PC Gaming Weekly: In modders we trust

When Civilization VI debuted in October 2016, I played it, and I enjoyed it. And then I stopped playing a few weeks after launch. This was earliest I’d ever abandoned a Civ game, the build-your-empire franchise that first debuted in 1991. For nearly 27 years and over 40 million games sold, the six games in the PC franchise (along with some console and mobile side-quests like Civilization: Revolutions) have dominated my gaming time.

But that ended with Civilization VI. Even with the changes to cities with districts, the more cartoony and fun art style (come on, who doesn’t love this Teddy Roosevelt, even if he’s slimmer than Firaxis’s original take on the 26th U.S. president), and better AI, it didn’t get its hooks into me. I only played about 70 hours before I set it aside. That’s not a lot for Civ. Remember, this is the series that spawned the “one more turn” meme about playing until 3 a.m. to see how your civilization expands and waiting to finish off that research project.

Over the holidays, I decided to see what the modders were up to on Steam Workshop … and I fell into a Civilization VI hole, playing about 110 hours since. I added mods that fixed some of the early-game issues, like a simple one that gives you a builder when you start, and another that serves up an overhaul of trading system between world leaders.

And this is why I love PC gaming so much — people taking a game and making it better, without the devs getting involved (even if the Rise and Fall expansion is coming soon). Modders see problems and are fixing them. They’re bringing new content on a regular basis. I only wish I could pay them for it.

Hmm … maybe it’s time to see what the The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim community is up to.

For PC gaming coverage, send news tips to Jeff Grubb and guest post submissions to Rowan Kaiser. Please be sure to visit our PC Gaming Channel.

—Jason Wilson, GamesBeat managing editor

2018 is here — so it’s time to talk about the biggest games on our radars. Jeff and Mike bring you the scoop.

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