Firaxis and 2K are taking decisive steps to turn the tide for Civilization 7 with a major new update shaped significantly by player feedback. This community-driven overhaul arrives in the form of Update 1.2.2, a substantial release packed with highly requested features and improvements designed to enhance gameplay depth and flexibility.

Among the headline additions are Large and Huge Map sizes, now available for PC players—though not yet on Switch, where Standard, Large, and Huge maps remain unsupported. These expansive maps default to 10 players in single-player mode, while multiplayer campaigns support up to eight participants, including AI. Firaxis plans to expand Huge maps to accommodate 12 players in the future but is holding off to ensure performance and stability aren’t compromised. To keep these larger worlds engaging, the update introduces additional Pantheons, two new ones in Antiquity, expanded Religious Beliefs, Discoveries, and enhanced City-State bonuses—ensuring content scales meaningfully with player count.

The update also delivers Steam Workshop support, allowing players to easily discover, install, and share mods directly through the platform. A new loading screen has been added, featuring re-recorded and rewritten narration by Gwendoline Christie, bringing a fresh audio experience to each launch.

For players seeking greater control over their gameplay, expanded Advanced Game Options offer deeper customization. You can now toggle Legacy Paths per Age, enable or disable specific Crises, and even turn off Score Victory entirely. AI difficulty settings are now adjustable, and players can bypass Civ Unlocks during Age transitions for a more tailored experience. Firaxis encourages experimentation—such as disabling Legacy Paths in Antiquity and Exploration while using Abbreviated Ages for a faster, sandbox-style game.

Religion has received notable refinements based on community input. New Beliefs have been added, and existing ones updated to provide stronger incentives for converting your own settlements. More significant changes to the Religion system are promised in the future, with details to come at a later date. Meanwhile, Town mechanics have been reworked to feel more impactful. Urban Centers now gain access to key early-game Buildings like Libraries and Monuments in Antiquity. Fort Towns can now purchase multiple walls, enhancing their defensive utility. A new Town Focus, the Resort Town, offers increased Gold and Happiness on Rural tiles and improved yields near Natural Wonders.

To balance Town strategies, Hub Towns have been slightly adjusted—reducing Influence gain from +2 to +1 per connected Settlement—to prevent them from overshadowing other Town types. The team will continue monitoring their performance post-update.

Players can continue existing saves using the legacy Steam beta branch or maintain backward compatibility, though some new features may only appear in new games or upon advancing to the next Age. Firaxis recommends starting a new game or progressing into the next Age for the optimal experience.

A vast array of balance tweaks, UI improvements, and bug fixes are also included in this update. For a full breakdown, players are encouraged to visit the official website.

Despite these efforts, Civilization 7 has faced a challenging reception on Steam, currently holding a 'mixed' overall review rating, with recent feedback trending 'mostly negative'. Player counts on Steam remain below those of Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5. The team is working diligently to bring Update 1.2.2 to Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, though delays are expected due to additional submission requirements.

Players encountering issues are advised to disable mods and report bugs directly to the developers. Our review of Civilization 7 awarded it a 7/10, noting: "Improved warfare and narrative touches keep me engaged, but the push to simplify this legendary 4X series sometimes goes too far—especially in the interface."