Negative Reviews Flood Civ 7 Steam Launch

Civilization VII's Early Access Launch Met with Negative Steam Reviews

Civilization VII (Civ 7) has received a "mostly negative" rating on Steam following its early access release. Players who purchased early access have voiced significant concerns about several key aspects of the game.

User Interface Criticism: A major point of contention is the game's user interface (UI). Many players find the UI inferior to Civ VI's, describing it as "janky," "ugly," and even comparing it to a "free mobile knockoff." Some speculate that the UI's perceived limitations stem from a development focus on console versions, resulting in a less robust PC experience.

Map and Resource Mechanics Concerns: The game's map system has also drawn criticism for limited size options (small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five), lack of customization, and unclear map type information. The new resource mechanics, which assign resources to cities or empires through strategic management instead of direct tile collection, have been criticized for reducing replayability compared to Civ VI's map-based resource system.

Developer Response: Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, specifically addressing UI concerns and promising ongoing improvements and updates. They also indicated future expansions will address map-related issues.

The overwhelmingly negative reception highlights the significant challenges facing Civ 7 in its early access phase. The developer's commitment to addressing player feedback will be crucial in determining the game's ultimate success.