"Civ 7 Steam Early Access Hit with Negative Reviews"

Civilization 7, eagerly awaited by fans since the release of Civilization 6 in 2016, has encountered a rocky start with its advanced access launch on Steam. Despite the high anticipation, the game has received a "mostly negative" rating due to several issues highlighted by players who paid extra to access the game five days ahead of its official February 11 release date.

Steam Players Express Dissatisfaction with User Interface, Maps, and Resource Mechanics

One of the most vocal criticisms from the community centers around the game's User Interface (UI). Players have described the UI as "janky" and "ugly," drawing unfavorable comparisons to its predecessor, Civilization 6. Some have gone as far as likening it to a "free mobile knockoff" of the series. There are also accusations that the developers, Firaxis Games, focused more on console versions, resulting in a "barren" UI with limited options for customization.

The game's map system has also drawn ire from players. Complaints include difficulties in selecting and choosing map types, limited size options, and a lack of customization features. Civilization 7 offers only three map sizes—Small, Medium, and Large—compared to the five different sizes available in Civilization 6, which catered to various gameplay styles. Additionally, players noted that scrolling through map types does not provide sufficient information about them.

Another significant point of contention is the new resource mechanics in Civilization 7. Unlike Civilization 6, where resources are randomly generated on map tiles for players to control, the new system assigns resources to cities or the empire through strategic management. Many players feel that this change reduces the replay value that the previous mechanics offered.

In response to the feedback, Firaxis Games acknowledged the issues, particularly with the UI, stating, "We are aware of and looking into feedback on the game's UI. We're continuing to make improvements to Civilization VII, and appreciate you taking the time to drop your feedback. For the maps, Civilization VII is going to keep growing and changing with future updates and expansions, so please let us know what you'd like to see!"