Of all the third-party games being upgraded for the Nintendo Switch 2,Sid Meier’s Civilization 7is among the most promising and important. Though this latest entry in thelong-runningCivilizationfranchisehas released to a less-than-stellar public reception, it’s still the face of grand strategy games for many, with even those unfamiliar with the genre having at least a cursory understanding of the series.
Civilization 7is currently available on the original Switch, but like with so many of its other releases, it has its issues. Users have reported myriad bugs and crashes, though these have been getting less egregious as new patches are rolled out. But the much-maligned UI has drawn the ire of some Switch players as well, as the gamepad controls are regularly called unintuitive and awkward. This is seen as a big downgrade, since it seemed like Firaxis had a firm grasp on how to adapt theCivilizationUI to consoles withCivilization 6. Performance is also subpar on the original Switch, with FPS dipping and load times slowing as players get further into a given campaign. Ideally, the Switch 2 version of the game will address these issues, and makeCivilization 7a much better overall experience on the hybrid device.
Civilization 7 On Switch Has To Be an Improvement Over Older Console Ports, Especially PS5
At launch,Civilization 7suffered a barrage of negative press and player feedback for a number of reasons, not the least of which being its poor optimization. Across the board, players were reporting incessant crashes, with many going as far as calling the game unplayable. This made theCiv 7launch wildly disappointing for long-time fans, who had hoped that Firaxis had learned from the technical issues ofpreviousCivilizationgames, and would manage to take full advantage of the processing power afforded by current-gen platforms and contemporary PC hardware.
Things got so bad forCivilization 7on PlayStation 5that Sony even bypassed its refund policy in certain instances, giving players their money back even after the typical 14-day grace period. This sort of exception is usually only reserved for the likes ofCyberpunk 2077, which isn’t a great game to be in conversation with when it comes to a console launch. Again,Civilization 7was plagued by bugs, crashes, and poor UI optimization on all platforms, but PS5 players seemed to get the worst deal, making the massively popular console one of the worst ways to experience the game.
The Switch 2 Could Be the Best Way To Play Civilization 7, so Firaxis Ought To Stick the Landing
Every platform has its strengths and drawbacks, but the Nintendo Switch 2 seems uniquely suited to games likeCivilization 7. This is because players can enjoy the best of all worlds on Nintendo’s hybrid: there’s the console experience while docked, the convenient, comfortable handheld mode, and then a PC-adjacent experience courtesy of theJoy-Con 2’s mousefunctionality, which has been confirmed to work withCivilization 7.
Like its predecessor, theSwitch 2 will have a touchscreen, which adds another layer of convenience while playingCivilization 7in handheld mode.
With so much going for theSwitch 2 version ofCivilization 7, it would be a shame for it to launch in a similar state of disrepair as its PS5 version. Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, the reputation ofCivilization 7could either enjoy a boost or suffer yet another blow, depending on how the Switch 2 rollout goes. This is the next, and potentially last, high-profile release of the game, so it’ll be important to get right.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
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The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter.Sid Meier’s Civilization® VIIempowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!InCivilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement.Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Pursue prosperity in an immersive solo experience or play with others in online multiplayer.Whether you choose to follow a path rooted in history or reimagine possibilities to chart your own way forward, build something you believe in and create a legacy that echoes through the Ages inCivilization VII.
