The launch of Civilization 7 on Steam has been challenging, to say the least. Since its debut in February, the strategy sequel has struggled to attract players on Valve's platform, earning a 'mixed' reaction from Steam user reviews. Despite multiple patches from developer Firaxis aimed at improving the game, Civilization 7 has fewer players on Steam than its predecessors, Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5.
While the game's performance on Steam is concerning, it's important to note that Civilization 7 also launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. A version for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, utilizing new Joy-Con mouse controls, is set to release soon. However, the Civilization series is predominantly a PC franchise, and on this platform, Civ 7 is clearly struggling.
Despite these challenges, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed optimism about Civilization 7 in an interview with IGN ahead of the company's latest financial results. "I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far," Zelnick stated. He acknowledged the initial issues but praised the efforts of the Firaxis team in addressing them. "There's more work to be done," he added, expressing confidence that these efforts would ultimately lead to a successful title.
Zelnick highlighted the long sales cycle typical of the Civilization franchise, suggesting that Civ 7 would follow a similar trajectory. "The history of all the Civilization releases is that initially some of the changes that we make cause consternation among our consumers because they love the Civilization franchise so much," he explained. He believes that over time, players will recognize the improvements and the game will perform well.
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At launch, players pointed out several issues with Civilization 7, including problems with the user interface, a lack of map variety, and the absence of expected franchise features. Zelnick's comments about the initial nervousness of hardcore Civ players likely refer to the significant changes Firaxis introduced. One of the most notable changes is the new Age system, where a full campaign spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. During an Age Transition, players select a new civilization, choose which Legacies to retain, and witness the evolution of the game world. This system is a first for the Civilization series, and Zelnick is confident that fans will grow to appreciate it over time.
Although Take-Two has not yet disclosed specific sales figures for Civilization 7, the company's financial report mentioned efforts to expand the game's audience. These efforts include the recent launch of Civilization 7 VR for Meta Quest 3 and 3S, as well as the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port.
