The wait for Sid Meier’s Civilization 7has come to an abrupt end for some players – but instead of enthusiasm, disillusionment prevails. While buyers of the Deluxe and Founder’s Editions can immerse themselves in the world of the strategy hit five days before the official release , the game is causing more frustration than joy. On , which mainly criticize the user interface and the variety of maps. But what is really behind the disappointing response?
Early access with a bitter aftertaste
Since early morning on February 6, Civilization 7 has been open to all those who were willing to pay up to 130 euros for the more expensive editions of the game. Over 43,000 players were active at the same time right from the start – but the first reviews on Steam were sobering. At this point in time, only around 40 percent of the reviews were positive , which puts the game in the “sufficient” category. A few hours earlier, the rating was still in the red.
The main criticism from many players is the inadequate user interface. In particular, navigating through menus is cumbersome and frustrating. Instead of a clear selection, players have to laboriously click through various options. If you want to select a specific map size or type, for example, you don’t have a clear list view with details, but have to struggle through confusing settings. Players with ultrawide monitors also feel abandoned, as there is no way to adjust the scaling of the UI.
Firaxis Games has already responded to the growing criticism and assures that the user interface will be improved with upcoming patches. But for many, the question remains: why weren’t these problems identified and fixed before the pre-launch?
Card variety and pricing are causing resentment
In addition to the user interface, the limited map variety is particularly disappointing. At the start, players have only three to four different maps available – and that’s in a game that is known for its extensive customization options. Fans of earlier installments in particular, who had been looking forward to a variety of starting options, feel limited by this.
In addition, the pricing is causing discussions. While the base game will be available for around 70 euros, early access players had to pay 100 to 130 euros to get started five days earlier. Given the current shortcomings, many feel that this price is excessive. The expectations for a full-price game, especially for a title in such an established series, have simply not been met.
Firaxis has announced that it will increase the variety of maps with future expansions. However, for players who have already paid the full price, this prospect sounds more like an afterthought than an appropriate standard for the release.
It remains to be seen whether Civilization 7 will be able to iron out these teething problems in time or whether the displeasure will continue to grow in the run-up to the official release on February 11. One thing is clear: the bumpy launch so far is already leaving its mark – and the trust of the community must first be regained.
