the MacBook Pro. It will likely hammer battery life if you try and play unplugged too,” highlighted the M1 tester.
Developers at Firaxis have not remained silent during this wave of player feedback, as they responded to UI concerns directly on Steam, disclosing: “We are aware of and looking at feedback on the game's UI. We're continuing to make improvements to Civilization VII.” Their acknowledgement signifies willingness to adapt based on user experiences, which could be pivotal for its standing as it approaches full launch.
There's hope still for the Civilization VII community, as many players share sentiments of fondness for the series, alongside the belief of potential evolutions the game could undertake post-launch, similar to Civilization VI’s improvements. Firaxis has demonstrated their capacity to address player concerns based on community feedback.
Even amid the storm of criticism, the Civilization VII experience might usher forward improvements through both patches and updates post-launch. For now, the fate of the franchise hangs delicately on how effectively the developers can transition from early access challenges to delivering the polished experience their fans have come to expect, across various gaming platforms.