The launch of *Civilization 7* on Steam has been anything but smooth. Since its debut in February, the strategy game has seen a struggle to attract players on Valve's platform. With a 'mixed' reception from Steam user reviews, and despite multiple patches from developer Firaxis aimed at turning the tide, *Civilization 7* finds itself trailing behind both *Civilization 6* and the 15-year-old *Civilization 5* in player numbers.
While *Civ 7*'s performance on Steam might be disheartening, it's important to consider the broader picture. The game also launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, with an upcoming version for Nintendo Switch 2 that will incorporate the new Joy-Con mouse controls. However, for a series renowned for its PC roots, *Civ 7*'s struggles on this platform are particularly notable.
One might expect Take-Two, the parent company of Firaxis, to be concerned. Yet, in an interview with IGN ahead of the company's latest financial results, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed his enthusiasm for *Civ 7*. "I'm thrilled with *Civ 7* so far," Zelnick stated. "However, there were some initial issues, and our team at Firaxis has worked diligently to address them. We have more work ahead, but I'm optimistic that we'll meet consumer expectations and ultimately deliver a very 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 *Civilization* releases shows that initial changes often cause some unrest among our loyal fans," he noted. "But over time, they recognize the improvements, and we see strong sales. I believe *Civ 7* will follow this pattern as well. We've already addressed some early issues and continue to work on others."
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At launch, players pointed out several issues with *Civ 7*, including a problematic user interface, limited map variety, and a sense that the game lacked features fans had come to expect from the series. Zelnick's comments about the initial nervousness of hardcore *Civ* players likely refer to the significant changes Firaxis implemented.
A complete campaign in *Civilization 7* spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Once an Age is completed, all players and AI opponents undergo an Age Transition, where they select a new civilization for the next Age, choose which Legacies to retain, and witness the evolution of the game world. This unique system is unprecedented in the *Civilization* series, and Zelnick is confident that fans will grow to appreciate it over time.
Although Take-Two has not yet released specific sales figures for *Civilization 7*, 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 Nintendo Switch 2.
