Six months after its rocky February debut, Civilization 7 continues to underperform on Steam compared to both Civ 6 and even the decade-and-a-half-old Civ 5. However, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick maintains the game remains on track to meet the publisher's long-term projections despite its sluggish start.
The strategy title launched to mixed reviews on Valve's platform, with players criticizing its UI shortcomings, limited map selection, and perceived missing features expected from the franchise. While Civ 7 also released across PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms (including recent Switch 2 and VR versions), its traditionally PC-centric audience appears the most hesitant.
In an exclusive IGN interview discussing Take-Two's strong Q1 2025 financial results, Zelnick acknowledged Civ 7's initial struggles while expressing confidence in its future performance. "We're seeing consistent improvement," the CEO noted, though declining to share specific sales figures.
"Civilization has always been a marathon, not a sprint," Zelnick emphasized. "While we don't typically bank on prolonged sales tails in this industry, Civ represents a notable exception. Our lifetime value projections remain perfectly aligned with our pre-launch expectations."
The executive revealed ongoing adjustments to address player concerns, stating: "We've implemented several improvements since launch with more coming soon. Player engagement continues growing steadily, and we're confident Civ 7 will ultimately earn its place among the franchise's most successful entries."
Fan reception has been polarized by Firaxis' boldest gameplay innovation - the three-Age campaign structure spanning Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern eras. During Age Transitions (where all players simultaneously adopt new civilizations while retaining chosen Legacies), the game world fundamentally transforms - a series-first mechanic that's proven controversial.
Developer Firaxis has released multiple post-launch patches, including the recent 1.2.3 update refining Age Transition mechanics. The critical question remains whether these updates can shift Steam's current "Mixed" reception and convince legacy players to migrate from previous Civilization installments.
Our exclusive conversation with Zelnick also covered Take-Two's stance on Borderlands developer Randy Pitchford and the company's response to reports surrounding BioShock 4's troubled development.
