A massive change in the way Civ7 works compared to previous entries in the series, is that you no longer control a single civilization from start to finish. Instead, your civilization evolves and changes.
For example, you start with Rome in Antiquity, then they transform into the Normans in the mid game, then they finally become the French in the later stage of the game. Historically, it makes some sense, as there were overlaps between cultures and nations.
When I first heard of this gameplay feature, I was COMPLETELY against it. It was so dumb. The entire point of Sid Meier's Civilization is that you build long-term an empire, from turn 1 to the final turn, and you must feel like it is ''yours'', built by yourself. But the Civ switch interrupts that flow, and it's like you are given a random civ other than what you manually picked.
But after having played the game, I realized I actually like this feature because of one main reason: the available switch options are based on your gameplay and choices, so it feels rewarding to switch. But they got severe backlash, and eventually released an update where you can play a single civ for the entire game
As to why they did it - I've thought about it and it makes sense. I don't blame them. The thing is that Civ 6 is essentially Civ 5 on sterroids: Civ 6 fully expands upon everything in Civ 5: it has actual weather hazards, pollution, sea levels rising, electricity, expanded barbarian systems, secret societies, hero units, expanded spy systems. There was basically nothing to expand upon in Civ 7, they already did all that can be done. So they HAD to think of something completely different.
