Civilization 7 on Switch 2 Could Finally Outshine PS5 Launch Debacle

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Among the third-party games being enhanced for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI stands out as one of the most anticipated and influential. Despite its initial release not receiving widespread acclaim, it remains a defining title in the grand strategy genre, even for those who are not familiar with the series.

The latest edition of the “Civilization” series, referred to as “Civilization 7“, is playable on the original Nintendo Switch. However, similar to previous releases, it’s not without its flaws. Players have encountered numerous bugs and crashes, although these issues are reportedly becoming less frequent with each update. The user interface (UI) has also been a point of contention among Switch players, who often find the gamepad controls unintuitive and clumsy. This is disappointing because it seems that Firaxis had mastered adapting the “Civilization” UI for consoles with “Civilization 6“. Performance-wise, the original Switch struggles to keep up, with frame rates dropping and load times increasing as players progress deeper into a campaign. Hopefully, the anticipated Switch 2 version of the game will rectify these issues, enhancing the overall “Civilization 7” experience on this hybrid console.

Civilization 7 On Switch Has To Be an Improvement Over Older Console Ports, Especially PS5

Civilization 7 Had an Abysmal PS5 Launch

Initially, the debut of what was called “Civilization 7” faced a wave of critical reviews and player complaints due to several factors, one of the main issues being its suboptimal performance. Users consistently reported frequent crashes, with some even labeling the game as unplayable. Consequently, the release of Civ 7 turned out to be quite disheartening for devoted fans who anticipated that Firaxis had addressed the technical glitches of past Civilization games and would effectively utilize the processing capabilities of modern gaming platforms and contemporary computer hardware.

In some cases, Sony made an exception to its regular refund policy for Civilization 7, offering refunds to players even after the standard 14-day period on PlayStation 5. This type of exemption is typically only granted for games like Cyberpunk 2077, which has had its fair share of issues during console launches. Unfortunately, Civilization 7 was riddled with bugs, crashes, and suboptimal UI on all platforms, but the PlayStation 5 version seemed to offer a particularly poor experience, making it less than ideal for enjoying the game, even on one of the most popular consoles.

The Switch 2 Could Be the Best Way To Play Civilization 7, so Firaxis Ought To Stick the Landing

Each platform possesses its own advantages and disadvantages, yet the potential of the Nintendo Switch 2 appears exceptionally tailored for games such as Civilization 7. This is due to the versatility offered by Nintendo’s hybrid device: it provides a console-like experience when docked, a portable and comfortable handheld mode, and an experience resembling that of a PC thanks to the confirmed mouse functionality of the Joy-Con 2 for games like Civilization 7.

Similar to its forerunner, the Switch 2 is expected to feature a touchscreen, enhancing ease-of-use when playing games like _Civilization 7_ in portable format.

It’s unfortunate if the Switch 2 edition of Civilization 7 ends up in a similar rough state as its PS5 counterpart at launch. Moreover, the game’s reputation could either improve or suffer further based on how well the Switch 2 release performs. Given that this is the next significant and possibly final high-profile launch for the game, it’s crucial to ensure it’s done correctly.

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2025-05-20 03:05