Guiding a civilization through three ages is a time-consuming affair. Fortunately, Steam Deck owners will be able to play Civilization 7 anywhere. An announcement on the game’s official Steam page confirms it’s now Steam Deck verified. The Firaxis turn-based strategy title is scheduled to reach multiple platforms, including the handheld Nintendo Switch, on February 11th.
Steam Deck compatibility for Civilization 7 is not surprising since past releases run on the portable PC. However, Civilization 6 is only listed as “Playable,” with some UI elements looking crowded on the 7.4-inch screen. Older titles were ported to the PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, but the gaming experience was sometimes uneven. This time, Firaxis hopes its award-winning strategy game franchise finds new audiences with more intuitive controller support.
Valve’s gaming system is under increasing pressure from multiple Windows 11 portable PCs. The Acer Nitro Blaze 11 is its latest rival, with the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS-based handheld expected in Q2 2025. Its 11-inch display will be beneficial when planning attacks against rival civilizations. Competitors like the Nitro Blaze 11 and Asus ROG Ally have more raw power and native Windows game support. Still, the Steam Deck remains popular among strategy game enthusiasts.
Steam Deck compatible games don’t always perform flawlessly. Civilization 7 is massive in scope with more legendary leaders making history-changing strategic decisions. How well the game runs remains a question, but reasonable PC minimum requirements give mobile gamers hope.
