The launch of Civilization 7 on Steam has been challenging, to say the least. Since its debut in February, the strategy sequel has seen a struggle to attract players on Valve's platform. The game's reception is currently labeled as 'mixed' based on Steam user reviews. Despite numerous patches released by developer Firaxis in an attempt to improve the situation, Civilization 7 continues to have fewer players on Steam compared to its predecessors, Civilization 6 and the 15-year-old Civilization 5.
While the performance on Steam is a significant concern, 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 the new Joy-Con mouse controls, is set to be released soon. However, the core audience for the Civilization series has always been on PC, where Civ 7 is clearly underperforming.
In an interview with IGN ahead of Take-Two's latest financial results, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed his enthusiasm for Civilization 7 despite its rocky start. "I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far," Zelnick stated. "However, there were some initial issues, and our team at Firaxis has done an excellent job addressing those. There's still more work to be done, and I'm optimistic that we will continue to improve the game to meet consumer expectations, ultimately leading to a very successful title."
Zelnick also highlighted the long sales cycle typical of the Civilization franchise, suggesting that Civ 7 will follow a similar trajectory. "The history of all the Civilization releases shows that initial changes can cause some unrest among our fans due to their deep affection for the series," he explained. "But over time, as players appreciate the improvements, the game performs well over its extended sales period. I believe the same will happen with Civ 7. We've addressed some of the early issues and continue to work on others."
Rank every Civilization Game
Rank every Civilization Game
At launch, players of Civilization 7 pointed out issues such as 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 implemented in the game.
One of the major innovations in Civilization 7 is its campaign structure, which spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Upon completing an Age, all players, including AI opponents, undergo an Age Transition. During this transition, players select a new civilization from the new Age to represent their empire, choose which Legacies to retain, and witness the evolution of the game world. This unique system is unprecedented in previous Civilization games, and Zelnick is confident that fans will grow to appreciate it over time.
While Take-Two has not yet disclosed specific sales figures for Civilization 7, their 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 port for the Nintendo Switch 2.
