After almost a decade of waiting,Sid Meier’s Civilization 7has finally arrived. However, it seems like the fanbase may not be flocking to this new experience just yet. As of now, the title has mixed reviews on Steam due to many issues, including some of the gameplay changes, performance issues, and a frustrating UI. While Firaxis is committed to making it the best that it can be,Sid Meier’s Civilization 7’slaunch state may put its future in a bit of a tough spot.
Specifically,Civilization 7’s first DLC packalready looms on the horizon. Firaxis plans to start launching the first wave of its Crossroads of the World Collection sometime in early March, with the second wave coming out at the end of the same month. This could be the perfect way to keep players coming back for more, yet if the studio does not fix the game by then, players may just turn their backs on it.
Civ 7 Has Launched In a Bit of a Rough State
At launch,Civilization 7seems to be leaving much to be desired for many players. Some praise many of its changes, including its new age system and improvements to its combat. However, many have also found that the game is lacking in certain parts. One of the most notable seems to be the number of bugs that it is plagued with, with some comparing it to a beta test or early access game. On top of that, players have felt like the UI needs a lot of work, that it ismissing some coreCivilizationfeatures, and that not all the changes really work well within the franchise’s formula.
Since release,Firaxis has released three major patchesto address many of the complaints. These patches have fixed numerous bugs, improved performance, adjusted the UI, and even shaken up some ofCiv 7’s mechanics for the better. With these changes, the game has been steadily improving. Some still believe it is far from perfect, but nevertheless, the studio does not seem to have any plans to slow down the post-launch content train.
The Game’s First DLC is Right Around the Corner
As of now, Firaxis is planning on launching thefirst wave ofCiv 7DLCin early March. This first wave will introduce a new leader, two new civilizations, and four new natural wonders. In late March, players will be treated to another round of DLC, which will add an additional leader and two more civilizations. On top of that, there are two major patches planned to coincide with the DLC packs, with both including new events and natural wonders.
This first round of DLC sounds promising, but it may be coming at a bit of a bad time. Many players still feel likeCivilization 7is lacking in some ways, and if it is not fixed by the time this DLC is released, then the DLC itself risks coming across as a misplaced priority. Releasing paid content while the base game still needs work would likely be stir controversy and could hurt the success of the title in the long run. But, if the studio is able to fixCiv 7’s many shortcomings in time, then that DLC could be the perfect way to celebrate.
It remains to be seen just whatCivilization 7looks like by the time March rolls around. The studio has been releasing fixes at a steady rate, so there is a chance that the game will be in a much stronger state when that DLC releases. But if it is not, then Firaxis may want to consider pushing back that content for the sake of a better reception.
