The launch of Civilization 7 on Steam has been turbulent to say the least. Since its debut in February, the strategy game has struggled to attract players on Valve's platform, with user reviews indicating a 'mixed' reaction. Despite numerous patches from developer Firaxis aimed at addressing player concerns, Civilization 7 finds itself with fewer players 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 was also released on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. A version optimized for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, featuring new Joy-Con mouse controls, is set to launch soon. However, given that the PC platform has traditionally been the cornerstone for the Civilization series, the game's struggles on Steam are particularly noteworthy.
Despite the rocky start on Steam, Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed optimism about Civilization 7 in an interview with IGN. "I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far," Zelnick stated. He acknowledged initial issues but praised Firaxis for their efforts in addressing them. "There's more work to be done," he added, expressing confidence that the game will ultimately prove successful.
Zelnick highlighted the long sales cycle typical of the Civilization franchise, suggesting that Civilization 7 would follow this pattern. "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 come to appreciate the new features and improvements.
At launch, players criticized Civilization 7 for its user interface, 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 introduced by Firaxis, such as the new Age Transition system. In Civilization 7, players progress through three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. During an Age Transition, players select a new civilization, choose Legacies to carry forward, and experience an evolving game world. This unique system is unprecedented in the series, and Zelnick is confident that fans will grow to love it.
Take-Two has not yet disclosed specific sales figures for Civilization 7, but the company is actively working to expand the game's audience. Recent efforts include the launch of Civilization 7 VR for Meta Quest 3 and 3S, as well as the upcoming port for Nintendo Switch 2.
