Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has announced a significant update, version 1.1.1, for the recently launched strategy game. This update comes at a time when Civilization 7 is facing challenges in maintaining player engagement on Steam, with fewer concurrent players compared to its predecessors, Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5.

On Steam, Civilization 7 has recorded a 24-hour peak of 16,921 players, which falls short of entering the platform's top 100 most-played games. In comparison, Civilization 5, released back in 2010, achieved a 24-hour peak of 17,423 players. Meanwhile, Civilization 6, launched in 2016, boasts a significantly higher peak of 40,676 players within the same timeframe. It's evident that many fans of the series are still loyal to Civilization 6.

Firaxis has detailed the upcoming "additions and refinements" in Update 1.1.1 on Steam, which include:

• Quick Move Functionality
• New Natural Wonder Mount Everest
• Additional UI Updates & Polish
• Settlement & Commander Renaming
• And more!

In a detailed video, lead designer Ed Beach provided an overview of these changes and directed players to the full patch notes, which are expected to be released soon.

Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:

The Quick Move feature is now an optional setting that can be toggled on in the game's menu. This allows units to move to their destinations immediately, enhancing the game's pace.

A new start position option related to map generation has been introduced. For single-player games, the default setting is now Standard, which offers more varied and less predictable continents, similar to the feel of Civilization 6. In multiplayer, the Balanced setting remains in place to ensure a level playing field with consistent maps.

Players can now rename settlements and commanders, adding a personal touch to their gameplay experience. Additionally, the game can be restarted with a single button click to achieve the perfect initial settlement. This feature, akin to Civilization 6, regenerates the map with new seeds while retaining the player's chosen leader and civilization.

The update also brings UI improvements, such as a city and town panel that remains open during purchases, a new notification for cities under attack, indicators for crises, and enhanced resource tooltips. Significant pacing changes have also been implemented.

Alongside these updates, a new civilization, Bulgaria, will be introduced today, March 25, as part of the paid Crossroads of the World Collection, joining Nepal and the new leader Simón Bolívar.

Civilization 7 has sparked debate among long-time fans due to its new mechanics and has faced challenges on Steam, reflected in its 'mixed' user review rating and a 7/10 score from IGN. In an interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback but expressed optimism about the game's long-term reception among the "legacy Civ audience," describing its early performance as "very encouraging."

For players looking to conquer the world in Civilization 7, IGN offers a comprehensive guide on achieving every victory type, a breakdown of the significant changes from Civilization 6, and a list of 14 crucial mistakes to avoid. Additionally, detailed explanations of all map types and difficulty settings are available to help players navigate the game's complexities.