Civilization 7 has hit the market, and while it's launched with a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, remains optimistic. He believes that the dedicated fans of the series will eventually come to appreciate the game's new features and mechanics.
Currently, Civilization 7 is accessible through advanced access, which tends to attract the more hardcore fans of the franchise. These fans have been vocal on Steam, expressing concerns about the user interface, the limited variety of maps, and the absence of several expected features at launch.
In response, Firaxis has committed to making enhancements. They've promised to improve the UI, introduce team-based multiplayer options for cooperative play, and offer a broader selection of map types, addressing some of the key criticisms raised by the community.
Best Civ 7 Leaders
In an interview with IGN before the release of third quarter financial results, Zelnick acknowledged the mixed reviews from both press and players, specifically citing Eurogamer's 2/5 review. Despite this, he remains confident that the "legacy Civ audience" will grow to love the game as they spend more time with it. He highlighted Civilization 7's Metacritic score of 81 as a solid performance, noting that over 20 press reviews scored it above 90, while acknowledging some negative outliers, including a 40 from Eurogamer.
Zelnick explained that with each new Civilization release, Firaxis pushes the boundaries, which can initially make the legacy audience nervous. However, he believes that as players dive deeper into the game, they'll recognize its true value. He admitted that the early access release isn't perfect, particularly citing the UI as an area of concern, but he's confident that Firaxis can address these issues effectively.
Zelnick's comments about the initial nervousness among hardcore Civ players likely refer to the significant changes introduced in Civilization 7. One of the most notable changes is the full campaign structure, which spans three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. During an Age Transition, players select a new civilization from the new Age, choose which Legacies to retain, and witness the evolution of the game world. This system is a first for the Civilization series, and Zelnick is confident that fans will grow to appreciate it over time.
In the short term, Firaxis faces the challenge of improving sentiment, especially on Steam. A game's Steam user review rating is vital for its success on Valve's platform, as it not only reflects the player base's opinion but also impacts the game's visibility on the platform.
