Civilization 7 finally gets hotseat local multiplayer via a new update out today, which also makes cities moodier and overhauls governments

Toasty bums for all rulers

Following a serious revamp with the Test of Time update, Civ 7 devs Firaxis are ready to deploy the next raft of additions and tweaks to the strategy game. With the ability play as one society through an entire game now in place, this latest update delivers another classic Civ staple - the option to take on your mates on one PC via hotseat local multiplayer games.

Update 1.4.1 is set to rock up today, June 23rd. Once it's out, you'll be able to gather the family around and start up a hotseat multiplayer game of Civ. Basically, it's Civ in board game form. Everyone makes their moves on one PC, grabbing the controls whenever their turn rolls around. The buck passes from person to person in a fashion that allows plenty of time to ratchet up the conflict by tactically deploying phrases like 'oh, I'm not sure I'd have done that' and 'wow, are you sure starting this nuclear war meshes with your push for a culture victory?' Sure, you can annoy people in the same way online, but there's a thrill to being close enough that they can throw stuff at you.

Beyond that relationship ruiner, update 1.4.1 rolls out a new archipelago map type which makes use of Firaxis' latest landscape generation tech for "more randomness and a more organic feel overall". The old archipelago map lives on, now renamed Archipelago Hemispheres.

Then, some tweaks. The devs have added more depth to keeping the people of your nation happy, with cities now having five distinct moods they can be in at any one time, conveyed via emoji so you can really find out what it'd be like if Carthage was a surly teenager. Your people will expect more from you as ages go by, so happiness sounds like it'll get tougher to manage as a game progresses.

Those happiness changes feed into some government tweaks, with different systems of ruling offering different passive bonuses based on how many of your settlements are happy and how far up the happiness scale they are. The simple act of switching to a government type now also gives you a couple of exclusive traditions offering boosts like extra settlement happiness near wonders or extra culture generated by great works. Finally, celebrations have been trimmed down from lasting 10 turns to six, but the themed bonuses that match your government's identity they now offer are designed to offer a more consequential boon and the opportunity to celebrate will crop up more regularly.

Outside of the free stuff, this Civ update is arriving alongside part one of Brush and Blade DLC, which is focused on historical Japanese civs and has Toyotomi Hideyoshi as its new leader. A second part is set to follow later this summer. Will you be on speaking terms with your in-laws by then if you challenge them to a bit of hotseat multiplayer Civ 7? Time will tell.