7 Essential Updates Civilization 7 Desperately Needs for a Better Experience!

Summary

Improved visuals in Civ 7 with vibrant colors set a new bar for strategy games.
Diplomacy feels overly transactional and lacks depth for long-time fans.
UI fixes and additional features like city name customization are needed.

The “Civilization” series, dating back over three decades, introduced its latest installment, “Civilization 7,” in February 2025. Critics gave it a solid review, but it’s sparked debate among fans of the franchise. Many are finding the numerous new features and alterations challenging, especially for those who are first-time players, as this version offers the best graphics ever in the series with a more authentic art style. However, veterans of the franchise might feel that “Civilization 7” falls short compared to its predecessors, due to the absence of religious victories and the more transactional approach to diplomacy.

The team at Firaxis Games is dedicated to delivering regular updates and improvements for their latest game release, as each Civilization title typically lasts more than five years. Given the varied response, they’re already working on patches to enhance the user interface, but what additional updates and adjustments might Civilization 7 require?

1. Photo Mode

Capture The Best Visuals So Far

A new feature to capture the beauty of the game

In Civilization 7, there was a significant enhancement in the visual aesthetic as you construct a city, featuring intricate details that make it the most beautiful the series has ever been. The game’s stunning use of vivid colors sets a new standard for strategy titles.

Including a photo mode feature in the game would significantly enhance its appeal, enabling players to save moments of their towns at different developmental phases, intense battles, or even during natural disasters. Having an integrated photo mode within the game itself would provide players with the ability to adjust and refine their captured images, which would undoubtedly be a valuable addition to Civilization 7.

2. Balance Diplomacy

Diplomacy Feels A Little Too Transactional

Adding more depth to the diplomacy system

An effective strategy for thriving in Civilization 7 is by employing diplomacy to extend and develop your kingdom. The importance of diplomacy can be traced back to earlier installments of the series, where players could secure a diplomatic win, demonstrating its long-standing relevance.

In Civilization 7, diplomacy undergoes a significant transformation with a fresh new design, introducing complexity to interactions that will mold each player’s civilization. Previously, diplomacy was primarily about striking the best deals, but now it also shapes relationships among empires by using influence points to bolster connections between rulers. While this change provides more detail, it currently leans towards being too transactional. To enhance Civilization 7, incorporating a touch of unpredictability and diverse options when exchanging influence for desired actions could make the diplomacy system more engaging.

3. Changes To The UI

Many Players Have Noted Issues With The Games Interface

Making the UI more PC friendly is a must

One issue some players encounter when playing Civilization 7 revolves around its user interface. They’ve expressed concerns about the small size of names on the map, fewer details shown in the Global Yields summary screen, and the absence of a search feature that was available in Civilization 6.

Firaxis Games has started addressing UI issues in the game by releasing patches, yet there’s still work to do to reach the desired level of quality. These updates might take some time, but since the development team is dedicated to enhancing the gaming experience and players are already working on additional improvements via mods, the initial issue should be resolved swiftly.

4. Customizing City Names

A Feature In Previous Games Needs To Be Added Back

Allows players to have more control

As a devoted fan of the Civilization series, I’ve found myself disheartened that at game launch, we’re unable to rename our cities – a feature that was available in earlier installments. The ability to personalize names for religions, cities, and units added an extra layer of control and immersion, which I always appreciated.

In upcoming updates, the developers plan to include a feature that lets you rename cities and units within the game. At first launch, it seems odd that this wasn’t included as it could add a layer of realism. This is especially true because players switch civilizations with each age, so being able to change city names would make things more authentic. Moreover, renaming units helps players differentiate between their own units, which simplifies game management. However, some players are eagerly waiting for this improvement as it’s not yet available in the current matches.

5. Quick Movement

The Ability To Speed Up Unit Movement Needs To Be Added

Speeds up the turns in-game

In simpler terms, for those who’ve played the Civilization series, it’s common knowledge that playing the game often means embarking on a long journey. To maximize productivity in earlier versions, players have leveraged the swift movement and battle features built into the game.

Initially, it should be noted that at its debut, there is no swift movement or battle feature in the game called Civilization 7. This implies that when players wish to maneuver their units across the map, they must endure the animation process taking place first. For those who find this function essential for speeding up gameplay, it can be a significant inconvenience. The creators have acknowledged they are actively developing a quick movement feature, but not focusing on quick combat at present. Here’s hoping that this issue gets resolved quickly to cater to players who prefer swift movement options.

6. Auto Explore

A Feature In Previous Games That Has Been Removed

Allows players to explore without having to program every move

As a gamer in Civilization 7, I can’t stress enough how essential Scouts are to my strategy. These versatile units have been significantly upgraded for this latest installment, offering me valuable insights into the game map. In the Antiquity era, I rely on my Scouts to help me identify prime spots for town placement and come across other civilizations. It’s like having a trusty guide in an unexplored land!

One notable difference in Civilization 7 is the absence of the auto-explore function, where scouts would automatically traverse the map without manual direction from the player. This feature was beneficial for expanding empires in previous versions, but it has been taken out to encourage players to explore the enhanced capabilities of the upgraded scout. The developers have indicated that they plan to reintroduce auto-explore based on player feedback, so let’s keep our fingers crossed for its swift return.

7. Limited Map Variety

More Map Types Need To Be Added

Gives players more options in the game

For numerous gamers, a major challenge with “Civilization 7” lies in the relatively scarce assortment of maps available in the main game. Compared to earlier installments in the series, there’s less variety in the base game, which has sparked worry among players who predominantly engage in single-player games against AI opponents due to the increased emphasis on multiplayer maps.

For gamers, it’s exciting to know that fresh systems and maps are being created, expanding the game’s diversity. The team at Firaxis Games has made it clear they’ve taken community suggestions seriously, prioritizing these improvements. Therefore, the anticipated update with these enhancements should become available soon for players who feel limited by the current map offerings.

2025-02-20 03:06