Civ 7 Update Adds Massive Maps, Town Features & Steam Workshop

Firaxis and 2K are determined to revitalize Civilization 7 with a major update shaped heavily by player feedback.

The substantial Update 1.2.2 introduces highly requested features including Large and Huge Maps, enhanced Advanced Game Options, and Steam Workshop integration. Players will also discover new Town Specializations, City-State Bonuses, Beliefs, balance adjustments, UI refinements, and the universally adored "very pettable Scout dog."

Existing saves remain compatible, though players should note: "Some new abilities or effects may not appear until starting a new game or progressing to the next Age." The developers recommend beginning fresh campaigns for optimal experience.

While Large and Huge maps (unavailable on Switch) default to 10 players, multiplayer remains capped at eight participants. The team aims to expand capacity to 12 players pending stability improvements. These expansive maps feature enriched content including new Pantheons, Religious Beliefs, Discoveries, and City-State bonuses to accommodate extended gameplay sessions.

"Civilization thrives on player choice," notes the update. "Whether you prefer peaceful development or conquest, version 1.2.2 introduces advanced setup options for customized experiences." Players can now toggle Legacy Paths, specific Crises, Score Victory conditions, and adjust AI difficulty settings.

The developers suggest experimenting with Legacy Path configurations: "Disabling certain Age paths creates engaging sandbox scenarios highlighting your civilization's unique strengths."

Religious systems receive significant refinements, with new Beliefs and incentive structures for converting settlements. Future updates promise more substantial religion-focused changes. Town Specializations now deliver more impactful bonuses, with Urban Centers gaining access to previously city-exclusive buildings and new Resort Towns optimizing happiness boosts.

Steam Workshop support finally arrives alongside a redesigned loading screen featuring re-recorded narration by Gwendoline Christie.

Numerous additional tweaks and fixes accompany this update, detailed on the official website. Switch players will experience a delayed rollout due to platform-specific certification processes.

Despite multiple post-launch patches, Civilization 7 continues to trail its predecessors on Steam, currently holding "mixed" reviews with recent feedback trending "mostly negative." The strategy sequel launched in February and currently maintains fewer concurrent players than both Civilization 6 and the decade-old Civilization 5.

Our review scored the game 7/10, praising its warfare improvements and narrative elements while noting excessive streamlining: "The signature 'one more turn' allure persists, but interface simplification occasionally goes too far."