The launch of Civilization 7 on Steam has been rocky, to say the least. Since its debut in February, the strategy game has struggled to attract players on Valve's platform, with Steam user reviews reflecting a 'mixed' reaction. Despite multiple patches from developer Firaxis aimed at improving the game, Civilization 7 currently boasts fewer players 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 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 release soon. However, given that the franchise's core audience is on PC, the struggles on Steam are particularly notable.
In an interview with IGN ahead of Take-Two's latest financial results, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed his enthusiasm for Civilization 7, stating, "I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far." He acknowledged initial issues but praised Firaxis for their efforts in addressing them, expressing optimism about the game's future. Zelnick highlighted the franchise's history of long sales cycles and his belief that Civilization 7 would follow this trend, eventually winning over fans despite early concerns.
At launch, players criticized Civilization 7 for issues with the user interface, a lack of map variety, and missing features they expected from the series. Zelnick's comments about the initial nervousness among hardcore Civ players likely refer to the significant changes Firaxis introduced, such as the new Age Transition system. In Civilization 7, players progress through three Ages—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern—and during each Age Transition, they select a new civilization, choose Legacies to retain, and witness the game world evolve. This system is a first for the franchise, and Zelnick believes it will be appreciated over time.
Take-Two has not disclosed specific sales figures for Civilization 7, but the company's financial report mentioned efforts to expand the game's audience. This includes the recent launch of Civilization 7 VR for Meta Quest 3 and 3S, as well as the upcoming port for the Nintendo Switch 2.
