Civilization 7 Criticized as a \"$100 Beta Test\": Players Voice Their Discontent

Sid Meier's Civilization VII launched to a wave of criticism from players who feel the game is significantly incomplete, more akin to a beta test than a polished release. This perception is particularly jarring given the premium edition's $100 price tag, fueling considerable player frustration and vocal complaints.

The issues extend beyond simple technical glitches; gameplay mechanics, design choices, and unfinished features are all targets of player discontent. The developers' admission that certain aspects remain works in progress only exacerbated this dissatisfaction.

A prime example of this unfinished state is the highly publicized "unique" British unit, which turned out to be a generic model indistinguishable from standard units. While developers promised an update to rectify this, the explanation did little to soothe the community's concerns.

Image: reddit.com

This incident highlighted broader anxieties about the game's launch readiness. Many potential buyers have opted to delay their purchase, viewing the negative reception as confirmation of their wait-and-see approach.

Steam reviews currently reflect this divided opinion, displaying a "mixed" rating. While patches are addressing bugs and performance issues, the pace of these updates hasn't quelled player anger.

The premium price further intensifies the frustration. Players feel $100 is excessive for a game plagued with problems, especially one feeling more like an early access title than a completed product. This has sparked broader conversations about the industry trend of rushing games to market at the cost of quality.

In response, the development team has pledged to address the most critical issues via future patches, focusing on stability, gameplay refinements, and visual inconsistencies such as the British unit problem. However, skepticism remains, with many players uncertain if these efforts will be sufficient to restore their confidence in the game.