The launch of Civilization 7 on Steam has been challenging, to say the least. Since its debut in February, the strategy game has struggled to attract players on Valve's platform, earning a 'mixed' reaction from Steam user reviews. Despite multiple patches from developer Firaxis aimed at improving the game, Civilization 7 currently has fewer players on Steam than its predecessors, Civilization 6 and the 15-year-old Civilization 5.
While the performance on Steam is concerning, it's important to consider the broader context. Civilization 7 also launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, with a forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2 version that will utilize the new Joy-Con mouse controls. However, the franchise's core audience has always been on PC, where Civilization 7 is evidently struggling.
In an interview with IGN before Take-Two's latest financial results, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed his enthusiasm for Civilization 7, stating, "I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far. However, there were some issues initially, and our team at Firaxis has done a great job addressing those issues. 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 Civilization franchise's long sales cycle, suggesting that initial player concerns typically dissipate as players grow accustomed to the changes and improvements in each new release. He noted, "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. And then people realize, oh, this really is an improvement and over a long sales cycle, we do really well. I think that's what'll happen here too. But undoubtedly, we had some issues in the beginning, which we've addressed partially and continue to address."
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Upon its release, players criticized Civilization 7 for issues 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, such as the new Age system. In Civilization 7, a full campaign spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. During an Age Transition, players and AI opponents simultaneously select a new civilization from the new Age, choose which Legacies to retain, and witness the evolution of the game world. This innovative system, unprecedented in the franchise, is something Zelnick believes will be appreciated by fans over time.
While Take-Two has not disclosed specific sales figures for Civilization 7, the company's financial report emphasized efforts to expand the game's audience. These initiatives include the recent launch of Civilization 7 VR for Meta Quest 3 and 3S, as well as the upcoming port for Nintendo Switch 2.
