Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 has arguably been one of the most disappointing entries in the franchise for players, and developers at Firaxis have been trying everything they can to bring players back into the game. Up to this point, Civ 7 has avoided making the one change that players have been asking for since the game’s release.

But in a Civ 7 update (via 2K) earlier today, it appears that Civilization 7 is finally “playtesting ways to play as one Civ continuously through the ages,” caving to player feedback and criticism after months of avoiding the move. Currently, it isn’t exactly clear how this mechanic could work, and Firaxis is relying on player feedback to design the feature as effectively as possible.

Civilization 7 Is Finally Introducing Single-Civ Gameplay

Single Civ Gameplay Is The Most Requested Civ 7 Feature

Civilization 7 has been through wave after wave of major updates and improvements to the game since launch, from UI overhauls to completely new features that address continuity across the Ages. But arguably the one feature that turned players off from the game entirely is Civ-switching, a brand-new mechanic introduced in Civ 7 that fundamentally changes how players experience a Civ game compared to previous installments.

Civ 7 has lauded Civ-switching as its primary differentiator in the franchise, and the core design philosophy and content roadmaps are entirely designed around it. While Civ-switching does set the game apart from previous entries, it also ended up being the most alienating and divisive part of the game. So much so that many long-term players simply will not touch Civ 7 because they’re forced to change Civs.

Firaxis has released a verbose update with a ton of upcoming improvements, but the most significant announcement is that they are testing a single-civ gameplay option, “allowing you to choose a civilization from any Age and guide them throughout your journey through history.” This is a massive development that could address the game’s most divisive piece, but it comes far too late.

Civ 7 Is Throwing A Hail Mary Before It Dies For Good

Player Count For Civilization 7 Is Abysmal Compared To Other Civ Games

At the time of this writing, the 24-hour player count on SteamDB for Civilization 7 is just 7,654. Compare that to Civ 6, with a 24-hour peak count of 36,929 and a Civ 5 count of 16,511. Needless to say, things aren’t looking great for Civ 7, and the above announcement is a Hail Mary-attempt at saving the game and possibly bringing in some players that it lost at inception.

Sadly, what was at a certain point the most anticipated game of the year is now one of the least-played Civilization games in franchise history. Whether introducing single-Civ gameplay actually could bring in new players is yet to be seen, but it’s clear that Firaxis should have started thinking about this much sooner—like before the game was released.

Honestly, the move comes off as a desperate attempt at salvaging whatever player-base remains. While the announcement of single-civ gameplay sounds like it could be exciting, it also could very well be Sid Meier’s Civilization 7‘s death rattle.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

Systems

PC-1

9/10

Released: February 11, 2025
ESRB: Everyone 10+ // Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
Developer(s): Firaxis Games
Publisher(s): 2K
Engine: Gamebryo Engine