{"id":1584747,"date":"2026-05-20T20:40:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hitTmfL2WthhqpQ89sQe93"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:40:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:40:29","slug":"civ-7s-massive-overhaul-update-brings-its-highest-steam-player-count-in-over-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/civ-7s-massive-overhaul-update-brings-its-highest-steam-player-count-in-over-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Civ 7’s massive overhaul update brings its highest Steam player count in over a year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This week marks the culmination of Civilization 7’s yearlong attempt at a post-launch redemption arc, as Firaxis has released its Test of Time update, a free patch the studio has called an expansion-sized overhaul<\/a>. Alongside the much-requested option to play as the same civilization between age transitions, Test of Time reworks victory conditions, adds systems for optional objectives with bonus rewards, and more.<\/p>\n

Clearly, Civ fans have been waiting for a ripe opportunity to give the controversial sequel a second shot: At time of writing, there are more Steam users playing Civ 7 than there have been in over a year. But as early reactions remain as mixed as ever, it’s unclear whether Test of Time will repair Civ 7’s reputation.<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Firaxis)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Steam’s Most Played chart<\/a> says there are currently almost 16,200 users playing Civ 7. Not only is that its highest player count in over a year\u2014according to SteamDB<\/a>, the last time Civ 7 attracted more than 16,000 concurrent players was April 13, 2025\u2014it’s also roughly double the peak concurrent tallies it’s managed during the last week.<\/p>\n

Those new and returning players have also brought an uptick in Steam reviews. Before the Test of Time launch, Civ 7 hadn’t received more than 20 Steam reviews in a day during the last month. Between yesterday’s patch drop and now, players have left 172 new or revised reviews.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, across all languages, those responses have been almost evenly split, with positive reviews having a slight 52% majority. Favorable reviewers say they appreciate Test of Time’s changes, with one user<\/a> writing that the game finally “feels like a 1.0 release rather than a beta.” Another says<\/a> the update’s changes “show the team is dedicated towards giving the community what they would like.”<\/p>\n

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\"Civilization<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Image credit: Firaxis)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Others say Test of Time’s changes\u2014while they are <\/em>improvements\u2014aren’t enough. One critical reviewer<\/a> says Civ 7 still “just isn’t very engaging,” adding that gameplay systems remain “heavily stripped down” compared to prior entries. Even after the update, UI issues are a persistent complaint in negative reviews, as players say the game still struggles to present useful information when it’s most needed. 2K’s DLC pricing, like the Right to Rule Collection demanding $30 for four civs and two leaders, is a common callout, too.<\/p>\n

Users on the Civ subreddit are sharing the same range of opinions. Some are calling it<\/a> so “transformed” that Civ 7 is “like a brand new game.” Others say<\/a> they “still feel put off.” Some say they’ve already switched their Steam review<\/a> to positive; others are holding off until they see even more improvements.<\/p>\n

As ever, consensus about the course of history is slow to form. But if you’ve been giving Civ 7 some time to work through its initial growing pains, now’s a great time for a revisit to form a more final opinion.<\/p>\n

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