Civilization VII’s Update 1.1.1, published March 25, 2025, changed Modern Age pacing and costs, map setup, leader and civilization balance, AI behavior, combat, and interface features. A smaller follow-up patch arrived March 27. By October 2026, the game had moved on to Update 1.5.0 and a later hotfix, so 1.1.1 is historical context—not the current update. The official notes do not show that the March patch was prompted by competition on Steam.
What changed in Civilization VII Update 1.1.1?
The March 25, 2025 patch covered balance, gameplay systems, map generation, interface quality of life, and platform-specific fixes. Its official notes were updated April 11, 2025. Read the official Update 1.1.1 patch notes.
Modern Age pacing and costs
- Eliminated players stopped adding Age Progress during the Modern Age. In the Exploration Age, progress gained from eliminations was cut in half.
- Modern Tech and Civic costs rose by roughly 25% overall, with the increase weighted more heavily toward deeper nodes.
- Railroad Tycoon costs and resource bonuses were also adjusted.
Map setup and starting positions
The update improved map generation and added Standard and Balanced starting-position choices to Advanced Setup, giving players more control over how initial locations are distributed.
Leaders, civilizations, AI, and combat
Balance and bug fixes touched Ashoka, Lafayette, Hawai‘i, Mongolia, Rome, and Russia, among other areas. The patch also improved AI scouting and settlement behavior, changed Commander promotion behavior, and addressed issues involving the economy, diplomacy, crises, military systems, and wonders.
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Interface and platform fixes
New quality-of-life additions included a District Under Attack notification, options to customize settlement and Commander names, and a Trade Lens. Other interface and controller changes included fixes to input flows and prompts for Steam and Steam Deck.
Crossroads of the World Collection
Update 1.1.1 added Simón Bolívar, Bulgaria, and Nepal through the Crossroads of the World Collection. The patch notes say the collection is included with the Deluxe and Founders editions and can also be purchased separately; the base game is required for the DLC.
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What did the March 27 follow-up patch fix?
“1.1.1 Patch 1” followed two days after the main update. Its notes describe a small release intended to address reported issues and improve stability. The details below come from SteamDB’s indexed reproduction of the Steam Community update notes, rather than a separately inspected official support article. View the indexed Patch 1 notes.
- Improved stability across platforms.
- Fixed civilizations failing to unlock during an Age transition; this fix did not apply to existing saves.
- Fixed resource icons scaling incorrectly at higher resolutions.
- Fixed missing Spanish localization for city names.
Is Update 1.1.1 still the latest Civilization VII patch?
No. As of October 8, 2026, the official patch index lists Update 1.5.0, dated September 15, 2026, followed by a September 30 hotfix. Update 1.5.0 added the True Start Location Earth map, shuffled and Terra Incognita maps, diplomacy changes, interface improvements, and the Hall of History collection. The official notes say the update released around the franchise’s 35th anniversary. Read the official Update 1.5.0 notes.
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- EVOLVE YOUR EMPIRE AS EACH NEW AGE DAWNS - To build a legacy that truly stands the test of time, you must adapt. Forge your own path through history as you reshape your empire at the start of each Age, selecting from a pool of new Age-relevant civilization options determined by your prior gameplay accomplishments. Evolving your empire unlocks fresh gameplay bonuses and unique units, so your current civilization is always at the height of its power.
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The September 30 hotfix focused on stability and performance after Update 1.5.0, including crash and late-game fixes. The official notes state: “Today’s hotfix is focused on stability and performance following our recent Update 1.5.0.” Read the official September 30 hotfix notes.
Platform availability can differ by feature: the 1.5.0 notes list the Earth map for Steam, Epic, Mac, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, but not Nintendo Switch, PS4, or Xbox One. That list describes the Earth map’s availability; it should not be read as a guarantee that every Civilization VII feature or update is available on every platform.
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Was Update 1.1.1 a response to Steam competition?
The official materials establish that Civilization VII is available on Steam and discuss Steam branch compatibility, but they provide no competitor comparison, player-count or sales data, market-share figure, or evidence that competition prompted Update 1.1.1. The patch’s documented purpose and contents are gameplay, balance, stability, and quality-of-life changes—not a stated market response.
Can a Steam patch mismatch affect cross-play?
Yes. Civilization Support’s February 2025 guidance says PC patches may arrive on a different schedule from console patches. When versions do not match, PC-to-console cross-play can be temporarily disabled until console versions align with Steam and Epic. Read Civilization Support’s patch-mismatch guidance.
The guidance describes a separate Steam branch for players who want to stay connected to console players during a mismatch. That branch runs an older version and cannot use saves from the current version. The support article was last updated March 5, 2025; check current branch instructions before switching, since the guidance may have changed.
Quick Recap
| Choice | Version and cross-play trade-off | Save compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Stay on the current Steam version | Uses the current PC version; PC-to-console cross-play may be unavailable while versions mismatch. | Uses saves from the current version. |
| Use the older Steam branch described by Civilization Support | May preserve cross-play with console players during a mismatch, according to the support guidance last updated March 5, 2025. | Not compatible with saves from the current version. |
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