Civilization 7: Take-Two CEO Confident Legacy Fans Will Embrace Despite 'Mixed' Steam Reviews

The much-anticipated release of *Civilization 7* has arrived, but it's currently facing a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam. Despite this, Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of parent company Take-Two, remains optimistic, expressing confidence that the game's dedicated fanbase will grow to appreciate it over time.

*Civilization 7*, developed by Firaxis, is accessible to those who opt for advanced access, a feature typically utilized by the game's more ardent followers. These fans have been vocal on Steam, expressing concerns over the user interface, a perceived lack of map variety, and the absence of certain features that have been staples in previous iterations of the series.

In response, Firaxis has committed to addressing these concerns, with promises to enhance the UI, introduce team-based multiplayer modes for cooperative play, and increase the diversity of map types, among other improvements.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

In an interview with IGN before the release of third quarter financial results, Zelnick acknowledged the mixed reception from both critics and players, specifically referencing Eurogamer's 2/5 review. However, he remains confident, citing a Metacritic score of 81 and over 20 press reviews scoring above 90 as evidence of the game's solid foundation.

"The Metacritic reviews are at 81, which is really solid," Zelnick stated. "We have more than 20 press reviews with a score over 90. We have some negative outliers as well, including a 40 from Eurogamer.

"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.

"So we feel really, really good about it. We know we have a couple of issues. We have a bit of an issue with the UI, for example. We'll address that. So I wouldn't say the early access release is perfect in every way. I think it's very, very encouraging and I think the areas that are concerning are areas that we can and will address, and as you can tell, we're quite mindful of them."

Zelnick's comments about the initial apprehension among hardcore *Civilization* players likely refer to the significant changes introduced in *Civilization 7*. A notable new feature is the game's progression through three distinct Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Upon completing an Age, all players and AI opponents undergo an Age Transition, where they select a new civilization from the new Age, choose which Legacies to carry forward, and witness the evolution of the game world. This mechanic is a first for the series, and Zelnick believes it will ultimately be embraced by fans.

In the immediate future, Firaxis faces the challenge of improving the game's reception, particularly on Steam. A game's Steam user review rating significantly impacts its success on Valve's platform, affecting both its public perception and its visibility. With dedicated efforts to address player feedback, Firaxis aims to turn the tide and enhance the overall experience for *Civilization 7* enthusiasts.