Take-Two Boss Strauss Zelnick Says He's 'Thrilled' With Civilization 7 So Far Even Through More People Are Playing Civ 6 and Even Civ 5 on Steam

The launch of Civilization 7 on Steam has been rocky, to say the least. Since its debut in February, the strategy game has been grappling with a dwindling player base on Valve's platform. The sentiment among Steam users is 'mixed,' and despite numerous patches from developer Firaxis aimed at turning the tide, Civilization 7 is currently attracting fewer players than both Civilization 6 and the 15-year-old Civilization 5.

While the game's performance on Steam is a significant concern, it's important to note that Civilization 7 also launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version featuring new Joy-Con mouse controls set to release soon. However, given that the PC platform is the core audience for the Civilization series, the struggles on Steam are particularly notable.

Despite the challenges, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, expressed optimism about Civilization 7 in an interview with IGN ahead of the company's latest financial results. "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, expressing confidence that ongoing improvements would ultimately lead to a successful title.

Zelnick highlighted the long sales cycle typical of the Civilization franchise, suggesting that the initial fan backlash would eventually give way to appreciation for the game's enhancements. "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. "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."

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At launch, players voiced concerns about the user interface, a lack of map variety, and the absence of expected features. Zelnick's comments about the nervousness of hardcore Civ players likely refer to the significant changes introduced in Civilization 7, such as the new Age system. In Civilization 7, players navigate through three distinct Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each Age Transition allows players to choose a new civilization, retain certain Legacies, and witness the evolution of the game world—a novel mechanic for the series. Zelnick believes that over time, fans will grow to appreciate this innovative approach.

While Take-Two has not disclosed specific sales figures for Civilization 7, the company is actively seeking 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 Nintendo Switch 2 port.