Over 130 days have passed since the release of Civilization VII, which garnered mostly favorable reviews but left some traditionalists feeling disappointed. Initially, developer Firaxis focused on deploying fixes for bugs, balance, and user interface. However, the latest update, version 1.2.2, has been launched today and is being hailed as the most significant yet for feature enhancements.
This update is available across all platforms except for Switch and Switch 2, which are expected to receive it at a later date. It introduces several adjustments that enable players to customize their gaming experience more granularly, notably allowing them to disable certain controversial features that diverged from the classic Civilization gameplay that some players prefer.
Players will find many of these new options in the advanced settings menu while setting up their game. A noteworthy addition is the inclusion of large and huge map sizes in the standard setup screen, both of which accommodate a default civilization/player count of 10.
Legacy Paths and Crisis Options Made Optional
The most significant change in this update is the ability to disable Legacy Paths.
Legacy Paths are structured sequences of objectives that yield notable rewards as players transition through different historical Ages. While these paths add fresh gameplay avenues and integrate well with the game’s overall mechanics, some traditionalists feel that they impose too much structure, moving away from the series’ sandbox-style origins.
Players can now selectively disable any Legacy Path for each Age or opt to turn them all off entirely, enhancing the open-ended nature reminiscent of earlier entries in the series. Notably, the radical Age transitions established in Civilization VII will still be present.
While some fans are advocating for the option to disable the new Ages system altogether, Firaxis has not indicated any plans to pursue this request. It is worth noting that distinct Ages are a core aspect of the game’s design, more so than Legacy Paths.
The options to deactivate flagship features do not end there. Players can also entirely or individually disable the Crisis mechanics, which introduce urgency near Age transitions.
Although some players appreciate the Legacy Paths, feedback suggests that the Crisis system has been less popular, making this change particularly welcome for many in the community.
Players can choose to disable any Legacy Path for each Age as needed.
Even with Legacy Paths disabled, players can still access the menu within the game, but it will appear blank.
Players have the option to disable the Crisis mechanics as well.
Additions also include support for larger maps, with maps now classified as large and huge.
The update also enhances gameplay mechanics during Age transitions. In Civilization VII, a key difference from previous titles is the opportunity to choose a new civilization each time players transition from one Age to another. Initially, this selection was restricted based on earlier choices, but the latest update enables players to bypass this limitation and select any civilization freely.
Additionally, players can now disable score victories at the end of the Modern Age, allowing for endless gameplay, similar to the “one more turn” mechanic seen in earlier titles. This feature is something that many players on the Civilization subreddit have been advocating for.
Enhanced Difficulty Settings
Two additional noteworthy features included in the advanced settings are expanded difficulty options. Players can now individually adjust the difficulty level for various game aspects, such as combat strength for AI opponents or happiness algorithms.
This feature, however, has caused some confusion due to its accessibility. Players initially struggled to locate it, prompting discussions on platforms like Reddit and YouTube, which indicated it was not present in the update. The options, however, do appear, but players need to set the general difficulty level to a new “custom” value to view and adjust these settings.
This level of detailed difficulty customization is increasingly popular in games and is a welcomed addition.
The loading screen has also been revamped to include more interactive elements and detailed information, hinting at further user interface improvements planned for the future. However, some players have raised concerns about the aesthetic quality of this redesign, particularly regarding the scaling of 2D leader assets, which appear blurry.
Other updates mainly involve balancing and systems enhancements. Trade convoys now possess the ability to traverse land routes, addressing the issue of treasure ships getting stranded in lakes, and providing players with greater strategic options in the Economic path of the Exploration Age. Town focuses have also been significantly revised, with new focuses added and the much-anticipated nerf of the Hub Town focus—instead of two influence points per connected town, it now provides just one, although it may still be considered powerful.
For more detailed changes, players can refer to the official patch notes, which include updates on city-state bonuses, pantheons, religious beliefs, and more.
Lastly, a quirky and fun addition allows players to issue a command to pet the scout unit’s dog.
What’s Next
Fans are still eagerly anticipating two significant traditional features: autoexplore for scout units and hotseat multiplayer support. While Firaxis has indicated progress on both, neither feature made it into the 1.2.2 update. The developer has also acknowledged requests for additional UI improvements.
Upon the launch of Civilization VII, I expressed a positive view of the game while also addressing existing bugs and balance issues, noting that it wouldn’t suit everyone—particularly traditionalists. In subsequent weeks, a follow-up article featured developer insights during the early “fixing the major issues” phase.
Today’s update, version 1.2.2, stands out as it appears to serve as a solid entry point for players who have been hesitant to dive in. It’s commonplace for strategy games to evolve through updates, sometimes achieving their full potential over weeks or months. Civilization VII’s ongoing improvements mirror the trends seen in earlier titles, slowly making the game more accessible and enjoyable for a diverse audience of franchise fans.
