Civilization 6 Winter Update Out Now, Here's Everything It Does

Civilization 6's big Winter 2016 update is out now on PC, bringing a bunch of new improvements and features. In addition, two new DLC packs are now available.

In a blog post, developer Firaxis shared details of the patch, which adds a new standard size Earth map, easier access to Scenarios from the main menus, and a new move for enemy units called 'alert.' The new action is similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown's 'overwatch' command, which puts friendly units to sleep until they spot an enemy.

The update also brings a bunch of balance changes, gameplay tweaks, and bug fixes, all of which you can see below.

In addition to the update, two new DLC packs are now available. The first is centered around Poland and leader Jadwiga, while the second is Viking-themed. Each pack also introduces a new playable Scenario, and each costs USD $4.99 / £3.99.

The last big Civ 6 patch was the Fall 2016 update, which introduced two new maps and a new scenario--check out the full details here. We loved Civilization 6 here at GameSpot, and included it in our list of the best games of 2016. Find out where it placed by reading its entry here.

Alternatively, check out the Poland DLC pack in the video below, or scroll down for the full patch notes for the Winter 2016 update.

Winter 2016 Update Patch Notes
Table of Contents Winter 2016 Update Patch NotesNew
Gameplay Updates
Balance Changes
AI Tuning
Bug Fixes
Visuals
Multiplayer
UI
Audio
New
Added Earth map (standard size) Added 'alert' action for units Put a unit to sleep until they spot an enemy unit

Scenario setup menu Jump into Scenarios more easily within the Single Player menu. This only shows up when a single player scenario is available and enabled (as can be found in both of the new DLCs!

Added new replay option to Wonder completion movies
Gameplay Updates
Religious units may now Fortify Until Healed
Coastal Raids can now pillage districts in addition to the buildings within
Great Admirals are no longer allowed to spawn on wonders in water tiles (ex. Huey, Great Lighthouse) so they cannot become stranded in lakes
Balance Changes
Cities can no longer receive yields from more than one regional building per type; they take the highest (ex. production from multiple Factories)
Cities can no longer receive amenities from more than one regional building per type; they take the highest (ex. amenities from multiple Stadiums)
Decreased production costs of Wonders progressively From the Industrial era (about -10 percent) to the Atomic era (about -40 percent).

Decreased production costs of all Space Race Projects by 40 percent.
Increased research costs of Technologies and Civics progressively From the Industrial era (about +5 percent) to the Information era (about +20 percent).

Increased Faith from Mission
Increased Culture from Chateau
Lowered the minimum unit upgrade cost
Improved clarity on Warmongering penalties associated with taking a civ's final city
Most Civilization unique districts now require population to construct (like normal districts)
Spaceport district no longer requires population to construct
AI Tuning
Improved AI Deal negotiations and analysis
Improved AI handling of Promises; including that they are more likely to agree if they like you, and also will consider how trustworthy a civ is by whether they've kept previous promises
Improved tactical handling of Great Admirals and Great Generals
Improved AI interest in Terracotta Army
Improved handling of leaf techs
Improved building of Forts
Improved resource grabbing in late game
Improved Last Viking King agenda's analysis for who is in bottom percentage of navies
Improved handling of several complaint or kudo messages from AI
Rebalanced Catherine's evaluation of the 'no spying' Promise
AI will not try to convert unconvertible cities
Bug Fixes
Fixed several unique buildings that weren't getting their yields increased by various game effects (ex. Policies)
Fixed an issue that allowed the Goddess of the Harvest pantheon bonus to stack
Fixed it so loading screens now show the correct text and play matching VO
Fixed an issue that blocked certain relationship-based diplomatic actions
Fixed an issue where incomplete Encampment districts were able to attack
Fixed an issue where you could declare war on friends or allies by moving units
Fixed an issue where AI could declare war on a civ with whom they were already at war
Fixed an issue that caused a Multiplayer lobby to require joining players to have Additional Content that wasn't actually needed
Fixed a bug that caused Apostles to run out of promotions
Fixed a bug where gaining policy slots mid-turn could block progression
Fixed issues caused by trading lots of Great Works at the same time
Fixed an issue where turn timers weren't loading correctly from a save
Fixed an issue where Rome's roads would connect to too many adjacent roads
Fixed issue where civs could get another civ's exclusive agenda
Fixed multiple links to the Civilopedia
Fixed issue that could cause menu music to play twice and overlap itself
Fixed an issue that could cause private MP games to become public
Fixed multiple text & grammatical issues
Fixed multiple crashes
Visuals
Added new art for National Parks
Updated Mines for several eras
Updated Swordsman
Improved city fading during combat
Multiplayer
Hallowed Ground scenario is no playable on huge maps
VO now plays correctly when loading a save
UI
Resource Report now correctly shows resources from several sources: Great People abilities
Diplomatic Deals

Checkboxes for toggle yields and grid now stay in sync with hotkeys
Improved differentiation in Government Lens hex colors
Added Defeat icon to the End Game Results screen
Audio
Added sound effect for Quick Save hotkey