Civilization 7 has hit the market, and while it's garnered a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, remains optimistic. He believes that the game's dedicated fanbase will grow to appreciate it as they delve deeper into its mechanics. Currently, Civilization 7 is accessible to those who opt for advanced access, a group typically comprised of the series' most ardent followers. These fans have been vocal on Steam, pointing out issues such as a clunky user interface, a lack of map diversity, and the absence of expected features at launch.
In response, Firaxis has committed to enhancing the user interface, introducing team-based multiplayer options for cooperative play, and expanding the variety of map types, among other planned improvements.
In a recent interview with IGN, Zelnick acknowledged the mixed reception, including a notably low 2/5 score from Eurogamer. Despite this, he highlighted the game's solid Metacritic score of 81 and noted that over 20 reviews scored it above 90. Zelnick expressed confidence that as players spend more time with Civilization 7, their appreciation will grow, a pattern he believes is typical with new entries in the series.
"We think that as people play the game longer, the sentiment improves because with every launch of a new Civ, the team pushes the envelope a little bit and our legacy Civ audience is a little bit nervous about what they initially see and then they realize, wow, this is actually really incredible, and they dive in," Zelnick stated. He admitted that the early access release isn't perfect, particularly citing the UI as an area for improvement, but remains encouraged by the game's overall performance and Firaxis's commitment to addressing concerns.
One of the significant changes in Civilization 7 is the introduction of an Age system, where players progress through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. Each Age Transition allows players to select a new civilization, choose which Legacies to carry forward, and witness the evolution of the game world. This novel mechanic, unprecedented in previous Civilization games, is something Zelnick believes will eventually win over fans.
In the immediate future, Firaxis faces the challenge of improving sentiment on Steam, where user reviews play a critical role in a game's visibility and success. A positive shift in user reviews could significantly boost Civilization 7's standing on Valve's platform.
