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Firaxis has rolled out Civilization VII‘s Update 1.1.0, bringing a mix of free gameplay refinements, paid DLC content, and crucial quality-of-life updates. This patch significantly tweaks the Geographic Society Cultural Victory, introduces new civilizations and leaders, and restores crossplay functionality for multiplayer enthusiasts. However, despite the improvements, the update has sparked debates among players over balance changes, UI fixes, and lingering console issues.
With that in mind, let’s break down what’s new, what’s working well, and what still needs improvement.
Major Changes in Civilization VII Update 1.1.0
Geographic Society Victory Adjustments
One of the most significant changes in this update revolves around the Geographic Society Cultural Victory, which had previously been criticized for being too easy to rush early in the game. Firaxis has introduced a series of adjustments to slow down early-game artifact acquisition while providing additional options for late-game cultural progress.
Here’s what’s changed:
- Increased Explorer unit costs: Previously, players could mass-produce Explorers early in the game, leading to an artifact snowball effect. This change makes early spamming of Explorers less viable.
- Fewer Exploration Age artifacts per continent: By reducing the number of available artifacts early on, the game forces more competition for Cultural Victory pathways.
- Natural Wonders now provide artifacts: This adds an additional way to obtain artifacts beyond standard archaeological digs, making Natural Wonder-heavy starts more attractive.
- Late-game artifact sources introduced via Future Civic: This ensures Cultural Victories remain viable in the late game, where they previously stagnated.
- AI improvements: The AI is now more competitive in pursuing Cultural Victories, making it harder to win through passive artifact collection.
These changes have been well-received by players who felt that Cultural Victory was too easy to achieve early on, but some argue that it still lacks depth beyond artifact collection.
New Leaders & Civilizations (Paid DLC – Crossroads of the World Collection)
The Crossroads of the World Collection brings three new leaders and civilizations, offering fresh strategic options.
- Ada Lovelace (Great Britain – Scientific, Cultural)
- Carthage (Antiquity Age – Militaristic, Economic)
- Great Britain (Modern Age – Economic, Expansionist)
Ada Lovelace’s inclusion is particularly exciting for players who favor science-based strategies, as she offers unique technological advantages. Carthage introduces military-economic synergies, making it a versatile choice for aggressive expansionists. Meanwhile, the Modern Age iteration of Great Britain emphasizes economic dominance, providing incentives for trade and global influence.
While many players welcome the new civs and leaders, some feel that the DLC model is starting to feel fragmented, with core gameplay mechanics tied to additional purchases.
New Natural Wonders & Terrain Features
The update introduces four new Natural Wonders, each providing unique bonuses:
- Machapuchare (Tropical Biome)
- Mount Fuji (Grassland Biome)
- Vinicunca (Desert Biome)
- Vihren (Plains Biome)
These wonders add more variety to world generation, giving players new exploration incentives. The inclusion of artifact-producing Natural Wonders also ties into the Geographic Society Victory adjustments, adding more strategic depth to wonder placement.
Crossplay Restored
One of the most requested features is finally back—full crossplay support across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. Players had been frustrated by the removal of crossplay functionality in earlier versions, so its return is a major win for the multiplayer community.
However, some console players still report stability issues, particularly on PlayStation 5, where crashes in the late game remain a problem.
Balance Changes and Player Reactions
While the update brings exciting additions and fixes, some changes have sparked backlash from the community.
1. Memento Nerfs Disappoint Players
Mementos are special bonuses tied to achievements, and Update 1.1.0 has nerfed several of them—most notably, Padrón Real. This change has left many players frustrated, as they had invested significant time unlocking mementos, only to see them weakened.
2. The Napoleon Nerf Confusion
Firaxis decided to weaken Napoleon, despite him already being considered one of the weakest leaders. Players are baffled by this decision, especially since other overpowered civilizations—like the Maya—remain untouched.
3. Console Players Face Persistent Issues
Despite crossplay returning, console players are still dealing with major technical problems:
- Frequent crashes on PlayStation 5, especially in late-game scenarios.
- Lack of R3 cursor centering, a longstanding issue that affects navigation.
These stability issues continue to make console gameplay less reliable compared to PC, frustrating a significant portion of the player base.
4. UI and Quality-of-Life Fixes Fall Short
While the patch introduced minor UI tweaks, many highly requested fixes remain unaddressed:
- City production management still lacks clarity.
- Unit upgrade trees are still difficult to navigate.
- The minimap improvements are welcome, but not enough.
Players appreciate the fixes that were made, but many feel Firaxis still needs to prioritize UI improvements in future updates.
What’s Coming Next? Update 1.1.1 (March 25)
Firaxis has already outlined some changes planned for Update 1.1.1, expected on March 25. Here’s what’s coming:
New Leaders & Civilizations
- Simón Bolívar
- Bulgaria (Exploration Age)
- Nepal (Modern Age)
New Natural Wonder
- Mount Everest
Quality-of-Life Fixes
- AI will be less aggressive with forward-settling.
- Players will be able to customize city and commander names.
- Quick move functionality for units will be introduced.
- Map start positions will be rebalanced for fairer gameplay.
- A long-requested restart button will finally be added.
These upcoming improvements have been met with cautious optimism, as they address some of the most common complaints from players.
Final Thoughts: A Step Forward, but Not a Perfect Fix
Update 1.1.0 introduces valuable improvements, particularly for Cultural Victory mechanics, new civilizations, and crossplay functionality. However, many balance changes remain questionable, and console players still face major stability issues.
The March 25 update looks promising, but for now, players are still waiting for deeper UI and quality-of-life improvements.
Civilization VII Update 1.1.0 FAQ
What are the major changes in Civilization VII Update 1.1.0?
The update brings significant balance adjustments, including a nerf to the Geographic Society Cultural Victory, AI improvements, and new civilization additions. It also restores crossplay between PC and consoles.
Why was the Geographic Society Cultural Victory nerfed?
The Geographic Society strategy was dominating competitive play, making it too easy to achieve a Cultural Victory. The update reduces its influence to encourage more diverse playstyles.
Does this update fix crossplay issues?
Yes, crossplay has been restored, allowing players on different platforms to compete and collaborate again.
What issues remain after the update?
Players continue to wait for major UI improvements. Some players report that certain balance changes feel too restrictive, while others note that console-specific bugs persist. Despite improvements, some fans feel the update did not fully address performance concerns.
