Firaxis and 2K are dedicated to turning things around for Civilization 7 through a comprehensive new update, with many changes driven by fan feedback.

This month's substantial Update 1.2.2 introduces a host of highly requested features, including Large and Huge Maps, expanded Advanced Game Options, and the much-anticipated Steam Workshop integration. The update also adds new Town Specializations, City-State Bonuses, Beliefs, balance adjustments, UI enhancements, and — a fan favorite — a "very pettable Scout dog."

Players can complete their current saved games using previous versions via the legacy Steam beta branch. While backward compatibility for existing saves is supported, note that "some new abilities or effects may only activate when you start a new game or advance to the next Age in your current campaign."

"For the optimal experience, we recommend beginning a new game or continuing into the next Age in your current playthrough," Firaxis advised.

Large and Huge map sizes — not available on Nintendo Switch, along with Standard maps — are set for 10 players by default, though multiplayer sessions are capped at eight, including AI players. The development team aims to eventually support 12 players on Huge maps but needs "more time to ensure performance and stability aren't affected." These expansive maps are enriched with additional Pantheons (including two new ones in Antiquity), Religious Beliefs, Discoveries, and City-State bonuses to "ensure engaging content for all participants."

"One of Civilization’s strengths is the sheer variety of playstyles," the update notes. "Some players enjoy peacefully developing their Cities, while others prefer conquest and expansion. With version 1.2.2, we've included new advanced game options to give you greater control over your playthrough."

You now have the flexibility to enable, disable, or turn off Legacy Paths per Page, specific Crises, and even disable Score Victory entirely. AI difficulty settings are adjustable, and you can opt to bypass Civilization Unlocks during Age transitions.

"We've enjoyed experimenting with Legacy Paths toggled on or off across different Ages. While non-victory Legacy Paths are optional, sometimes it's refreshing to turn them off completely and focus on leveraging your leader’s and civilization’s unique strengths," Firaxis added. "For a sandbox-style experience, try disabling Legacy Paths in Antiquity and Exploration Ages and switching to Abbreviated Ages. To enhance the sandbox feel further, consider turning off Legacy Paths in the Modern Age and disabling Score Victory."

Player feedback on Religion has led to meaningful revisions, including new Beliefs and updates to existing ones that reward players for converting their own Settlements. More significant changes to the Religion system are planned for the future. Town focus bonuses have also been adjusted to feel more rewarding.

"Urban Centers, in particular, have been upgraded and now have access to Buildings previously exclusive to Cities, such as Libraries and Monuments in Antiquity," the update detailed. "Fort Towns can now construct multiple walls, strengthening their role as strategic choke points. We've also introduced a new Town Focus: Resort Towns. These scenic retreats generate extra Gold and Happiness on Rural tiles and increased Yields on Natural Wonders.

"Additionally, we observed that clustered Hub Towns were outperforming other options, so we adjusted their Influence bonus from +2 per connected Settlement to +1. We’ll continue monitoring their performance relative to other recently enhanced Towns."

Players can now browse and install mods directly through Steam Workshop. Plus, a new loading screen features rewritten and re-recorded narration by Gwendoline Christie.

The update also includes a wide array of tweaks and fixes — too many to list here in full. Visit the official website for a complete breakdown.

Civilization 7 experienced a challenging launch on Steam, evident from its player count on Valve’s platform since its February release. Despite several patches from Firaxis aimed at improving the game, Civilization 7 currently has fewer concurrent Steam players than Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5. While overall Steam user reviews are 'Mixed,' recent feedback from approximately 1,500 players has trended 'Mostly Negative.'

Update 1.2.2 is available now, though Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 users will experience a slight delay as the team works through "additional platform submission requirements." Players encountering ongoing issues or bugs are advised to disable mods and report them to the development team.

Our review scored Civilization 7 a solid 7/10, with the summary: "Civilization 7's refined warfare and added narrative elements provide compelling reasons to keep playing late into the night. However, efforts to streamline this iconic 4X series may have gone too far, particularly in terms of the user interface."