Civilization 7's Steam debut has faced challenges — that much is evident. Since its February release, the strategy sequel has struggled to retain players on Valve's platform. Steam reviews currently reflect a "mixed" reception. Despite multiple patches from developer Firaxis aiming to improve player sentiment, Civ 7 finds itself in an awkward position — attracting fewer concurrent players than both Civilization 6 and the decade-and-a-half-old Civilization 5.
However, Steam numbers don't tell the full story. The game launched simultaneously across PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms (with a Switch 2 version leveraging new Joy-Con mouse controls coming soon). Yet given Civilization's historical PC stronghold, Civ 7's performance on this platform remains concerning.
Despite these challenges, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed unexpected optimism during pre-earnings discussions with IGN. "I'm thrilled with Civ 7's progress," he revealed. "While we encountered initial hurdles, Firaxis has responded admirably through detailed updates. Additional refinements are underway, and I'm confident these efforts will resonate with players, ultimately establishing Civ 7 as another franchise success."
The CEO specifically highlighted Civilization's distinctive sales trajectory compared to conventional AAA releases: "Historically, each Civ installment generates initial apprehension among our dedicated fanbase — precisely because they're so passionate about the series. Players gradually recognize the improvements, leading to sustained sales performance. I anticipate Civ 7 will follow this pattern."
"Undoubtedly," Zelnick acknowledged, "we faced early technical challenges. Our teams have already addressed many concerns, with ongoing optimization efforts continuing daily."
Rank every Civilization Game
Rank every Civilization Game
Launch-period critiques centered on UI shortcomings, limited map diversity, and perceptions of missing franchise staples. Zelnick's remarks about veteran players' reservations likely reference Firaxis' ambitious mechanical overhaul.
Civ 7's groundbreaking three-era structure (Antiquity, Exploration, Modern) introduces simultaneous Age Transitions where civilizations evolve collectively — retaining chosen Legacies while adopting new cultural identities. This unprecedented system represents the franchise's most dramatic innovation, one Zelnick believes will ultimately win over skeptics.
While Take-Two hasn't disclosed specific sales metrics, its financial report mentioned expanding Civ 7's reach through emerging platforms, including the newly launched Meta Quest VR version and impending Switch 2 adaptation.
