Civilization 7's Steam launch has garnered mixed user reviews, yet Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, remains optimistic about its long-term reception. The game, currently in early access, has faced criticism from hardcore fans regarding its user interface, limited map variety, and perceived missing features.
Firaxis has acknowledged these concerns and pledged improvements, including UI enhancements, the addition of multiplayer teams, and expanded map types.
In an interview with IGN, Zelnick highlighted Civilization 7's positive Metacritic score (81) and numerous reviews exceeding 90, while acknowledging negative feedback, such as Eurogamer's 2/5 rating. He expressed confidence that dedicated Civilization players, initially apprehensive due to significant gameplay changes, will ultimately appreciate the game's innovations. He cited the game's novel Age Transition system—a simultaneous shift across all players to a new civilization and era, complete with legacy selection and world evolution—as a key example of these changes.
Zelnick emphasized that while the early access release isn't flawless (specifically mentioning UI issues), the team is actively addressing concerns. He stressed the importance of Steam user reviews, acknowledging their impact on the game's visibility and overall success on the platform. Firaxis faces the challenge of improving player sentiment in the short term to ensure Civilization 7's continued success on Steam.
