Zelnick 'Thrilled' with Civilization 7 Despite High Play Rates of Civ 6 and 5 on Steam

Since its launch in February, Civilization 7 has faced significant challenges on Steam, with player engagement lagging behind both Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5. User reviews on the platform remain “mixed,” despite multiple patches rolled out by developer Firaxis in an effort to improve the game’s reception.

While the game is also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch—with a new version for Switch 2 that leverages Joy-Con mouse controls—PC remains the core market for the Civilization franchise. On that front, Civilization 7 is clearly underperforming.

Despite this rocky start, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, expressed confidence in the title during an interview with IGN ahead of the company’s latest financial report. He stated he is “thrilled” with the current state of Civilization 7, acknowledging early issues while commending Firaxis for their efforts in resolving them.

“I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far. There were some issues initially, and our team at Firaxis has done a great job addressing those issues. There's more work to be done. I'm optimistic that work will suit consumers, and ultimately that we have a very successful title on our hands.”

Zelnick emphasized the long-term sales trajectory typical of the Civilization series, noting that initial reactions are often mixed due to the passionate fanbase’s attachment to established mechanics. He believes players will eventually recognize the improvements and embrace the latest installment as they have with past releases.

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At launch, players pointed out several concerns including an unintuitive user interface, limited map variety, and the absence of features commonly expected from the series. These changes, particularly the introduction of Age Transitions—a system where all players shift through three historical Ages (Antiquity, Exploration, Modern) and choose new civilizations and Legacies—marked a dramatic departure from previous entries.

Zelnick acknowledged that such sweeping changes may unsettle longtime fans but remains confident that players will grow to appreciate the innovation over time. While no official sales figures have been released yet, Take-Two continues to expand the game’s reach with initiatives like the recent release of Civilization 7 VR for Meta Quest 3 and 3S, along with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port.