Civilization 7 has encountered a challenging launch on Steam since its debut in February. The strategy game has been grappling with a dwindling player base on Valve’s platform, reflected in the 'mixed' user reviews on Steam. Despite multiple patches from developer Firaxis aimed at improving the game, Civilization 7 is currently experiencing lower player numbers on Steam than its predecessors, Civilization 6 and the 15-year-old Civilization 5.
While the game's performance on Steam is concerning, it's worth noting that Civilization 7 also launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. A version for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, featuring new Joy-Con mouse controls, is on the horizon. However, the core audience for Civilization has always been on PC, where the game is clearly struggling.
Despite the rough start on Steam, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, expressed enthusiasm about Civilization 7 in an interview with IGN. "I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far," Zelnick stated. He acknowledged initial issues but praised the efforts of the Firaxis team in addressing them. "There's more work to be done. I'm optimistic that work will be done and will suit consumers, and ultimately that we have a very successful title on our hands."
Zelnick highlighted the long sales cycle typical of the Civilization franchise, expressing confidence 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 thrive.
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 features. Zelnick's comments about the initial nervousness among hardcore Civ fans likely refer to the significant changes introduced in the game, such as the new Age system. In Civilization 7, players progress through 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—a feature unprecedented in the series. Zelnick is confident that this system will eventually win over fans.
Although Take-Two has not disclosed specific sales figures for Civilization 7, the company mentioned in its financial report that it is "pursuing opportunities to expand the audience." This includes the recent launch of Civilization 7 VR for Meta Quest 3 and 3S, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port.
